Hey, mama!

You’re here because you see the value in homeschooling.

You’ve done your research and know that it is a valid option for providing your kids with an exceptional education.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace

 

You have friends and maybe even family who are successfully homeschooling their children.

You know that some of the famous figures you look up to are the product of homeschooling.

Yet, for some reason (or maybe several reasons), you still haven’t been able to bring yourself to make that move to get started.

Trust me, I know how it is.

Your child’s education is an important issue and the decision to take on that responsibility is a huge undertaking. You don’t want to make the wrong decision and mess things up.

 

So let me try to address some of the fears you may be having.

 

“I’m not qualified to teach.”

This is a common doubt. In fact, once you start telling people about your desire (or decision) to homeschool your children, you may very well be met with this sentiment by people close to you and sometimes complete strangers! They will ask you if you have a teaching degree or if you are licensed to teach your kids.

The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids, Families, and Classrooms

 

If you’re like most of us, you don’t have a formal background in education. But what you (and most of us) do have is a passion for your child’s education. You have a determination to ensure that your child receives the best education possible, a wealth of resources at your disposal, and a network of homeschoolers all over the world who are willing to share with you all the tips, tools, and strategies you need to be successful as a homeschool mom.

 

 

What you will learn when you start your homeschool journey is that you don’t have to come into it equipped with degrees or licenses. You just need the willingness to learn and grow and teach them diligently. Much like being a teacher, a good deal of being a home educator will be learning on the job. Even formal teachers have to learn the ropes as they go along.

You will learn how your child learns so that you can adjust the way you teach. You will learn which strategies work and which ones fall flat. You will learn how to put together effective lesson plans. You will learn about your child’s strengths and weaknesses.

And because you are personally invested in their success for LIFE (not just for the academic year), you will do what it takes to help ensure that your child doesn’t just get by. You will help your child flourish.

“I don’t want to keep my child from making friends.”

The socialization issue. Although it’s a legitimate concern, where should I start with this concern? None of us want for our children to walk through life not being able to make friends or navigate social situations. But the thing is, that’s not even an issue that is specific to homeschoolers.

ALL parents are worried about whether their child will be able to thrive socially. The beautiful thing about homeschooling is that our kids have more free time to socialize than their public school counterparts.

For one, our schedules tend to be more flexible. Also, homeschool children tend to not section themselves off by age as strictly as kids in public school are forced to do. If you go to public school, more than likely the friends you make at school are right around your age.

Other than at recess, study hall and field trips, you kids probably don’t spend a great deal of time with kids not in their grade. With homeschoolers, it’s not uncommon for kids to make friends with kids that are several grades above AND below them.

The Socialization Trap

 

And contrary to what some people believe, homeschoolers have plenty of opportunities for socialization. You can set up playdates with friends (both homeschooled and not), join homeschool co-ops, sign up for clubs and other extracurricular activities, and do all the other things that public school kids do after school and on weekends. Your child’s degree of socialization is totally up to you! 

 

“I don’t have a ton of money to spend”

Just as with socialization, the amount of money that you spend on homeschooling is totally up to you! Some people spend a good deal of money on homeschool curricula, school materials and extracurricular activities. Others operate on a shoestring budget, using as many free resources as possible. If you’re resourceful, you can gain access to a LOT of things for free or cheap.

All-New Fire HD 8 Tablet | Hands-Free with Alexa | 8

 

For example, you can find a lot of things online that are very affordable, score great deals at used book sales/yard sales/consignment sales, check out a lot of free resources at the library, and even swap resources with other homeschoolers. The key is to be resourceful and actively seek out deals. You can even get educator discounts at a lot of places!

 

These are three of the top concerns that people have that keep them from diving into homeschooling. As you can see, these don’t have to hold you back. If there’s something else that is causing you some hesitation, please contact me. Perhaps I can help shed some light.