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What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool (25 Silliest Questions Ever)

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When I started homeschooling I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of questions asked by family, friends, and total strangers. Some questions were harsh and others were down right quite silly to me. Today, in sharing what to expect when you expect to homeschool, I have rounded up some of the silliest homeschool questions that you’ll ever be asked.

Homeschool Critics Want to Know

Hopefully, you can have your answers prepared when you get asked the silliest homeschool questions ever.

Okay, true some people really wonder, but homeschooling today is more popular than ever. So we wonder why folks aren’t informed.

What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool (Why 25 of the Silliest Homeschool Questions EVER} @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Silly Homeschool Questions

We love talking about our homeschool style, but always find a chuckle in one or two of these questions.

  • How does he socialize?
  • Are they home with you all day?
  • Are they going to go to real school one day?
  • What about prom?
  • You can’t issue a high school diploma, can you?
  • When your kids are grown, won’t they get in trouble because they didn’t know there is real authority?
  • Do you have to wear dresses?
  • Do your kids have to wear uniforms?
  • What about teaching high school math?
  • What about extracurricular activities?
  • Do kids pass to the next grade? How do you know?
  • What qualifications do you have to teach your kids?
  • Are you going to at least put him in high school?
  • When do they start real school?
  • So, are you a teacher?

Don’t forget to grab my book, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin to be empowered and to be in the know!

  • Is it legal?
  • How will your kids ever make friends?
  • How will your kids learn to be normal?
  • What are you using for your curriculum?
  • When are you going to get him tested?
  • Do they actually do any work?
  • What grade are your kids in?
  • How can you teach your kids if you don’t know everything?
  • Do your kids have friends?
  • Do your kids get out during the day?

I’m sure you can add some more to this list even if you’ve homeschooled for a short amount of time.

Do you think this now adequately prepares new homeschoolers for their start? tee hee hee

What other silly questions have you been asked?

What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool 25 of the Silliest Questions You May Be Asked as a Homeschooler @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

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7 Simple Fitness Tips for Busy Homeschooling Moms

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Do you have fitness goals you’re struggling to achieve? Have you started that workout plan over for the 7th time this week? Maybe you’re kicking yourself because you’ve let another month’s gym membership go to waste? You are not alone! You’ll love these 7 simple fitness tips for busy homeschooling moms.

Finding time to meet your fitness goals can be a challenge, but you are worth it!

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or professional. Just a busy wife and mom who used to be a lot lazier. I’ve run three half marathons, love yoga, running, and paddle boarding. I’m happier when I’m focused on my personal fitness goals, but that’s all the expertise I have. Please speak to your doctor about your plans and goals. These are some ways I’ve been able to meet my own fitness goals and I hope they help you too!

Here are some practical tips to help get your fitness goals off to a fabulous start.

ONE/ Make workouts a priority.

When you think about your family’s schedule, which seems more realistic:

• Early for morning workouts before the day begins.
• Mid-day slump-busting workouts.
• Evening/night-time sessions after the daily grind of the day.

Find your sweet spot. For me, it was waking up early and getting in my runs before the family even woke up.

I’m naturally a morning person and do better knowing I started the day right. I’m also more motivated to make better food choices throughout the day after having busted my tail working out.

Maybe you’re kicking yourself because you’ve let another month’s gym membership go to waste? You are not alone! You'll love these 7 simple fitness tips for busy homeschooling moms.

TWO/ Start small.

You want your fitness goals to be a challenge, but don’t set yourself up for failure. Set attainable goals that you know you can achieve. Don’t run out and sign your life away to a gym or spend a bunch of money on a subscription to workouts you’ll never use.

Let’s all have a moment of silence for DVDs workouts of years past.

Find a workout plan different than what you’ve tried in the past and just get moving with a simple goal to workout three times a week. For someone who is starting from zero, it’s going to take time getting used to sticking to a workout schedule and prioritizing.

THREE/ Set goals.

