FIVE THINGS TO KNOW WHEN CONSIDERING HOMESCHOOL

In my personal life, I am often asked about homeschooling. Most people are curious and just want to know how it works. But sometimes, the person asking is on their own journey trying to seek out if homeschooling is the best option for their family. I’ve been in that place and I understand how overwhelming it can be! So today, I want to share five things that I tell people who are considering homeschool.

1.  Homeschooling is life changing. It is a huge commitment that will have a profound impact on you and your children; on your relationships, on your lifestyle, and on your family’s future.

2.  You can do it! You are qualified to homeschool your children if you are committed, patient, flexible, and organized. If you love reading to your children, love seeing them learn new things and love exploring with them. If you are serious about the commitment and have a good understanding of WHY you are home educating; then you can do this! No one will be more invested in your child’s success than you!

3.  Homeschool is not conventional (but that is ok!)  Educating and caring for our children can not (and should not) be a “one-size-fits-all” program.  Each child learns differently and we need to respect and nurture them in a personalized way. There are MANY ways that families can home educate!  You will need to find out what works best for your family.

4.  You will spend a lot of time with your kids. A lot. It is imperative to find a balance between teacher, parent, and independent person.  People talk often about socialization of home educated children; I’m telling you to consider how isolating a path of home education can be if you try to go at it on your own. You need people! Your spouse/family need to support this lifestyle. You need to find a local homeschool social group and/or co-op where you and your children can socialize with people who “get it” and can help you along the way.

5.  I want you to know, homeschool may not work for you. I am a firm believer in the uniqueness of each family and that we are not all called to the exact same thing. For us, at this time, homeschool is the best fit for our family.  For you, maybe that is homeschool, maybe it is public school, or a private school. Perhaps a University Model or a Waldorf Montessori. Whichever you decide, I want you to know that you are the best person to make the decision of how to educate your children. Do your research, talk to people, explore your options, then trust your decision. I encourage you, as you are considering homeschool, to focus on what is best for your family.

xx