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homeschool anxiety

How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress

April 21, 2024 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool mental stress is real. Also, look at my How to Homeschool page for more tips and resources.

Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health.

Having tried and true techniques at your finger tips is absolutely essential to coping with homeschool mental stress; the power of a mental hygiene homeschool routine can’t be underestimated.

How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress

I’ve learned to accept happily that struggling and being stressed doesn’t mean that the homeschool lifestyle is not worth it.

For my family, it has been a superior way of education.

How to Cope With Homeschool

The right view of stress, which is that not all of it is negative, is necessary to categorizing the type of stress we encounter in homeschooling.

5 BEST How to Homeschool Books

I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.

Homeschooling for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

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.

The Unhurried Homeschooler

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.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

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.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

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?

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

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.

There is good stress and there is bad stress.

There is no way to eliminate stress totally from our life because stress can be an energizing and motivating force to do school day in and day out successfully.

The release of energy, the highest sense of accomplishment, and the gratifying feelings deep down in our gut we get when we teach our kids to read, to cook, or see them positively engaging with adults is hard to explain to those that have not experienced it.

10 Tips to Manage Homeschool Stress

However, today I’m not talking about the good side of stress. 

We don’t talk enough about the bad kind of stress which can take over our mind, affect us, and affect those we love.

If you haven’t lived our homeschool life it’s hard to know what we experience day to day. 

Look at these 10 tried and true tips that have worked with me as I’ve homeschooled over the past 20+ years.

 1. Lowering your expectations is NOT equivalent to lowering your standards.

In many ways homeschooling back before all the devices exploded on the homeschooling scene, which are suppose to free up our time, was easier than today.

We didn’t have so much content thrown at us; we weren’t bombarded with information overload to wade through.

Pushing back and resisting the urge to cover every possible facet of a subject has not meant lower standards in learning.

How to Cope With Homeschool Mental Stress. Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health. CLICK HERE to grab them!

My sons high college grades prove otherwise. I view myself as a normal home school mom who didn’t always push her kids academically.

I was consistent each day and that was key to lowering the stress for the day and not overloading my mind with worry if my kids were performing well enough.

If you find that you keep piling expectations, extra subjects, or longer homeschool days on you and your kids ask yourself is it worth it?

2. Step away from the online world and into the real world.

One of the best ways to help me rejuvenate quickly is to be around close friends or family and stay completely off my phone and off online.

Do you remember the time when we all didn’t carry phones? Some people had to actually wait for a reply.

As much time as I spend on my blog and online schooling for my kids, I realize that I’ve always had intermittent times when I’m completely away from the online world.

I find myself with instant calm for my mind when I have face to face conversations with warm individuals. It reminds me that slowing down for day to day interaction is the key to a healthy mental hygiene.

3. Do simple physical activities. I do mean simple.

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to knock yourself out at the gym go for it.

My problem is that it takes me a while to recover from strenuous workouts and then it defeats my purpose in easing my mental stress. From there I go to worrying about what has not been done for the day.

What I have found that works for longer periods of time or through the years is a simple nature walk. To this day, I still take nature walks even in my neighborhood. I think doing it at the crack of dawn and seeing the sun rise sets the right tone for my day.

I’ve always been an early morning person, but if you’re not a morning person the evening sun or night skys is just as gorgeous. I have no favorites.

Being outside reminds me of what is important each day, it fills up my tank when I have to deal with others especially my kids, and it just reminds me to be grateful I’m alive.

4. Easy activities with the kids eases mental tension.

I always read about self-care and getting away from the kids. While this is true on occasions, the truth of it is we homeschool because we love being with our kids.

Not every solution involves isolation. When I feel overloaded I change our plans for the day.

A simple walk or hike with kids, an all day reading day, or even something simple like watching a movie are all easy activities that can ease mental tension. A shift in focus, rest, or stepping back are all options depending on your needs.

Sometimes it’s just not possible to be alone and when you can’t, take steps now to have ideas in place for when you need a different pace.

Besides, you are also modeling to your kids how to cope with days that are mentally taxing.