Once you have found the workout plan that best fits your needs, set goals. What is the best part of setting a goal and achieving it? The Rewards! Don’t forget to treat yourself when you meet your goal.

What are your fitness goals? Write them down. Take a “before” picture of yourself so you can see your progress off the scale as the weeks progress. You’ll be surprised how much difference you can see in the mirror before the scale even cares about your workouts!

Fitness Tips for Homeschooling Moms

FOUR/ Create a schedule.

You’ve got the plan, commitment, and motivation. Now let’s make it happen!

Sit down with your calendar and pencil in your workouts when you plan to get them in. Each week is different especially if you’re a homeschooling family.

That flexibility of schedule gets too flexible sometimes! Our schedule is often all over the place, so I begin the week by creating a plan with specific times I plan to get to my workout each day.

Saying I plan to workout on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is all good until Monday comes and I forgot I had to drive to three appointments.

Having a schedule with actual times of the day in the margin helps me so much when carving out time for workouts.


FIVE/ Be accountable to a friend or group.

Find a friend who’s willing to go on this fitness journey with you.

I’m positive I would not have made it through training for my first half marathon if it weren’t for the daily encouragement from a dear friend who shared the same goal. We wanted to run a half marathon; we found a training plan online and trained “together”.

We planned some days for long runs together, but for the most part we encouraged each other by text messages throughout the week, reminding each other to get our miles in.

A little competition never killed anyone. Some days it was a simple screenshot of her run results to motivate me to get off my lazy butt and get my run in too.

You can also find encouragement and accountability through joining a gym, yoga studio, finding a meetup, or event online.

You’d be surprised how many free fitness classes you can find in your area simply by searching through Facebook events. There are also endless options of online fitness programs with active communities.

SIX/ Let go of guilt.

A healthy mom is a happy mom. The time you put in to invest in your health will trickle down to your family in ways you might not expect.

There will be times when focusing on yourself and making your workouts a priority will feel selfish. There will inevitably be a time when you will have to choose your fitness goals over something else.

Don’t let mom guilt get in the way of where you want to go!

SEVEN/ Involve the family.

Do you know a great cure for feeling guilty? Invite the family along!

One of two things will happen. They will turn you down immediately and laugh at your invitation to go running and you will be able to enjoy the time alone guilt free or they will join you and get excited about getting fit too. It happens!

If you’re doing home workouts, the whole family will see you sweating your buns off in the living room. It’s quite the mood booster when my boys are laughing at me trying to work out without dying.

I’ll never forget my Brazil Butt Lift DVD days. Those were comical workouts! Lord, help those boys.

Speaking of home workouts…

Homeschool Fitness Tips

Home workouts vs. Gym memberships or in-person classes.

It’s hard to know what your magic fitness formula will be, but expect some trial and error. In the beginning just focus on the basics: routine, exercise, and healthier habits.

Finding the right workouts will be key! You want to enjoy your workouts and not dread getting out the door or up off the couch to do them.

What works best for you? Working out at home or joining a gym or club? There are pros and cons to both. Play around with each. Most gyms and yoga studios have a visitor and new member specials.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to a yoga studio that didn’t offer some type of first-month rate at an extremely low price.

Home Workouts for Homeschool Families

Pros
• Convenient-You can find just about any workout online. Home workouts can be done at any time of day, any day of the week, so it’s easy to fit them into your schedule.
• Low cost (often free)-there are so many apps and online programs to choose from and many are very inexpensive. Even the most popular of fitness apps don’t compare to in-person memberships.
• You can work out in PJs-you don’t have to get ready or worry about having cute workout clothes.
• Easy for kids to join. (YAY for PE credit!)

Cons
• Easily interrupted-Nothing is more frustrating than carving out the time, getting dressed, or lacing up those shoes only to be interrupted by kids, a phone call, pets, etc. Being home makes it a little more challenging to fully focus on your workouts.
• Low accountability-there are no set times and anyone to motivate you. It’s all on you!
• Less mental break-Some days, pushing the coffee table out of the way and sweating in my living room just isn’t motivating enough.

