Homeschooling Facts for the Discouraged

Things you need to know/remember about homeschooling:

--You aren't the only one who has ever curled up in bed, admitting defeat for the school day after only 12 minutes of 'instruction'.

--Your kid isn't the only one that can't read/write/spell.

--You are not a failure as a homemaker because you don't grind your own wheat.  Or bake your own bread.  Or forget to buy bread--again.  Or forget to feed the kids lunch.

--Not everyone has a school room or designated school space.  Some people have books and papers and science experiment parts on every flat surface in the house.

--Not everyone is organized or efficient or sanitized.  Life happens, and can be very messy.

--Others lose pencils/erasers/rulers/protracters on an hourly basis.

--Your kids will be OK if they don't learn Latin (I'll just keep repeating this one myself).

--Yes, it is possible to forget to do whole subjects for large chunks of time.

--Sometimes, science experiments fail.  Even the simple, no-brainer ones.

--Yes, others have to miss cool field trips because they don't have even a few dollars to spare.  Some of us never go on vacation, and know our kids will never get to Disney World on our watch. (This one I remind myself every year, especially during Facebook picture postings).

--You aren't the only one who may not feel 'called' to homeschool.  You may even hate it at times.  Shh...here's a secret they don't tell you in those encouraging homeschool magazines and Facebook pages--It's OK. You are not the only one who has ever felt this way (Don't worry, I won't tell your in-laws).

--You are not alone.  You don't have to feel together, or organized, or competent to do this.  If you can encourage someone on this crazy journey, great--do it.  If you need encouragement, please let others provide it.

Because this one thing I know, whether we are willing to admit it or not.  We need each other.

Posted by:  Charla Miley