5. Add humor in big doses throughout the day.

There are many reasons to laugh during the day while homeschooling.

If you’ve taught for any length of time, you know your kids say funny things, think funny things, and do funny things.

Treasure those moments and don’t forget to laugh when it’s time to laugh.

It’s a quick fix to alleviate stress in the air and your kids will love the stress free atmosphere you create. Better yet, write down all of those funny sayings in your planner and come back to them.

I also save pictures in one file of funny things my kids did and I have some picture of myself that ares absolutely awful while homeschooling which I would never share with the homeschooling world.

But every time I look at them, I laugh so hard it’s hard to stop. It keeps me balanced of how I view myself.

6. Do we really NOT have time for a hobby? Count the mental cost.

I was wrong when I started homeschooling because I gave up some of my hobbies. Okay, my thinking was a bit off. It took me years to find balance; I hope it doesn’t take you that long.

My thinking was off because when I thought of a hobby I thought of something that gave no value. A hobby could keep you from doing the more important things if it’s not kept in balance. Why do we think it has to be all or nothing?

How did I adopt such an extreme view? I know it was to prevent me from not giving attention to what I needed to do each day which is to be sure my kids get the best education I can give them.

From Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle

  • Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle
  • How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress
  • How to Begin Homeschooling A Teen Lagging Behind
  • How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child & Free Checklist
  • 5 Ideas to Kick-Start Your New Homeschool Year By Including Others

Again, I try not to go too hard on myself because I had set the right priority.

Balance is the key to doling out increments of time doing something I enjoy whether it’s photography, cooking, or blogging.

Not thinking about the teacher mom at present, but about the person and woman I am has always revitalized me.

You’re the only one to answer to if you have become unbalanced with your hobby.

At times, depending on the level of stress in my homeschooling, I’ve needed more time to step back and focus on who I am. Other times, not so much.

Avoiding critical judgments of how others spend their time off from school helps.

There is no time to be critical of others when you homeschool positively and care for your mental stress.

7. The power of 15 minutes for a shift in focus.

I mentioned earlier that unless you experienced our homeschool lifestyle it can be hard to appreciate the tips. I know oh so well how at times we just can’t get away from our kids.

When I had that time period in my journey, I had to learn the power of a 15 minute shift in focus.

If your kids are old enough to be left alone or to go to another room for that long, then implement that daily tip.

I set the timer on my stove because it was the loudest and because my boys could run into the room to see how much more time was left. It was an easy timer for them to read.

Of course I explained to my kids they didn’t have come into the room to see the timer and that they would hear it.

Staying in their room was a game in the beginning because they wanted to be near me to see what I was doing. However, the more I did it, the more they enjoyed it and stayed in their room or another room to play.

Also, looking back, I realized I also taught them how to have a pause in their day for relaxed mental time. This world can be extremely stressful and our kids need tips as they grow too.

Whether you decide to lay down and read, bathing (if you can), or just do nothing, you decide. Don’t keep engaging your mental person when it needs rest.

8. Your spouse or a trusted friend are priceless.

We know that we do a majority of the homeschooling, but if your husband is like mine, he’s interested in how you’re coping.

Don’t shut him out because he may not understand completely.

Just relaying to my husband what I have been dealing with helps me to articulate it orally and I find it refreshing to get it out of my mind.

I’m all for date nights if you can.

One more technique that my husband and I have implemented is although we may not be able to get away from the kids, we make time to talk alone and teach the kids to respect that time.

Time alone with my husband while the kids were present became absolutely necessary as each kid hit the teen years and we had to deal with unique stressful situations.

We had already implemented daily or weekly management of that type of stress.

9. Organize it, throw it out, and kick it out.

Another huge mental release for me is being able to clean, organize, or kick clutter to the curb. This is especially good if part of your mental stress toll stems from a cluttered home.

Don’t ignore your need for a more efficient working area.

Homeschooing is about teaching kids how to cope with daily life.

So many homeschooled kids are not taught that taking time to organize is as imperative as doing their school work. Is this because some homeschool families don’t view it as essential?

