5 Homeschool Truths You Need to Remember

I generated a lot of controversy on Facebook a few weeks ago. I had no idea what I posted was going to stir up so many feelings… I was just sharing my TRUTH about homeschooling.

Let’s be very clear: this blog is a place for HOMESCHOOL encouragement. If I wanted to show the merits of traditional education I would be writing a blog about sending your children to school. That, however, is not the case.

We abandoned the ideal of public school ten years ago.

Believe me when I tell you I was invested in the public schools. I desperately wanted them to work for my children. I wanted to maintain the pie-in-the-sky ideal that an involved parent can make a big difference in their child’s public education.

I couldn’t, however, sacrifice my children for an ideal.

(and I don’t think you want to, either)

---

These homeschool truths have been discovered through a lot of trial and error, a lot of tears, and many days of wanting to quit.

They have also been discovered through countless days of joy, endless “aha” moments, and times of great learning and wonder.

I’m at the end of the homeschool road with my oldest, and I want to shout from the rooftops how YOU CAN DO THIS. You can teach your children at home - and (like any school situation) it won’t be perfect, but it will be beautifully hard and definitely worth all of your effort and sacrifice.

Feel free to Pin, share, and print these thoughts. I hope they get you through your hard days. (check out my Instagram for lots more of this, too!)

Don’t forget our entire community at Homegrown Learners is cheering for you and your success

I can’t imagine what our lives would have been like if I’d sent these children to be in a school for most of their waking hours of their childhood.

I am full of gratitude for this life of learning and discovery we have been blessed to live.

---

Homeschooling matters. Don’t ever forget that. Your worst day at home is worth more than their best day in school.

---

Homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re in this for the long haul. Some miles will be easier than others… but you are still making progress.

---

When people tell me, “I could NEVER homeschool!” I simply reply, “Oh, I bet you could! If you want something badly enough, you will be surprised what you can accomplish!”

---

You are homeschooling YOUR children. Comparing your homeschool to anyone else’s is a waste of precious time. You chose this lifestyle because you wanted something different. Don’t try to be like other homeschoolers.

---

When homeschool days are tough, remember this one thing: You are the best advocate for your child. You love and know them better than anyone else. Homeschooling is a precious gift.

You’ve got this - I know you do!

I’d love to hear what you tell yourself when homeschool days get hard… share your encouragement in the comments below!

You might also like:

Homeschoolers: Stay in Your Own Lane

The Homeschool Trap

Love Them Well

It is hard to assume both the role of mother AND homeschooling mother. 

When we homeschool it feels as if the weight of the world is on our shoulders. Our children's ENTIRE education is our responsibility. 

And, because they are home with us all day, we also train them in various household chores, relationships with siblings, and so much more.

Can I tell you the number of times I have said (out loud) "I just want to be their mom!". That, however, isn't the reality. I am mom and HOMESCHOOLING mom. I am learning to balance the two.

When I met a dear friend for coffee recently we were talking about all the nitty-gritty things of homeschooling - which curriuclum was working, how we were supervising our eldest children, and balancing littles while homeschooling older children.

As often happen (particularly with this wise, wise friend) - I had one valuable takeaway from our conversation.

My friend told me she gets so caught up in the details of homeschooling and the busyness of her life that she has decided to make ONE THING of importance to her this year.

She's making a point of asking herself at the end of each day if she has loved her babies WELL that day - has she shown the love of Jesus to them at every possible moment? 

That was a sobering moment for me -- because (if you recall) a few weeks ago I wrote about a school year's resolution - and focusing on just ONE THING this year. Well - I think I'm needing to adjust, or maybe at least to call that post "What's Your ACADEMIC School Year's Resolution?".

---

Love Them Well

In the end, all that matters is if we loved our children well during the day.

Did we show them grace? Did we model forgiveness? Did we show patience and perseverance? 

All of these attributes contribute to loving the people in our care WELL.

I can't expound much more on the point, but I can encourage you (as I seek to change this in my own life) to check in with yourself a few times each day and ask: 

Am I loving them well?

Practical Ways to Love them Well

As I look back, our best homeschool days have been the ones where I have loved my children well. 

It sounds so beautiful, doesn't it? But how do we really focus on loving our children when there is just so much STUFF to accomplish and so many responsibilities to maintain.

10 practical ideas:

• Read aloud more - do less bookwork - read aloud often (even to those teens!)
• Include things of beauty (music, art, poetry) - these set the tone for a more peaceful and loving home
• Remind yourself (often!) that today is TEMPORARY - those math or reading struggles do not last and will be a distant memory 10 years from now.
• Get Outside - fresh air, exercise, nature study, and a change of scenery recharge our batteries and help us show LOVE.
• Set Limits - include quiet times, routines, and structure - when children know the expectations everyone is happier, more relaxed, and more loving.
• Do Less - a few things done well are so much better than many done poorly - if we focus on just a few things, everyone is happier because their success and satisfaction is greater.
• Say NO - your children are your first priority - you may have to say no to many things in order to have the time, patience, and freedom to love them well. You have been called to homeschool. Let that be your priority.
• Stick with Friends - Iron Sharpens Iron, yes? Spend time with mom friends who have similar goals and ideals. Hold each other accountable.
• Relationship First - always! - As you are interacting with your children, remember your relationship with them is so much more important than imparting sentence structure, the commutative property, or what the capital of Zimbabwe is. Look into their eyes. Stop when they are talking to you. Give them your full attention many times a day.
• WWJD - I know - so cliche, right? Honestly, what would Jesus do if he were in your homeschool working with your children? It's something to think about and strive for.

This year (which happens to be my LAST homeschooling year with one of my children) I'm going to focus on loving my children well .

They will not remember the academics - they WILL remember the memories we made on field trips, the times I was patient and loved them through a hard assignment, and the times I threw academics to the wind to just BE WITH THEM.

I'm thankful to my dear friend who spoke those words of truth to me.

Resources

I'm a reader and find so much encouragement and inspiration in books. Here are a few that will help you love your children well.

What can you do to love your children well?

Let me know in the comments below - let's encourage each other!

You might also like:

3 Keys to a Successful Homeschool

Homeschool Requires Consistency