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26 of the BIGGEST Gripes about the Homeschooling Lifestyle

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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:

How to Survive Homeschool Sick Days

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

Cold and flu season comes to everyone eventually, even homeschool families. Moms rarely get a day off, but sometimes sick days are necessary for both you and the kids. So what do you do when it’s time for a homeschool sick day? As with anything else in life, having a plan in mind can help when the time comes. Here are some tips to help you survive the homeschool sick days.How to Survive Homeschool Sick Days. Even homeschool families need sick days sometimes. Here are some ideas for how to cope when you need a homeschool sick day. CLICK HERE to grab these sanity saving tips!

Homeschool Sick Days

If you need to take a homeschool sick day once in a while, it’s not the end of the world. That doesn’t mean the kids will “get behind” or stop learning!

Some homeschool families do sick day “make-up” work on the weekend or on what would usually be a holiday vacation time. Others homeschool year-round so they can take a planned week off every month or a few weeks off every six weeks or some variation. This allows for time off built into the schedule so there’s no pressure when you need a sick day.

If need be, remember that half days count, too! If someone isn’t feeling well in the morning, try a later start. If you hit an afternoon slump due to allergies or headache, just end your studies a little earlier on those days when you need to.

When you’re just dealing with a minor cold, you can cut back to just one or two subjects for the day so you don’t get worn out. Remember that part of learning is life skills, which means knowing how to listen to what your body needs and getting some rest when you’re not feeling well.

Some homeschool moms have a backup plan that includes getting a friend or family member to help out when they’re sick. Do you have someone who could take over your lesson plans if you’re not well enough for an extended time?

Learning Never Really Stops

There are still learning activities you can do when the family is feeling under the weather. If Mom is sick, there are independent learning activities to consider. If the illness has hit the whole family, here is a list of things that can be educational even while recuperating:

  • Reading in bed
  • Watching educational documentaries together as a family (Don’t forget about Amazon Prime and Netflix!)
  • Doing Mad Libs
  • Listening to audiobooks
  • Educational games on the couch or in bed
  • Making lapbooks
  • Coloring

Don’t forget resting and snuggling!

Remember, you don’t have to replicate school at home. Take the time you need when you need it. That’s one of the advantages of homeschooling in the first place!

Starting Back Up after Homeschool Sick Days

One of my best tips for starting back up after homeschool school days is this:

Just like when you were sick, you needed soup. So now that you’re well, you need a different diet until you boot up to 100 percent. I would do two subjects like math and maybe reading. Then call it a day as you rest more and get the house in shape. Do that for a few days, then fold in another subject. It’s almost like starting a new year. Ease into it.

Also, never underestimate the value of books, games, and hands-on learning. Apps and computer games can be learning supplements when you’re not up to par yet.

You can also use an educational movie or documentary that directly ties into whatever you’re learning. It can supplement your unit study and spark rich discussions. Map work is another great thing to try as you gain strength after an illness.

Some Perspective on Homeschool Sick Days

We all know that it’s tough on the family when mom gets sick, but when you’re also the teacher it can make things even more complicated. If the flu or a cold strikes the whole family at once, don’t worry about taking some needed time off. A little bit of planning ahead and lots of TLC can help you get through those homeschool sick days! How to Survive Homeschool Sick Days. Even homeschool families need sick days sometimes. Here are some ideas for how to cope when you need a homeschool sick day. CLICK HERE to grab these sanity saving tips!Look at these other tips for sick days:

Hugs and love ya,

 

The BEST Gift Ideas for Homeschool Families & Their Kids!

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

What’s the best gift ideas for homeschool families and their kids?

After a year or two at it, it’s easy to see how homeschooling can easily become a lifestyle. And while there are certain times in the year that you can predict certain needs (for example, school supplies in the fall), there’ll be many other times throughout the year when both homeschooled kids and their parents will appreciate something special.