It’s unbalanced to do a whole workbook of math while kids live in a monumental mess.

Why is being good at math so much more important than being a person that people want to be around as they grow into adults? I would never want to live with anyone that didn’t pick up after himself. I want my kids to be the kind of persons that others can roommate with or live with.

Did I mention they are? If you find that your mental stress comes from a cluttered home, then STOP homeschooling and declutter.

You’re not getting behind on homeschooling when you clean, you’re getting ahead of it.

10. Make time for the little things. Chocolate, chat with a friend, get out of the house, or listen to music.

Lastly, make time for what refreshes you mentally.

Creating time to soothe your mental health needs to be part of daily management of homeschool mental stress.

Whether you find a bit of milk or dark chocolate helps bite by bite, a chat with a close homeschool friend which understands your feelings, getting out of the house, listening to your favorite music, exercising more, or doing like I did one time binge watch a Netflix series, they all count.

Make Daily Stress Management Part of Your Routine

Accepting the fact that I can’t do all I want to do and having daily routines has helped me to cope with negative stress.

Learning how to say no to things I can’t be involved in and recognizing stress triggers like avoiding explosive personalities in my homeschool world helps me to manage too. Some people bring unnecessary stress on themselves and those around  them.

Have tips ready at your fingertips for when you need a mental break; your journey should be memorable for the right reasons.

How to Cope With Homeschool Mental Stress. Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health. CLICK HERE to grab them!

What mental coping techniques do you use?I know you’ll love reading these other ways to empower your sticking ability to homeschool:

  • Homeschooling STARTS When You STOP Caring What Others Think
  • 3 Foolproof Ways I Cope When I Can’t Homeschool
  • Deschooling: Step One for the New Homeschooler (the Definitions, the Dangers, and the Delight)
  • 4 Undeniable Reasons People Hate Homeschooling (Keep It Real)

Hugs and love ya,

1 CommentFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Homeschool Simply, Homeschool When Nobody Wants To, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool anxiety, homeschool challenges, homeschool clutter, homeschool crisis, homeschool joy, homeschool joys, homeschool lifestyle, homeschool stress

How to Begin Homeschooling A Teen Lagging Behind

November 5, 2019 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

How to begin homeschooling a teen lagging behind is at the tip-top of the list for new homeschooler anxieties. Also, look at my pages How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School and How to Homeschool High School.

Whether your teen is behind because of unplanned happenings in life, sickness, motivation, or natural struggles, I have four solid tips to give you an easy starting point.

One/Why your teen is lagging behind is key to where to begin.

When my husband had a massive heart attack, my first son had just started homeschooling high school. He was going to be behind for a while because our family life mattered more.

How to begin homeschooling a teen lagging behind is at the tip-top of the list for new homeschooler anxieties. Whether your teen is behind because of unplanned happenings in life, sickness, motivation, or natural struggles, CLICK here for four solid tips to give you an easy starting point!!
#homeschool #newhomeschooler #homeschoolingteens #howtohomeschool

Homeschooled Teens Behind

Identifying why your teen is behind will give both of you the right mindset for a starting point. Although my teen didn’t want to be in that situation (who does), he knew that it was going to take him longer to finish than we planned.

Family situations like extended sicknesses can’t be helped and a positive attitude is needed first before moving on.

Practical Tip One: Don’t bring more stress than you have now by setting unrealistic expectations for catching up.

Put aside the regular public school schedule and be determined to school year round to catch him up. Even in states where you have to keep the 180 lesson planning days it doesn’t mean you can’t have make up days.

In homeschool we learn 24/7/365. Think outside of the box as to when your teen can learn and then create a doable schedule.

Practical Tip Two: Is he lacking in motivation? There is a reason for that. Success is tied to motivation and motivation is key to success.

The approach used in public school for teens is completely different than the independent model used in the homeschool approach.

You’ll not gain traction by bringing your teen home and duplicating the same process at home. It won’t work. You’ll get the same results you’re getting now in public school.

Motivation can stem from boredom, lack of freedom, continually focusing on what your teen is not good at instead of his passions and strengths.

