Successfully homeschooling is not easy. Ask a homeschool mom and she’ll admit many days are tougher than she thought in the beginning. Is homeschool worth it? Is homeschooling making the grade?
After 20+ years of homeschooling and having my third homeschool high school graduate this year, I’m here to tell you that the grade is in and it’s all Fs.
Is Homeschooling Making the Grade?
What is there to not love when emphasis is put on Family-style learning? Public school only Feigned an interest in our child.
Children are not Forgotten or left behind. There is no worrying about the no child left behind law because your emphasis is on the individual needs of your children ahead of standards for the masses.
At first, you don’t appreciate your new Found Freedom or Flexibility.
Trying to follow the public school schedule is normal albeit Foolish. You left the public school because it didn’t Fit your educational philosophy until somebody Finally asks you why would you mimic something that is not working. Is that the meaning of insanity?
Then, you Figure out that there are no homeschool police lurking around the corner. Determined to Face the odds and not overly worry about ruining your child’s Future, you learn to savor precious moments, relax, and take one year at a time.
Homeschooling is about doing what is right and Fine for your family. You have choices to homeschool with an attitude Full of Faith or use Faith-Free curriculum.
It takes a Few years to get past the guilt you have because your Firstborn was your guinea pig. Instead of playing and nurturing a Fidgety child’s need to move you made the Formative years too Formal.
Understanding that you First learn to parent a 2 year old or 3 year old by Focusing on Fun, you have to Forgive yourself for new bee mistakes.
Always worrying if your children are behind is Frightening and Finally you let go of Fear.
Doubters told you that homeschooling wasn’t for the Fainthearted. Embracing a Feisty and Ferocious attitude, you learned to squelch the naysayers, embrace the years when everything went wrong, and to be energized and Fortified when your kids moved ahead two grade levels in a Few months.
After many years of homeschooling you know that you’ve Fueled your kids love for learning although you felt like a Fool. It took a while for the Feelings of Failure to leave, but through homeschool Friendships you gained a new homeschool Family and a renewed Focus.
Reflecting isn’t easy, but you learned to stretch Forward and measure success through every day interaction with your kids. No longer looking to public school as an option for education, you’re absolutely sure that your mommy curriculum you Fussed over year after year Fosters a true love of learning.
Sure, you try to Fuel that same can-do spirit of how to teach in new homeschooling moms, but you realize they only want to talk about choosing curriculum. Finding answers for their family is their job.
From Fanatical to Formidable Homeschooler
Helping to Fortify new homeschool educators is what I can do. Learning is not a small window of time that quickly closes and progress is a journey measuring year to year and not day to day. Through all the Fatigue, Frustration, and Financial strain you wouldn’t change one Fiery moment.
When you Finish the Formal part of your homeschool years, you know how Fulfilled, Fantastic, and Fearsome you truly are now!
Don’t forget to join my FACEBOOK group where we talk about ALL these things and more!
You’ll also Find these articles inspiring:
- Deschooling: Step One for the New Homeschooler (the Definitions, the Dangers, and the Delight)
- Transitioning from a Public School Mindset to a Relaxed Homeschooling Lifestyle
- Blurring the Line Between Living and Learning When Homeschooling
Hugs and love ya,
Could not agree more . We are finishing our 17th year of home-schooling. I always felt like my two oldest were the guinea pigs and I would be a polished teacher by the time numbers 3 and 4 were in high school. WRONG! The joy of homeschooling is tailoring school to fit the child and their learning style. So with number 3 finishing 10th grade and number 4 finishing 8th grade, next year’s high school looks a lot different than with numbers 1 or 2. Homeschool is always in a state of change in some aspect. Never boring! The plus side is the older two just finished their spring semesters in college and both have 4.0 averages, so I must be doing something right.
I don’t think think I could have read this at a better time! We’re in our first year of homeschooling and I have felt every emotion possible. I know this way of schooling is the best choice for my boy, unfortunately I often feel ….. oh… under qualified? Inadequate? And of course I’m always trying to squash my feelings because I actually want us to be successful and figure this thing out. Thank you so much for your encouraging words ?
Brilliant.