There are lots of opportunities like Homeschool Teacher Appreciation Day (yup, there IS such a thing!) that friends and family (and a shout-out to generous grandparents) can show an extra measure of support with a thoughtful gift. But really, who needs an occasion to “gift” someone you care about, right?!

But what to give? Even the most supportive family can be a little stumped by what to buy. Especially when a homeschooling bunch enjoys a flexible style, or thrives on “unschooling”.

What’s the best gift ideas for homeschool families and their kids? You'll love this list! CLICK HERE!

So I asked a bunch of homeschoolers I know to give me their dream list. Of course, asking a bunch of homeschoolers – who by their very nature like to live un-labeled – sometimes/often/always means you’re likely to get a wide range of answers!

Fortunately, I was able to distill those answers into a few categories. And I’m hoping that the following list of ideas will help you in the future as you gift shop for your favorite homeschool family.

Keep in mind that while some of these categories don’t sound like fun (i.e. supplies), homeschoolers by nature are a pretty creative lot, and many kids I know get as much fun out of a fresh pack of colored pencils or markers as any artsy adult out there! So don’t be put off by the titles below. When given with enthusiasm and a kind heart, a sincere gift is always appreciated.


One/ Gift Homeschool School Supplies

No, “homeschool” and “school” isn’t a typo here: homeschools and schools are NOT (necessarily) the same thing! Many of us work super-hard to not re-create a traditional school inside our own four walls, even though we may use some of the same materials. Such as:

  • Amazon gift cards – These are always welcome, ‘cause when something comes up unexpectedly, Amazon is bound to have it!
  • Backpack – Yes, even homeschoolers use these. Many families study at co-ops, or the library, or other locations, and at the very least have been know to take along a book or two when out and about.
  • Hands-on science kits and other materials – No matter what science is going on at home, anything hands-on is sure to be super-appreciated. These are the items that are often a bit beyond budget, and add an exciting element to studies.
  • Models – Same here, whether they are train, plane, car, or human body models – what fun!
  • Pens and paper – Always appreciated because we’re always running out. The “cooler” the variety, the more they are a gift..
  • Gift card to Hobby Lobby – or Michaels or any craft store, for that matter. We’ll take it and be oh-so-thankful!


Two/Gift Homeschool Teaching Resources – a teacher’s wish list

Ah, yes, these are the items that for the typical homeschool family might be budget-busters, but if given as single gifts by someone special can be treasured for years to come:

  • Telescope or microscope – Remember that comment above about hands-on science kits? Well, there are entire universes (quite literally) that open up to our kiddos by looking through either of these, and you will have the entire family’s eternal gratitude by gifting one of these puppies.
  • A laminator – This is like “If you Give a Mouse a Cookie…” to a homeschool mom. There are a gazillion uses for one of these, but sadly, this is not usually on the basic school supply list in the fall. Sigh.
  • A ukulele or set of bongo drums, musical instruments – Sure, consider gifting a piano if you have the bucks! Music is one of those gifts that keeps on giving, and studies show that music studies often have far-reaching side benefits, too.
  • Gymnastics class or other class the kids would like and don’t fit into the budget – If they already have an instrument, consider paying for a semester or even a year’s worth of lessons. The grandpa of a friend of mine covered the cost of piano lessons for two of her children one year, and went on to cover another year for the student who really “took” to music studies.
  • Metal detector – This is SO fun and educational and a great item to have when going on vacation, too.
  • Cover (or at least contribute to) travel expenses to somewhere super cool – OK, maybe this might be asking too much, but considering how much we spend on technology, that same amount going towards memories and the learning that takes place while traveling? Priceless!
  • Printer – Even mini printers are affordable these days and homeschoolers still print – a lot.

Three/ Gift Other Homeschool Resources – month-by-month

Learning goes on month-to-month, and these resources can broaden the scope of almost whatever subject is being taught! Plus, the passes also help families make the most (educationally) of potential family vacations.