What is needed first is dialog with your teen to help him understand why he is lacking in motivation.

Getting a Homeschooled Teen on Track

Instead of telling him what needs to do to succeed, you need to draw him out with questions.

Asking him questions about his future stirs his emotion and feeds his motivation to see that his success is dependent on him.

Benefits spark motivation. You need to draw him out to list how your new homeschooling lifestyle will benefit him.

I always encourage you to have him take notes and write it down. That way it’s not so easy to forget.

Your list of positives for homeschooling your teen can include these:

  • No forced schedule. A teen needs lots of sleep and learning can take place around the need for rest and good healthy food.
  • No constant pressure to take drugs or have sex.
  • A teen can pursue his passions and take alternate courses for subjects he will actually use in life. For example, some kids will not ever be math minded. Having a solid foundation for basic math with two years of math in high school may be good enough. You decide now as a family what will be your course.
  • A teen can take jobs that work around his school schedule.
  • Bullying and labeling are not part of everyday homeschooling.

Practical Tip Three: Make a list of the benefits of homeschooling. This is very important whether your teen agreed with the choice to homeschool or not. Benefits and payoffs for a homeschooled teen are huge.

No, he won’t have all the answers to your questions, but you’re giving him control over his future. You want him to learn how to have internal dialog.

You’re changing his future by changing the way both of you tackle this struggle.

Teaching Gaps in Homeschooled Teens

And yes, I know you want academic pointers and they’re coming, but this fine point is the difference between a homeschooled teen who tackles a set back successfully and one who stays crippled into adulthood.

Control over his future doesn’t mean he has to do it with no guidance from you. That would not be responsible for a child at any age. A teen especially benefits from your guidance – NOW. He needs you more than ever.

TWO/ Core or skill subjects are the framework of all successful education. Trim the fat by focusing ONLY on them.

Simplicity is the key to catching up and that means an easy workload each day is absolutely necessary.

Public school would have you think that 10 or more subjects is normal; it absolutely is not normal. More does not equal more better.

There is a difference between an easy workload and easy courses. I’ll mention some resources in a minute that will help your teen to sharpen his skills.

Core subjects (no this isn’t common core) are the framework or building elements your teen needs to succeed. We normally call this the Three Rs – reading, writing, and arithmetic.

The homeschool law in your state is your FIRST starting point because they will state which subjects are core.

That is ALL that matters right now. As you have time to catch up after the setback, you can add in other subjects.

More Transition from Public School To Homeschool Resources

  • Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle
  • How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress
  • How to Begin Homeschooling A Teen Lagging Behind
  • How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child & Free Checklist
  • 5 Ideas to Kick-Start Your New Homeschool Year By Including Others

In addition, as you can see two of the Three Rs are language arts related. So it’s possible to use one resource to cover two of the basics of any well-rounded education. It’s that easy to catch up.

If you’re looking to begin homeschooling, my online self-paced boot camp may be for you. It will benefit the 1st and 2nd year homeschooler the most.

And of course I always welcome your questions. Click here to read about the self-paced online homeschool boot camp.

Practical Tip Four: The easy starting point for the basic subjects is your state law. Start with the required subjects.

Do not saddle your teen right now with everything to catch him up. He will not quickly progress and it can backfire because it will strip his confidence even more.

Bottom line is that the content information that teens need to learn vary from state to state, but the core or skills subjects are needed for him to succeed across the board.

Three/ Use homeschool resources that are not baby-ish and that equally speed up the body of knowledge needed.

The last thing a homeschooled teen needs is to be reminded daily of his struggle.

And although an all in one homeschool curriculum will get you started homeschooling, it can be better to piece meal the subjects your teens need. You get to the heart of the struggler quicker.

I have found some resources that not only shore up weak areas in the skill subjects, but that are not baby-ish. We have used these when life happens and when we needed to catch up quickly.

This first resource The Language Mechanic: Tuning Up English With Logic, Grades 4-7 is not only a super way to catch up a teen with the basics of English, but it’s fun.

It has short, but challenging lessons.

The best part is that there are examples that illustrate the humor in using English incorrectly.

