Grace loving on ‘her’ workbook.
New homeschoolers are assailed from all sides with what they should do. Like being pregnant for the first time you get told tons of labor stories. Some great and soothing to your nerves. Others not so soothing and really NOT needed. Here is a funny look at what not to tell new homeschoolers.
1) If you are convinced you can homeschool for free…. then get ready to blow your budget.
I can get lots of wonderful things for free online or at the library. I cannot get all the subjects and material that my special learners need for free. I believe it was HSLDA that estimated it takes about $400.00 per child per year to homeschool.
2) Schedules and lesson plans are so cute on paper.
Children with special learning issues are not going to follow the typical lesson plan. Your schedules can easily get thrown off by a sensory meltdown. RELAX! In the end you will teach the ABC’s and the 123’s. It may take longer or come in fits and spurts. You will get there!
3) Homeschooling = Staying at Home
Yeah, that was about 2 decades ago when homeschoolers had to hide under their beds. Now we are out and about! You will find homeschooling families can over schedule their life just as much as your public schooled neighbor. Remember no is a perfectly good answer to the myriad of lessons, co-ops, and get togethers.
4) While you know in the beginning that not everyone is on board with your decision to homeschool you privately hope that in the end everyone will come around.
Good news… most people, friends, and family WILL come to accept your decision to homeschool. BAD news… not everyone will. Sorry. 🙁
5) Life is wonderful and it will stay this way.
Life has this pesky way of changing. A parent getting too sick to homeschool their child. A marriage that ends in divorce or widowhood. Your husband loses his job and you have to go to work. Sometimes you can overcome these storms of life and continue to homeschool. Sometimes you need to make a hard decision to return your child to a school setting.
6) There will be times that sanity is just a closed bathroom door away! Usually with little fingers under it asking, “Mommy are you in there?”
You will need to consider mommy time. Adult talk. Date night! You know time to get away and relax. You and your children will be better for it.
7) You might not like homeschooling!
That is a big surprise and can make many mom’s feel very guilty. The truth is some people just don’t like to homeschool. I pray you give homeschooling a chance. Ask for help and get some guidance to smooth your way. If in the end you still don’t like it. It’s okay. You do what is best for YOUR family. Know you gave it your best shot!
8) Your child might not like homeschooling.
This is totally different for me. Too many families have the children in charge of decisions that are PARENT decisions! Adults have a broad level of experience and knowledge that a child or teen doesn’t have. A teens often have a self inflated, nothing can hurt me view of themselves. It’s up to us parents (no matter where they are being educated) to guide them down safe roads!
9) You are home and therefore your home will be immaculate.
Some family homes I have been to have amazingly spotless homes. Not mine. I am blessed with children that have sensory issues and autism. One of their stems is picking. My new coat of paint had holes picked in it within days. Then the occasional permanent marker incidents. I should own stock in Mr Clean! My home is well loved. Lets just leave it at that. 🙂
10) The words of others… “Oh I bought ______ curriculum and my 9 month old can now write, add, and is on the champion chess circuit…..”
If that is true than good for you and your baby. It’s nowhere close to what my children can do. It’s great to talk with other homeschoolers and go to places like conventions where you can see and feel learning material. Always keep in mind what is good for the Jones is not necessarily good for you and your child!
I was scared to homeschool at first. Soon I couldn’t imagine my life without homeschooling. We have had our ups and downs but in the end homeschooling has always been part of our family and we enjoy it.
I love all of these. I think one thing that was said to me that was discouraging (but I found out to be true) was that it takes at least two years to really figure out what you’re doing. This is especially true with special needs. I also think that for me, one of my biggest mistakes is finding the most amazing curriculum only to have my student say “I can’t understand this.” Some days I still feel like I’m groping in the dark. But I can say that every day I do my very best. Thanks for a great post! 🙂