  • Magazine subscriptions, homeschool and learning magazines for kids.
  • Any kind of zoo pass, National Park pass, nature/science/museum/center pass…
    Documentary movies – Netflix, Amazon Streaming, etc

Four/ Fun Stuff that Homeschooled Kids and Families Appreciate

  • Pj’s – From a well-meaning family member, pj’s can be a great inside joke. You know how some people think we “do school” in our pj’s all day.(OK, maybe some of us do, but that’s another story)
  • Games – Board games for inside and outdoor games for when the weather’s fine are always welcome. If you can gift NON-tech games and/or games without batteries and mom-annoying noises, these will be especially appreciated by the grown-ups.
  • Art baskets – Head over to a craft store or big-box craft department and put together a cute little box or basket with fuzzy pom poms, pipe cleaners, clothespins, craft sticks, googly eyes, little erasers shaped like animals. Go crazy! Or send them a fun package to their house.
  • Minecraft skins – If you know a homeschooler who’s “into Minecraft” (and believe me there are ways to use Minecraft in a homeschool) pick up a pre-paid gift card for them so they can make in-game purchases. Of course, always check with mom and dad beforehand.

Five/ Homeschool Mom Gifts

Last, but certainly not least, at the end of the day, I can’t think of a homeschool mom on the planet that wouldn’t appreciate a special gift for herself once in a while.

  • Monthly massage – This needs no explanation.
  • Babysitting – Having time to prep or clean or just have some “me-time” is oh-so-important, and often neglected.
  • Housekeepers – And you get extra points if you can arrange for an hour or two before a special family occasion coming up!
  • A mani-pedi gift card – Even more fun, go out with her and make it a fun friends-date.
  • Words of encouragement – Who gets “real” mail these days? Sending a store-bought, or even handmade card is sure to touch her heart.
  • The day off! – Come take over for the day while she goes out and does whatever. You don’t even have to volunteer to oversee school ‘cause even the kids could use a break now and then. But she’ll be sure to remember this day fondly for some time to come.
  • Pre-made meals – Don’t wait until there’s an illness or tragedy. Surprise the family with a meal and, if you brought enough, stay and visit for a while.
  • Pay a library fine – Oh my, this will speak volumes to a busy mom who may or may not have forgotten to bring a book or two back in time. And I may or may not have personal experience with this one. I’m not saying.

There you have it! But see what I mean? The “perfect gift” for a homeschool family comes in as many shapes and sizes as homeschool families themselves.

Give any of these ideas or anything else you can come up with… from your heart and you’re sure to touch their hearts!

What’s the best gift ideas for homeschool families and their kids? You'll love this list! CLICK HERE!You’ll love these other ideas:

Hugs and love ya,

Homeschool Colorful Reading Journal to Motivate Kids

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

A reading journal should go far beyond listing books. When my children were little, I made a reading journal to help them track the books they read.

However, it was so much more than just a tracker.

They answered comprehension questions, put their thoughts down on paper, and tracked their reading. I’m so tickled to finally have prepared a reading journal for you.

I plan on adding more forms to it so you can build it much like you do my Free 7 Step Homeschool Planner.This free homeschool colorful reading journal is a great start to motivate your kids to read.

reading journal

One of the best features is that the log pages on each reading journal are created to track reading time in 15 minute increments.

Life is busy and like me, you probably have some avid readers and some that are not so much.

Reading Journal

By tracking 15 minute increments instead of tracking chapters or complete books, it breaks the reading process down into bites.

Before I get into explaining more about my newest forms that I’m so giddy to share with you, I want to remind you about the smokin’ hot reading logs I have right now.

I created very detailed and specific reading logs that track by chapter and genre of the book. We really need specific forms as we plan.

Find them on STEP 5A Choose Unique Forms Just for YOU – 7 Step Homeschool Planner (Option 7 on that page).

When I created the detailed reading logs my mindset was to have them for planning purposes.

reading journal

Homeschool Reading Journal to Motivate Kids

I’ve used them for years as I’ve planned and tracked. I have 7 options which match the weekly planning pages on that step. I have to have color options and I know you like them too.