Your teens will love the witty examples.

As you can see below in one page of the table of contents there are a variety of basic skills reviewed and it’s a multiple grade resource.

Another resource that works well for teens who may have gaps in their learning are the Quick Study Guides.

Organizing your teen so that he can quickly find the skills he needs without tons of time is how to keep the stress level minimal and encourage independence.

How to Fill In Learning Holes

Add these quick study guides to a notebook and your teen can use them as a reference or basic outline for a subject. Look at how to put together a homeschooled high school writer’s notebook.

Writing tips, English Fundamentals, English Grammar and Punctuation, Chemistry, Research Papers, Math Fundamentals and the list just goes on of these wonderful tiny power packs of information.

Also, science and history subjects are available for the Quick Study Guides.

Another quick and no fuss no frills resource to bring up math skills is the Key to series.

Each packet of 10 booklets or so is designated with a specific math topic/skill so that you can zero in on the math skill your teen needs to review or learn.

Four/Use Out of the Box Options – Accelerated high School, dual credit, Online Tutors and Online Videos are otherv options.

Bright teens may be lacking motivation because they may want to get on with their goals.

Dual credit at a community college where a teen earns high school and college credit simultaneously can be a great way to capture any time lost learning.

The student simply moves forward where he is at, but now has greater motivation for learning when he meeting his future goals. Check with your local community college for the criteria for dual credit.

Also, there is an accelerated high school program by Malibu Cove High School that been around for years. A teen can receive their diploma in 6 to 9 months instead of four years from an accredited school if you need that.

Four/Relationship is more important than academics.

Hear my heart when I tell you that when your kids are grown and gone, they’ll never fondly remember the academics. They will remember how you made them feel when you’re going through stressful times.

Whether you’re determining if your teen’s lagging behind is aptitude or attitude or he got behind because of sicknesses or general boredom in public school, your relationship with him matters the most.

Be patient to find the solution and quick to help him gain traction again.

And of course, if you have any questions drop them below or hit REPLY!

How to begin homeschooling a teen lagging behind is at the tip-top of the list for new homeschooler anxieties. Whether your teen is behind because of unplanned happenings in life, sickness, motivation, or natural struggles, CLICK here for four solid tips to give you an easy starting point!!
#homeschool #newhomeschooler #homeschoolingteens #howtohomeschool

Look at these other ways or tips to help you fill the academic holes:

  • Essential Life Skills – A Homeschooler’s Other Curriculum
  • Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)
  • A to Z List: Middle and High School Homeschool Electives
  • Get It Over and Done: How Do Homeschoolers Graduate Early How Does my High School Homeschooled Kid Get a Diploma If I Do This Myself?
  • How to Use Summertime to Put a Foot in Homeschooling
  • Gauging Homeschool Progress – Masters of their Material?

Hugs and love ya,

2 CommentsFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Begin Homeschooling, Build Character in Homeschooled Kids, Graduate a Homeschooler, Homeschool Teens _ From Teen to Graduation, How To - - - Tagged With: fearless homeschooling, high school, homeschool anxiety, homeschool mistakes, middleschool, teens

What to Do When You Feel Alone as a Homeschool Mom

November 15, 2018 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Sometimes homeschooling can feel like a solitary journey for moms. It’s ironic that we seek out opportunities for our kids to “socialize” yet as homeschool moms we can get isolated unless we make an effort to reach out. The responsibilities of homeschooling and keeping a home running smoothly leave little time for us as individuals. So what is a homeschool mom to do when she feels alone?It's ironic that we seek out opportunities for our kids to "socialize" yet as homeschool moms we can get isolated unless we make an effort to reach out. You’ll love these tips on What to Do When You Feel Alone as a Homeschool Mom! CLICK HERE!

How to Cope with Isolation While Homeschooling

Here are some helpful tips to help you cope through the lonely times.

Join an online homeschool support group

Some moms find it hard to come out of their shells, even though they really would like to join a group. They worry about what other moms might think of them, or that they won’t be able to make a connection. Sometimes it can be easier to interact in an online group, so don’t discount their value!

