From Homeschooling One to Multiple Ages and Back to One

Our lives have change when we started homeschooling but changes seem to come faster than I have time to wrap my emotions around them.

From Homeschooling One

Did I ever tell you about the time I called Kelley in tears when beginning to homeschool my first child, Mr. Senior 2013?

It was one of those awful, can’t hardly talk cries where I was almost embarrassed I called.

Feeling overwhelmed and afraid of messing him up for life even though it was Kindergarten, I had moments of feeling paralyzed.

After a rocky start, I gained confidence as Mr. Senior 2013 thrived with one-to-one tutoring.
I have another vulnerable confession to make.

When it was time to fold Mr. Awesome into my homeschool routine, I called Kelley again in tears.

I promise I am not a cry baby but I felt that way when I went from homeschooling one child to multiple ages.

to Homeschooling Multiple Ages

Homeschooling multiple ages for many years feels more comfortable, relaxed and way easier than I ever imagined it to be.

Learning to embrace the different ages, I learned to allow it to be a strength in my teaching instead of a shortcoming.

I figured out along the way the oldest child could work independently while I helped one or two of the younger boys on school.

I figured out that I could homeschool happily with one child on my hip, one at my foot playing and teaching the other one how to read.

I figured out that my oldest son could take time to entertain the baby and care for him while I schooled the middle son. He wasn’t doing my babysitting for me, but he was forming a sibling bond that lasts to this day now that the baby is almost ready for high school.

I figured out that while it may seem ideal to have down time when I had one child and he took a nap that I didn’t need that time when homeschooling multiple children.

I was much stronger than I realized. I could take advantage of nap time to keep schooling my older boys and working hard.

I figured out that I could be that homeschool mom who could have it all together. It was okay to actually thrive with teaching multiple ages and not always struggle because having multiple children is a natural part of parenting and homeschooling.

I figured out that I didn’t have to stick to things comfortable for me as a teacher when homeschooling multiple children like using the same curriculum for all of my children or keeping them all on the same schedule.

and Back to Homeschooling One Again

What I have not figured out is how I will feel now that Mr. Awesome will be graduating this year and my days will go back to homeschooling just one.

Will homeschooling an only be different now that I have homeschooled for many years?

What advantages or disadvantages will I be facing this next year?

Will it be more taxing on my time because I will be the one interacting with him more now than his siblings?

Does this mean that I will get done more in the day?

I will no longer have tears for the fear of homeschooling when I start next year, but I will have happy tears for the memorable and precious moments and downright privilege of homeschooling multiple children.

If you have an only child or have gone from teaching one to multiple children and are now teaching the last child, what words of wisdom can you give me?

Hugs and love ya,

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