By now you should have chosen your books or curriculum and perhaps set up the desks and work areas, your routines and schedules are in place and you are eager to go into a new HOMEschool year… Here are our 5 top tips to help you have an even better year ahead.
#1 – Don’t compare
Homeschooling is a very personal choice. So is how you will structure your day, curriculum choice and philosophy. There is not only one way to homeschool and end up with happy productive children and the way you get to your goal may not be the same way as Suzy Q down the road gets to hers.
Comparison to other homeschoolers to make yourself feel better or to see how far short you are of someone else’s yardstick is harmful to your children and your own confidence.
It’s best to just enjoy the variety that homeschoolers are and accept that there will be some who accelerate their children’s education and others who take the more scenic route.
Immerse yourself fully in your children, your home and your philosophy of HOMEschooling.
#2 – Ask for advice
There will be times when you need advice on concerns you may have with your children’s progress or a difficulty that you are facing as a homeschool mom. Find a mentor who has homeschooled for a while so that you can get the direction and encouragement you need to carry on, or to sort out an issue.
Be aware though, that Facebook, while there are many veteran homeschool moms on the groups, may not be the best place. But if you do ask there, you will get a variety of opinions and some may be from the opposite sides of the spectrum and can cause more confusion. You may of course also get some valuable advice.
#3 – Know there will be rough days
Sometimes we forget we are dealing with real little human beings and that they will have their good days and their bad ones. Even big human beings have those days. Getting chores and work done can somtimes be like pulling teeth and you may even have kids with rotten attitudes on many.
You too may find the whole homeschooling thing overwhelming some days and want to give up.
This is completely normal. If anyone is telling you that homeschooling is all roses, they are not being honest. There are many hard days, but over the span of the years spent homeschooling, you will find that there are more good than bad, more successes than failures and more joy than gloom.
#4 – Don’t overdo the extra murals
One sure way to have grumpy tired kids and an overwhelmed stressed mom is to do too much outside of the home. This is particularly true in the young years when they need lots of free time just to play and be in their own space.
Parents are very quick to rush Annie to ballet classes at 5 because she twirled in the lounge or Johnny to horse riding because he expressed an interest just once. Let your children be…In time they can pick up activities that fit in with the whole family’s needs. Rather provide them with a stimulating, yet peaceful, home environment with lots of time for free creativity, which is age appropriate.
#5 – Don’t forget your spouse
As homeschool moms we can tend to hyper focus on homeschooling and let it become our identity, everything we talk about, think about and allow it to be the thing that drives us. A certain portion of this is normal, particularly in the beginning stages…but do remember that before you were a homeschool mom, you were your husband’s wife.
Make sure to set aside time to focus on this relationship as the most important in the home. Your children gain their stability from your marriage being healthy. Make sure that when you are alone with your spouse you don’t spend the whole time talking about homeschooling and your children. Of course, there is time for this as it is important, but simply put it aside when you are alone together sometimes/often.
Find a common interest to take part in so that you can continue to build up your marriage in a very busy season of life, which are the homeschooling years.
Caveat: I am aware that some receiving this newsletter may be single parents. I would then change #5 to say: Make sure you take time for yourself. Perhaps a morning out once in a while to connect with family and friends or a personal hobby or time at gym…just something to recharge your batteries each week. Your children will thank you ☺
| 