Are you part of my private facebook group, Homeschool Dynamics by Tina Robertson?

We can stay in touch there and you’ll love connecting with other like-minded persons although they may not be in your same town.

Join a local support group or co-op

You can reach out to other like-minded moms in local support groups, co-ops, or play groups. Sometimes just a once a week or once a month get-together can make all the difference in your attitude when you get to talk to other moms in similar situations. It can be just what you need to renew and inspire you.

Sometimes it takes a while to find a group where you and your kids fit in. In the beginning of my homeschool year, I think I went through four groups before I found one that suited myself and my kids.

The group I chose had one park day a week and it was the perfect amount of time to keep us interacting with others and to keep me from wanting to go into a shell.

Although I’m not shy by nature, I do have low tolerance for drama. That kept me from joining some groups. However, I realized the need to be around other people was important as it served as the impetus to keep going through tough times.

Visit the local library

You’d be surprised by some of the activities, groups, and classes you can find for free or low cost at your local library. You’ll find other moms there for story times as well. Don’t be afraid to reach out and find a kindred spirit there!

Become the organizer

If these things don’t exist in your area, start them yourself! Homeschoolers are used to thinking outside the box and taking the initiative, right? If what you need doesn’t exist yet, create it yourself. Odds are there are other moms just like you looking for these types of connections.

Focus on the kids

I know you may say you do this already. But my point is sometimes a friend for you can come out of friendships between kids. I have one dear friend where the friendship bloomed from kids that have similar personalities.

Coping with Homeschool Loneliness

It doesn’t take a whole group to not feel alone. A conversation is an art between two people.

Be willing to drive a few hours

I think this is one one of the most common complaints I hear a lot about homeschool groups. I’ve been part of groups that I’ll be willing to drive to for hours because of the quality over one that was in my hometown and not a good fit.

Carpooling worked too and we would take our lunches to save money on gas.

The truth of it is groups pop up and close down all the time and you need to be willing to adjust to find your niche.

Even one outing a month was good for us at times when life was busy, so I was willing to drive to meet up for the day. I never regretted having to drive to meet with our friends.

Find your tribe or just one BFF

Whether you’re looking for a group or just one great friend, don’t give up. It’s worth the effort. If one group isn’t working, try another.

It’s important for homeschool moms to have friends, online or in person, who understand the homeschooling lifestyle.

There are times in your homeschooling journey when you might feel alone, but it doesn’t have to stay  that way. Remember there are other like-minded moms out there and with persistence you can find each other.It's ironic that we seek out opportunities for our kids to "socialize" yet as homeschool moms we can get isolated unless we make an effort to reach out. You’ll love these tips on What to Do When You Feel Alone as a Homeschool Mom! CLICK HERE!

You’ll love these other tips:

  • Is Homeschooling Making the Grade? It’s in and the Grade is ALL Fs! 
  • When Homeschooling is Not an Overnight Success (Is it Worth the Risk?)
  • How to Grow to Love Being a Homeschooler
  • What I Gave Up to Homeschool (and what I got in return)

Hugs and love ya,

 

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Avoid the Homeschool Blues, Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Begin Homeschooling, Homeschool When Nobody Wants To Tagged With: fearless homeschooling, homeschool anxiety, homeschool challenges, homeschool crisis, homeschool joys, homeschool lifestyle, homeschoolchallenges, homeschoolcrisis

100 Ways to Silence the Homeschool Naysayers (Maybe!)

November 5, 2018 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

It’s hard to believe that we still have to deal with homeschool naysayers, but they’re out there, aren’t they?

The truth is, there will always be critics no matter what you do, and if you’re a homeschooling family. Lucky you! You’ve probably had to handle homeschool naysayers at one point or another.

100 Ways to Silence the Homeschool Naysayers

Although the choice to homeschool has become more mainstream in recent years, you can bet there will always be someone who doesn’t get it. Homeschool naysayers come in all shapes and sizes. They could be your friends, family, or just a good ‘ole fashioned random stranger. Either way, it’s important to be prepared for those moments when the naysayers are out.

