As homeschool families, we’ll be the first to defend the homeschooling lifestyle. 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.
Table of Contents
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!
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:
- 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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