(Kelley and I take time for a quick picture as she gets ready to run the front table for an open house for Susan Wise Bauer.)
Unlocking the homeschooler leader within you may not be a topic that a lot of homeschoolers write about. I don’t know. What I do know is that at times I hold back from telling you about the other things that make my heart go pitter patter. Serving other homeschoolers is one of those things. Knowing that a lot of us, including myself, struggle at certain times with the basics of day to day homeschooling, I felt like talking with you about homeschool leadership would certainly fling you into a state of homeschool frazzled.
(vendor set up)
Throwing my paranoia out the window and embracing a no holds barred blogging mantra, I am following my own advice this year. Sharing a few things about my own conversion to homeschool leadership and sharing tips on this heartfelt topic, I hope you get a spark of encouragement from it.
How To Protect Yourself From Defeatism
A mind-set of expecting the worst from the beginning is not just like a restraint, but it is like a homeschool harness that bridles you. There are many talented, caring, giving and plain downright extraordinary women and men in homeschool. Sometimes though you never hear about them because they have already bridled themselves. Self-defeat is a huge barricade to tear down in the homeschooling world and especially in homeschool leadership.
Another attitude that seems to prevail is the thinking that all homeschool leaders are social type of folks or just really need people around them all the time. Nope, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Some leaders are that way, others are not.
There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into managing any group, large or small. Whether a homeschool leader is good at crunching numbers to maintain a budget or enjoys working by herself maintaining a group website or enjoys editing, there are plenty of chores for quiet behind the scenes doers. If you are more vocal and don’t mind the microphone like I do there are plenty of jobs for you too.
That brings me to another common factor, which resonates loud with any homeschool leader and that is that there is never enough volunteers to step forward to help. That has always been the main topic in any leadership conference. How do we involve others?
What holds them back? Is it fear that they will have too much on their homeschool plate? Is it fear thinking they now have to be a social butterfly? Do they fear that because they are not an organized person there is no way to contribute to leadership?
I have learned that the most important part of a group’s success is the contribution of many, not just the one. Though there may have been only two people making decisions for any event I sponsored or group I created, I have never had to make major decisions alone.
It’s a given that extra work is involved. Realistic person that I am, I am here to tell you that sometimes you can’t even imagine the work load. Also though from my own experience, the blessings have been equally hard for me to put into words for you.
Lasting friendships, shared teaching experiences that ultimately benefited my children, elite and superior tutors for my children and plain downright fun are just a few for me.
Pump Up the Homeschool Endorphins
What makes a person want to serve? Working with many not just talented homeschool leaders, but caring gentle women, I know that each one has their own reasons to serve. I don’t think all of the reasons are so apparent at the beginning because leadership is about self-discovery too, but here are some of the reasons I have served.
- Instead of telling my sons to be leaders in homeschooling or in their own education, I wanted to set the example.
- My mission statement written by me and my husband said that we wanted to provide a network of approved friends for my sons to choose from to form lasting friendships. Speaking personally, I couldn’t do this if I didn’t have a hand in recruiting and approving members.
- When I first started homeschooling, there weren’t very many large homeschooling conventions around me. Knowing that others must need the same encouragement I did, I wanted to be sure I was getting homeschool encouragement on a regular basis.
- I understood early that collaborative strengths of other fearless leaders only benefited my children. Could my strengths also benefit their children? This equaled a win-win.
(after a long night, one quick picture. Me, then Susan Wise Bauer in the middle and Sheila.)
- Some of the leaders I have personally worked with deserve a homeschool halo, but most would probably tell you that they started serving because it kept them accountable in their journey. This is very true for me. Whether I was preparing for a homeschool leader like Susan Wise Bauer to come and speak or preparing a co-op unit study, the experiences cemented my conviction to keep homeschooling my children.
Though not always, I can tell you that homeschoolers eager to jump out there for leadership were often the ones that burned out quickly.
Key to releasing the homeschool leader in you starts with you. Some of the best homeschooler leaders I have worked with are the ones that think they can’t lead or rather don’t view themselves as a leader.
Sharing my thoughts and tips about homeschool leadership throughout this year, I will expand more on the how-tos of serving in the homeschool community.
Is there a tiny ember in you flickering for homeschool leadership? Don’t let it die out.
Hugs and love ya,
Get these tips for making the most out of your homeschool co-op!
