Every day of homeschooling is delightful. We greet the day in pleasant moods, pray together, and after enjoying a healthy homemade breakfast, we all study together until it’s time to frolic through a field of daisies while holding hands and laughing.
Ha ha ha! That is so NOT how it goes!
I’ll be the first to tell you: homeschooling isn’t easy. There are big ol’ challenges, like:
- never-ending parenting, as in, 24/7
- managing a child who would likely be on ADHD meds if not homeschooled
- it’s more difficult to get household chores done
- little kids who need close supervision and help with every subject
- keeping the littles from interfering with my independent learner
- maintaining motivation to do what needs to be done
- and did I mention the 24/7 part?
But a few weeks ago, when most of the local schools were gearing up, a homeschool mom I know said she was dreading the start of her family’s homeschool year, and several other homeschool moms chimed in their agreement. That made me sad; I was about to start our school year here at home, and I was genuinely excited about it.
We’re a month in now, and it’s not going flawlessly. There are days we accomplish next to nothing because of attitudes in the house (sometimes mine!), and we drive each other batty sometimes. But oh, y’all, I’m still so glad I’m able to do this.
This isn’t a post about the benefits of homeschooling.
I could give you a long list of reasons I feel homeschooling is the best option for my kids: building relationships, catering studies to their interests rather than what someone somewhere decided is “required”, figuring out learning styles and working with those… I could go on and on.
But today I’m not debating the merits of homeschooling. My point is this: if homeschooling is the path we’ve chosen, then why dread it? It’s not the hard days that make it a burden; only our attitude can do that.
As with anything we do, it’s a choice whether or not we embrace it or feel burdened by it — and although I have my less-than-stellar days, I owe it to myself and my kids to embrace this path we’re on for as long as we’re on it.
I’m a big fan of authentic conversation and always appreciate hearing what you have to say. Thanks for reading.
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