As homeschool families, we’ll be the first to defend the homeschooling lifestyle. Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter for more tips and resources.
We can easily sing its praises, talk about the wonderful choice we’ve made to educate our kids at home, and how happy we are with that decision.
However, that doesn’t mean things are always perfect for us.
So today we’re going to get real and share some of the biggest gripes about the homeschooling lifestyle.
These are the common struggles from my own experience, as well as talking with other homeschool moms.
The complaints usually fall into one of two categories — pressure from others or the pressure we put on ourselves.
Gripes about the Homeschooling Lifestyle: Pressure from Others
- Interference from the non-homeschoolers who think they know better, even though they aren’t informed about the realities of homeschooling
- Family members who disagree with homeschooling
- Family members and/or strangers who constantly grill children with trivia questions to test their knowledge every time they see them
- Other homeschoolers who think their way is the only way
- The paperwork!
- The “socialization” conversation… because apparently being homeschooled is the same as having no human contact
- That moms who don’t homeschool think we’re judging them for it just because we’re excited to homeschool
- When others think we’re free to run errands, visit, or babysit just because we’re at home
- Talking about socialization with total strangers or family members
- Pinterest-perfect expectations from everyone
- Kids being excluded from sports programs associated with the school system
- Criticism from in-laws and others who ask if our kids are “behind level”
- People who say that public school is the only way kids can learn and be “socialized”
Gripes about the Homeschooling Lifestyle: Pressure on Ourselves
- No downtime because the kids are at home all the time instead of away at school
- The mid-winter slump that steals our motivation and energy
- Overachievers that make us feel like I’m not doing enough
- Never having ME time
- Feeling like I just can’t manage the individual needs of each child in a large family
- Doubting ourselves and wondering if we’re doing enough or doing it right
- Being a single mom busting both ends of candle and winter is hard for us because of the cold. We do lots of arts and crafts in winter
- Stretching ourselves to give enough attention to each child at all times
- The realization that we’re totally responsible for EVERY part of our child’s development and education
- Not having friends or a social life to interact with other moms due to lack of time
Look at a few of these resources!
5 BEST How to Homeschool Books
I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.
Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.
Homeschooling is a wonderful, worthwhile pursuit, but many homeschool parents struggle with feelings of burnout and frustration. If you have ever felt this way, you’re not alone! Most of us need to be reminded of the “why” of homeschooling from time to time—but "The Unhurried homeschooler" takes parents a step further and lifts the unnecessary burdens that many parents place on themselves.
Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for their children and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home.
Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?
Education has become synonymous with schooling, but it doesn’t have to be. As schooling becomes increasingly standardized and test driven, occupying more of childhood than ever before, parents and educators are questioning the role of schooling in society. Many are now exploring and creating alternatives.
Gripes about the Homeschooling Lifestyle: Inconveniences
- Being unable to afford outside activities on a single income
- Hard to manage the housework with kids at home all the time
- Making appointments for ourselves and trying to find childcare during the day
As much as we may love the homeschooling lifestyle, there are challenges as well. Sometimes we just need to accept these things and take the good with the bad. Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to take a break when needed to avoid burnout.
The important thing to remember is that it will all be worthwhile in the end. Take it from someone who has stayed the homeschool course and finished strong. You’ve got this!
Look at these other tips you’ll love:
- Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle
- When Homeschooling is Sucking the Life Out of You
- Why My Homeschooled Kids Are Not Given the Choice to Go to Public School
- 26 of the BIGGEST Gripes about the Homeschooling Lifestyle!
- The NOT To Do List: 32 Things New Homeschoolers Should Avoid
- How to Mesh Your Personality With Homeschooling When They Collide
- What is REAL Homeschooling? Homebound, Co-op or Public School at Home
- When Homeschooling is Not an Overnight Success (Is it Worth the Risk?)
- 4 Undeniable Reasons People Hate Homeschooling (Keeping It Real)
- How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress
- What I Gave Up to Homeschool (and what I got in return)
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