What I know about homeschooling.

Okay, so maybe this isn’t true for everyone. But it is true for some of us. Homeschooling is lonely. You and you alone are willing to be the primary caregiver for children, and for a lot of homeschool moms that means taking on an extra burden while your husband works. That burden can mean a lot of long lonely days. Where you might not have another adult to talk to.

Sure, there are co-ops, and support groups. But sometimes being a homeschool mom can be lonely. Especially if your friends don’t understand, or they question your parenting choices.

A lot of people who do not homeschool mistakenly believe that those who do choose it because it is easier. Getting children up out of bed in the morning. Getting them on the bus or to the school on time. Help with homework. All hard, and therefore homeschooling must not be hard because you don’t have to do any of those things. But it is hard. Just in a different way.

Homeschool moms constantly question how they are doing. They have to keep the children motivated. The housework done. Juggle all of the normal day to day requirements of being a wife and mother. Along with the full educational responsibility of their children.

A homeschool mom is teaching from the moment she wakes up in the morning, until she goes the sleep at night, because it is all about what to teach, when to teach it, and keeping up with state laws and requirements. Most if not all homeschools moms do not choose homeschooling because they think it will be easy.

It may be hard. It may be lonely, but it is worth it. The moment that your child learns to read, and you see it, every milestone, every aha moment, makes homeschooling worth it. The bonds that it builds with your children and yourself, and your children and their siblings make homeschooling worth it. There are more reasons then I could possibly ever list here that make it worth it.

Okay, so this is not something that I can personally guarantee. After all every child is different. However, I was homeschooled and I was thankful and I am thankful to my mother for what she gave up so that I could have that experience.

Every person that I have met who was homeschooled has expressed a profound thankfulness towards their mother for homeschooling them. So while I am sure there are some negative remarks, and some people who didn’t appreciate the opportunity to homeschool but most of you will have children that will thank you.

So we have covered that it is hard, and lonely, and that your children may actually thank you. What you need to know is that you can do it. You were made to teach your children. Homeschooling isn’t really a new concept. Public school is. Public school has only been around for a few hundred years. Whereas parents have always taught their children. What they have taught them has varied over the years.

Some parents may have taught their children how to read, write, and do arithmetic, or in the past they may have taught them how to grow a garden. Learn a trade. They may have taught them how to be a seamstress, black-smith, or some other trade. But they taught them, and so can you.

Finally, despite what the critics say they will get socialization. Be prepared for everyone including your cousin to ask the question “what about socialization,” and to that you should know that your children will get socialized.

You will enroll them in after school programs. Sports, music, co-ops. You will meet other children who are educated at home. Your children will make friends at parks, zoos, and just about everywhere you take them.

They will talk to everyone, not just children their own age. They won’t discriminate. They won’t feel pigeonholed into only being friends with kids in their grade level.

Socialization will not be an issue, because just like you know how to teach your children, you know how to introduce them to other children who can be their friends.

You’ve got this!