Here is what I have on STEP 5A Choose Unique Forms Just for YOU – 7 Step Homeschool Planner which explains my process in how I created them.

Purpose of Form: To List and Track Reading of Each Child.

A short personal story here: When I started homeschooling I pored over a book written by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. It was about how to teach reading and it listed books by genre. As wonderful as it was in helping me to see I needed a balanced reading program, I learned that I didn’t need to know how to teach reading to 30 children only my 3.{quit stressing} So I put the book aside, but remembered the wonderful key they used to classify books by and have used it since I started homeschooling. I have incorporated that key, which is a code to the types of genre, in this form.

Even though the key is intended to be used up through 6th grade, I believe it has merit all the way through school. Do you know how to classify genre?

The bottom line is when reading we need many different types of forms to use in a child’s reading journal.

reading journal

Create a Unique Reading Journal for YOUR Kid

Today, I have 4 more options on this newest reading log which serve a very different purpose.Look at these tips about how I created this reading journal.

  • I created the pages with no goofy looking clip art. That’s right. Even you can use this as a way to track your reading time if you’re trying to increase it.
  • I have three colorful color pages to choose from. Nothing baby-ish looking. Oh yes, you can use it for younger kids too because what is inside is what counts. Add coloring pages for younger readers. Too, I wanted a journal that could be used for older reluctant readers.
  • As I mentioned, I love the pages so much because they track reading times by 15 minute increments.
  • I have 3 colorful cover choices and 4 reading logs as choices to build your reading journal.
20 Best Tips for Teaching Reading and Spelling
reading journal

Reading Planner for Your Child

The beauty of creating your own reading journal for your kids is that you can create one for the year, for a semester, or just print a page for week.

Look at some of my tips on how to create one for your kids.

  • Choose one of the covers I created OR have your child design his own cover if he wants to be artsy.
  • Choose one or more of the reading logs. I have 3 colorful reading logs and one that is black and white if you don’t want to use too much ink.
  • Print it for the year and be sure you print front and back to save paper; you don’t want a thick journal. If you print front and back, then you’ll have 26 pages as a starter journal. (26 weeks x 2 = 52 weeks)
  • Print one in color to act as a divider for the beginning of the month and then print three in black and white if you need to conserve ink. I’m naughty and love color; our journal will be all in color.
  • Coil bind it so it lays flat.
  • Remind your students that each circle represents an hour and is divided into quarters. One quarter represents 15 minutes of reading time. I feel this is more encouraging to track reading time instead of pages and whole chapters.
  • In addition, there is a box for each week if your child wants to jot down pages of words he likes or write s word or jot down a question. This is his guide, so allow him to use it in the way he likes. Yes, this means he should be able to doodle on it too.
  • Mix the specific and detailed pages and the ones I have today which track by minutes to create a planner.
  • Add plain notebook page or pastel color paper.

Reading and Writing Resources for Older Children

Furthermore, look at this post Put Together a Homeschooled High School Writer’s Notebook & Free Resources to add some other useful and handy pages for this reading journal.

A lot of reference pages used for a writing notebook are the same ones that are useful for a reading journal.

All About Reading

How to Download These Awesome Reading Journals

These Reading Journals are a subscriber freebie.

This is how you get access to these pages quickly.
 1) Sign up on my list.
 2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

You’ll also love these other tips:

Homeschool Colorful Reading Journal to Motivate Kids

Hugs and love ya,

How to Use Summertime to Put a Foot in Homeschooling

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

Summertime homeschooling is the time to add spice to your routine. Because summertime conjures up lazy days at the pool or a trip to the beach, also take advantage of a more relaxed schedule.

Besides, summertime is not only a great time to begin homeschooling, but a way to have a relaxed start to the new year. Kids won’t even realize they’re still learning with these fun summertime schooling ideas below.