Gym memberships & in-person classes for Homeschoooling Families

Pros
• Training-This is a big one for me. You get what you pay for. In most cases, membership is going to give you access to the professional training of some kind. Having someone instruct your positions or teach how to properly use equipment makes a huge difference in your work out and your results.

• Accountability
• Firm schedule
• More mental break – change of environment, getting out

Cons
• Must leave kids, often a challenge
• Cost is usually higher
• Time constraint-not only do you have to make class times, but travel time to and from the class adds to the constraint as well.
• Stress hanging over your head when you can’t make it. UGH! I’m guilty of paying for memberships and yoga passes only to let them go to waste. That is a big downer and makes you feel like a failure.

At home or away, you need to find the workouts that are the perfect fit for you! I do best when I mix things up with a little of both worlds.

Homeschool Fitness: Nutrition, Vitamins and Doctors.

I can’t stress enough how it important it is to take care of yourself behind the scenes. Drink the water. Take your vitamins. Get your physicals, mammograms, and annual exams! What’s the point of taking the time to get fit, if we’re not going to get healthy on the inside too?

Deal with anxiety and depression. Those two will really mess up your goals! Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about medication if needed.

There is NO shame in that! Your fitness journey will be so much easier with a clear mindset when it comes to your health.

Get to those doctor appointments you’ve been procrastinating and find a healthy meal plan that matches your goals and needs.

Maybe you’re kicking yourself because you’ve let another month’s gym membership go to waste? You are not alone! You'll love these 7 simple fitness tips for busy homeschooling moms.

What fitness tips would you add to the list?

Let’s make this year count!

You’ll love these other reads:

Homeschool Critics: How Do You Know You’re on Track?

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

It’s time once again to answer the naysayers, homeschool critics, and homeschool hecklers! We all know those people who never have anything good to say about homeschooling or who just like to heckle us while we’re out shopping at the grocery store. It seems they always have a prepared list of questions and criticisms, right?
How do you know your child is on track and doing enough is a question we seem to get quite a bit. We may even have self-doubt.
Homeschool Critics: How Do You Know You're on Track?

Trackless Homeschooled Kids

Whether you need a little bit of conviction yourself or want to be prepared for homeschool critics, here is a list of possible answers for you, depending on if you’re feeling snarky or serious.
  • What track are you referring to? They’re kids, not trains!
  • What is enough? Can you define that?
  • By whose standards and expectations?
  • “Education should focus on how to learn, not what.”  ~ Sam Sorbo
  • Just laugh and walk away.
  • I’ve seen the track and I don’t want my kids running on it.
  • They don’t stay on track because they are learning to fly!
  • We’re not following the track. We’re braving new territory!
  • There is no track. There’s a path and it’s winding.
  • I appreciate your concern, but we are not accountable to you.

Should We Keeping Homeschooled Kids on Track

  • You worry about your kids and let me worry about mine.
  • We choose quality over quantity in our homeschool. We’re not trying to keep up with the herd.
  • We’re doing just fine, thank you.
  • Sounds more like an assembly line than a track. No thank you!
  • We work at our own pace.
  • We’re actually ahead. Thanks for asking.
  • I have a comprehensive scope and sequence planned out.

Whatever you choose to answer — or not answer — remember to embrace the freedom and individualized education that homeschooling offers!

You’ll love these other ways to prepare for the homeschool naysayers:

Hugs and love ya,

Is Homeschooling Making the Grade? It’s in and the Grade is ALL Fs!

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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.

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 the grade is in and it's all Fs.

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!

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Hugs and love ya,

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 the grade is in and it's all Fs.

Wipe Out Self-Doubt: 13 Ways to Show Homeschool Progress (And How I Know My Sons Got It)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Working in the sun 7 days a week and 12 hour days as insurance auto adjusters, my sons have been walking down rows and rows of thousands of cars as they’ve been processing insurance claims at their job.