Respond with kindness.

Give others the benefit of doubt. Often times, people are just curious about the homeschooling and have a poor way of showing it.

Embrace being different.

More and more parents are turning to homeschool, but it’s still not the norm. Let go of insecurities and be confident in your family’s choice.

Share your success stories.

It’s always a shock to the homeschool naysayers when they learn we’ve been at it for over a decade and have one son in college. Be proud of your successes. Homeschooling is possible!

Turn the table.

Why don’t people ask public school parents the same weird questions they ask homeschooling parents? Try asking homeschool naysayers you encounter some of those silly questions. Do they worry about socialization?

In a perfect world, parents will be able to do what they feel is best for their kids without facing any judgment. Until then? Here’s a mega list for the next time you need to silence the homeschool naysayers.

(Let’s just say you’ll never be caught off guard by critics again!)

Homeschool Naysayers

1. I don’t want my kids falling through the cracks of the public school system.
2. My kids have different learning styles and we need the flexibility of homeschooling.
3. I’m thankful for the freedom to study any subject we want.
4. My kids are learning how to study and research.
5. I’m not judging you for sending your kids to public school, so please don’t judge me for my choice to keep my kids home.

6. Textbooks limit learning to the same old facts.
7. Standardized tests are not a true measure of ability.
8. I want my children to be treated like students and not just a test score.
9. I don’t have faith in a system where the teachers aren’t valued.
10. There’s no better place for a child to learn than home.

11. Classrooms are overcrowded.
12. We never have to worry about the car line or bus stop.
13. Homeschooling is what’s best for our family.
14. Now that my kids are older we take our work with us to the coffee shop.
15. Standardized testing causes so much stress and anxiety in our young kids.

16. We love being able to take family vacations without being tied to a school calendar.
17. I don’t want my kids worried about school shootings.
18. My kids are able to mature at their own pace.
19. Homeschooling fosters creativity.
20. I don’t have to worry about what my kids are learning.

Thank goodness I was never sent to school: it would have rubbed off some of the originality. ~ Beatrix Potter

21. Homeschooling makes it easy to follow passions and turn them into areas of study.
22. We don’t have to deal with bullies.
23. Or drugs!
24. My kids don’t have to worry about the stress of peer pressure or trying to “fit in”.
25. I’m able to offer one-on-one instruction.

26. We are able to cover the same material in a fraction of the time it takes to cover in the classroom.
27. My kids are far apart in age and would never see each other if it weren’t for homeschooling.
28. We get to make weekend breakfast every day.
29. We’re never running late in the morning.
30. My kids are growing up together instead of living on different schedules.

31. I’ll never get this time back and I’m thankful.
32. We get to expose our children to the world on our own terms.
33. Homeschooling has helped our family to work together as a team.
34. I want my kids to learn more about life than what public school will teach them.
35. Homeschoolers are being accepted by colleges and universities nationwide.

36. We get to do projects and experiments as a family.
37. I love that we can impart values and beliefs into our studies.
38. There is a growing demographic of homeschooling families.
39. Homeschool families reduce the burden on taxpayers by an estimated $27 billion annually.
40. It’s nice to be able to focus on life skills students aren’t learning in the classroom.

41. State standardized testing benefits the schools not the student.
42. Homeschooling makes it possible to build long-term friendships as opposed to controlled “socialization”.
43. My older children are learning how to teach through learning with younger siblings.
44. We’re not limited to textbooks.
45. Thankfully, “Common Core” is not a common phrase in our home.

There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent. ~ Gandhi

46. We get to make more memories as a family.
47. My kids are able to dig deeper or go in a different direction if that’s where learning leads.
48. My teenager was able to find a great part-time job due to his schedule flexibility.
49. I want to keep my kids from the stress I dealt with at public school when I was growing up.
50. Homeschooling provides a platform for my kids to be problem solvers.

51. Homeschooling has provided a flexible schedule for my high schooler to complete volunteer hours needed for scholarship applications.
52. Busy learners can stand, jump, and move around as needed.
53. My kids aren’t immediately labeled when they’re struggling.
54. Homeschooling has prepared my college-aged kids for managing their own time and schedule.
55. We aren’t bound to the public school schedule, which is primarily built upon county transportation needs, not the needs of students.