How to Use Summertime to Put a Foot in Homeschooling

Whether you want a break from a more rigid schedule, feel like last year’s curriculum left you feeling less than inspired, or want to use summertime to put a foot in homeschooling, you’ll love these eight tips.

8 Ways to Use Summer Time to Kick Start the Homeschool Year

Mix and match these tips or use one to put the spark for learning in your new homeschool year.

ONE/ Target one element of language arts like writing.

Although many new homeschoolers think they have to wait until the fall to begin their year, it’s so much better if you get a feel for teaching by focusing on one subject.

It may be a subject your child is struggling with or a subject which interests him.

When I have summertime with my high school teens, being absorbed on one subject like their writing keeps it from being overwhelming when they have a heavier load at the beginning of the year.

I love the courses by Writing Rockstar.

For example, one year we focused on strengthening writing skills through a course set to my teen’s pace.

Slowing down and lingering on a subject like composition encouraged my son’s love for writing; it allowed him time to pursue his passion of writing without the pace of a hectic schedule.

TWO/ Add a new self-paced class like these fun online Literary Adventures classes.

Also, whether you’re looking for a poetry class, an online fun self-paced course for a high school teen or your younger kids, you’ll love the variety of wonderful literature at Literary Adventures.

THREE/ Dive deep into a subject which gets overlooked like ART or MUSIC

Art is a subject that can easily get overlooked during the year. Have you seen this fun Art History Kids.

Until we started taking online art classes art was a struggle for us. I’m not an artsy person, but we love art.

During the long relaxed days of summer, it gives us a time to indulge our love art.

Then,, music study is a much overlooked study, although it shouldn’t be. You’ll love these courses.

These are high school courses, but Music in our Homeschool has something for just about every age.

20th Century Music Appreciation for High School
Music Appreciation: Middle Ages Thru Classical Era for High School

FOUR/ Teach your kids to cook with Kids Cook Real Food.

Kids love the feeling of doing authentic jobs, and kids these days really need creative work to do with their hands. Your Kids will love their courses.

FIVE/ Add fun subscription boxes.

And subscription boxes nowadays rock our world with fun learning. They keep our homeschool day fun and lively. Try one or two!

SIX/ Watch educational movies.

Educational movies make a great start to school. It’s easy after pulling your kids from school to jump straight into book learning.

You may think that is what homeschooling is about. Beginning your year with educational movies puts the whole family in a relaxed mood.

Pop some corn and grab one of these movies from the list below to begin your learning journey.

Grab my Free and Useful Editable Movie Report For Homeschool to learn with movies.

SEVEN/ Don’t forget refreshment and education for the educator.

The worst thing you can do in the beginning of your school year is to focus solely on the needs or your kids.

Taking time to educate yourself about homeschooling or just grabbing some refreshment will give you the boost you need for the new year.

I love the fact that Fortuigence has a free course for parents about writing. It it a subject lot of us struggle to teach.

EIGHT/ Homeschool unit studies nurture a love for learning. Do one or two.

When children have control of their learning, school can go a lot more smooth. Unit studies have a way of nurturing a love of learning because you can pick topics that pique your children’s interests.

I have volumes of free unit studies here on my site. Here are some of my 26 Free Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages.

Living books for multiple ages is also a great tip when your budget is limited. These nature living books I use below are from – NaturExplorers.

Our Journey Westward

Pick one or two and recharge your kids’ love for learning.

How to Use Summertime to Put a Foot in Homeschooling

You’ll also love these other ideas to use summertime as way to put your foot in homeschooling:

Hugs and love ya,

Summer time conjures up lazy days at the pool, a trip to the beach, and more relaxed schedules along with a family vacation or two. Summer time homeschooling is not only a great time to begin, but a way to have a relaxed start to the new year.
Summer time conjures up lazy days at the pool, a trip to the beach, and more relaxed schedules along with a family vacation or two. Summer time homeschooling is not only a great time to begin, but a way to have a relaxed start to the new year.