The vehicles are owned by persons affected by Hurricane Harvey. Recently, the insurance company considerably reduced the amount of staff needed to work the claims; they kept only 5 people to finish up.

My two sons were part of the 5 kept. By the way, although they have worked doing various things, this has been their first real life (don’t you just hate when people use that word with us) job.

THIS is How I Know My Homeschooled Sons Got It

How do they measure up in their first real life job? One of their bosses told the team, “It’s hard to find kids in this generation with a work ethic like these two boys. They are prompt, do what they’re told, work well with the team, and work without complaining.”

Just prior to the boss speaking, the other employees had called attention to the fact that my boys have been homeschooled.

Homeschool progress, achievement, and success is measured differently by everybody.

And you know it’s not been my style to talk a lot about my sons’ achievements. I want my son’s to explore their options during and after homeschool without feeling the need to perform for the public.

However, I do know, like me, you want to know that your day to day efforts of homeschooling are working.

And letting you know how I know that my homeschooled sons got it, I hope that if you’re having nagging feelings of self-doubt that you’ll put them to rest today.

When a student takes initiative in his school every day that practice spills over to real life. Rigorous academics builds character. Giving your kids freedom to demonstrate mastery equips them with a can do spirit that will stick into adulthood.

What I’m saying is that there is a connection between rigorous academics while homeschooling and success later.

I have rounded up 13 ways to show homeschool progress. And although I didn’t use all of them with my older boys, I used a lot of them. Too, not every idea will work with every topic, but they give you a starting point.

ONE/ Student made maps.

Mapmaking and geography for homeschool study. Check out the tips!

Whether you choose for a student to draw a map from memory or label one teaching concepts get mastered.

WonderMaps by Bright Ideas Press

Wondermaps have been our choice of maps. Whatever time period my boys are working on, we can use them as a blank outline or add as much information to them as we want to.

TWO/Field trip notes.

I’ve always insisted that my sons come back with at least three key things we learned on our field trips. Not only was it fun, but I was enforcing that learning takes place outside of a book.

THREE/ Student made powerpoints or webquests.

FOUR/ Create a timeline.

FIVE/ Engage in a mock discussion. If need be, create a limited time co-op.

SIX/ Write narratives.

Writing narrative is a great way for an older student to demonstrate that he understands a subject.

SEVEN/ Student made presentations.

Presentations have been a huge part of not only recognizing achievement but gave my sons impetus to create excellent work. You don’t have to have something as formal as a co-op, but even a small family audience will work.

EIGHT/ Teach the subject back to you or to one of his siblings.

NINE/Keeping a journal.

TEN/Create a song.

ELEVEN/Create a play.

TWELVE/Oral discussions.

Oral discussions with my sons is one way I was able to gauge their progress in literature.

If they couldn’t go beyond telling me the basics of a story using proper literary terms, I knew they really didn’t put forth effort to engage with the literature.

THIRTEEN/ Narration.

Narration is a Charlotte Mason technique that I incorporated into our unit studies. If a child can’t tell back what he read, he doesn’t really understand it. Look at my tips at my post Narration – Telling Back or Testing? Books that Make Teaching Narration Easy Peazy.

Although my sons job right now is tough, it works for them while they are still taking courses. And I’m just as proud of their work ethic as I am of any academic grade they make.

I’ve learned that my focus on cultivating their attitude was just as important as nurturing their aptitude. You can have both.

When a student takes initiative in his school every day that practice spills over to real life. Rigorous academics builds character. Giving your kids freedom to demonstrate mastery equips them with a can do spirit that will stick into adulthood. Grab these 13 creative ways for your child to show mastery! #homeschool

Tests are important, but they’ll never be able to prepare a homeschool child for facing real life. Try one or two of these ways above for your child to demonstrate progress.

Also, you’ll love these articles!

Hugs and love