56. We are able to offer a calm, peaceful learning environment.
57. People have been successfully educating their kids at home for decades.
58. Customizing our education has been so awesome.
59. We love learning through field trips.
60. There is more time for hands-on learning.

61. My kids get more time with grandparents and extended family.
62. We have the option to travel any time of year.
63. Our family cherishes the extra meal times we have together.
64. We’ve learned so much about teamwork through homeschooling.
65. If we need a day off, we take one!

6. We get to read whatever we want.
67. My kids aren’t witnessing any physical abuse or bullying at home.
68. We’ve been able to educate our kids about sex, relationships, and marriage in a safe and loving environment.
69. We don’t have to fight weekend crowds.
70. I get to teach my kids through everyday tasks like shopping, cooking, and cleaning.

I suppose it is because nearly all children go to school nowadays and have things arranged for them that they seem so forlornly unable to produce their own ideas. ~ Agatha Christie

71. I will never regret the extra time I got with my kids.
72. Coasting through the system with C’s and minimal understanding or retention is not OK with me.
73. We don’t have to teach to the test.
74. My kids aren’t forced to be anywhere they don’t feel safe.
75. We have built a strong family foundation homeschooling through hard times.

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school ~ Albert Einstein

76. We get to play music really loud during class.
77. We can literally take our school anywhere!
78. My kids have learned how to interact with all age groups.
79. There’s never any busy work or wasted time.
80. We never have to stress with late-night homework.

81. Our pets love having their humans home during the day.
82. We are able to place a greater emphasis on music and art.
83. I’m doing my best to give my kids what they need.
84. My senior is able to spend time focusing on college and scholarship applications.
85. I’m able to customize our schedule to fit the needs of my kids.

86. We’re not dependent on state-funded resources.
87. My kids are able to move through each subject at their own pace.
88. We’re able to do science experiments every day.
89. My teenagers work more productively with a later sleep schedule than public school allows.
90. There’s nothing better than an empty movie theatre on a weekday afternoon.

91. It’s been a huge learning experience for our family.
92. My younger children have learned so much from learning alongside their older siblings.
93. I get to sit and have coffee with my kids instead of rushing out the door.
94. We can really dive into a subject or area of study through food, history, movies, etc.
95. I love that we can focus on character and values in our studies.

96. Homeschooling has taught my kids to be independent thinkers.
97. My kids grow up learning that it’s OK to be different and go “outside the box”.
98. We can take a creative approach to learn.
99. Our family has more time together.
100. Homeschooling is awesome!

How do silence the homeschool naysayers? What would you add to the list?

You’ll love these other tips and grab some of my other 100 round ups:

  • Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination?
  • 3 Ways You’re Making Homeschool Harder Than It Has to Be
  • How Do I Socialize My Homeschooled Kids? Are We Really Talking About this AGAIN?
  • 100 Brilliant STEM Activities Using Everyday Items
  • 100 BEST Books for Kids from all 50 States (Easy Geography)
  • A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • 100 BEST Ideas to Organize Your Homeschool Area – Storage, Spaces, and Learning Places
  • 100 Easy & Fun Ancient Civilization Hands-on Projects

This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Click the image below to visit all the other blog articles from the homeschool moms of the iHomeschool Network.
Hugs and love ya,

 

1 CommentFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Begin Homeschooling, Homeschool Simply, Kick Off Your Homeschool Year Tagged With: 100, 100 Lists, homeschool, homeschool anxiety, homeschool challenges, homeschool lifestyle, homeschool socialization, homeschoolchallenges

26 of the BIGGEST Gripes about the Homeschooling Lifestyle

October 18, 2018 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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.

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.

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 for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

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.

The Unhurried Homeschooler

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.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

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.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

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?

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

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 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.

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)

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Homeschool Simply Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool anxiety, homeschool challenges, homeschool crisis, homeschool lifestyle, homeschool mistakes

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