When I say to people " I'm homeschooling him" I usually get the brow up and the horrifiying look on their faces. The split of a second they usually make the assumptions and decision if they are going to stick around or run as fast as they can. 7 out of 10 run and pretends we don't exist the next time we bump into them.
People make assumptions about homeschooling parents without realising what struggles we go through everyday.
I made a list of 8 most important ones ( for me anyway):
1. OTHER PEOPLE
Yes , the assumptions, judgement, the looks on people faces. The questions " oh why is he/she not in school?", " Whats wrong with him/her?". Those are the helpful people who also question your child on times tables or laws of gravity, spelling, just to make sure that you are doing a good enough job of teaching YOUR child.
The same people would avoid you like a plague while they spot you in a coffee shop, they will also comment and point out flaunts and "mistakes" in whatever you do.
Don't take it personally, they just don't understand, they are not educated enough about the subject to be able to comment and pass any judgement. Straighten up your crown and keep queening. You own it, you are the Homeschooling Queen.
2. YOUR CHILDREN
Ah, the little darlings. Most of people assume that homeschooling is "easy", oh "everyone" can do it. They imagine that homeschooling is a breeze, you sit down and sip tea from a floral teacup, while your children complete 5 different curriculums, learn 7 foreign languages and get a art degree from Harvard online. All in one day.
The reality is, most of the time we spend time sitting with the children, explaining, creating, trying to teach them the independence, the basics of math and the reason why pin pong balls float. The kids have good and bad days and we all have been there right? The tears and the tantrums because they don't feel like learning or just because geometry is not what they like. Testing your and their own limits, learning that sometimes you need to do stuff you don't want or like doing.If you have never thought about putting your kids in boarding school I suggest you check if you are not a cyborg...
3. YOURSELF
Being homeschooling mum is not a job for faint hearted. You need to be hardcore and very disciplined. Sometimes you need to do an extra research on how fog and clouds are made when your 6 year old pops in the question you don't know the answer to. It's ok, we cannot know all the answers. It's ok to say to your child that you need to double check the answers, its not failing its learning, for both of you.
4. THE FACT YOU HAVE NO TIME
If you think you will be spending your evenings watching movies and playing games on your iPad. You are WRONG. Pinterest addiction is a recognised illness and the fact you are up at 3 am cutting out a paper brain is normal. Don't worry, the children will not appreciate any of it. Put the scissors down and go to bed.
5. THE SOCIAL ISOLATION
If you don't have a good homeschooling network around you, make sure you look for one. Being on the same boat as someone else sometimes puts a fresh perspective on our own problems. Having other parents to talk to and laugh with is essential. Make sure you get out, don't feel like people gives you looks, its a good lesson, for both and your child.
6. YOU HAVE NO MONEY
All of your cash goes towards sharpies, watercolour brushes and online courses. Book depository is on a favourite tap in your explorer and you have paypal account as touch and pay. Educational board games cover the entire living room and you cannot wait for a sale on TPT. Yes we all know it well...
7. THE GUILT
Worrying if you are doing enough, if you made the right decision. Will your child be ready for life, will they education level be ok to pass exams or get into Uni? Will it?
Statistically homeschooled children have higher level of skills and knowledge than children who attend public school. Don't stress, you are doing fine. They are getting exactly what they need. You know best.
I would love to hear from others about struggles they have , so I can add them to my list.
Peace and Light
HQ
People make assumptions about homeschooling parents without realising what struggles we go through everyday.
I made a list of 8 most important ones ( for me anyway):
1. OTHER PEOPLE
Yes , the assumptions, judgement, the looks on people faces. The questions " oh why is he/she not in school?", " Whats wrong with him/her?". Those are the helpful people who also question your child on times tables or laws of gravity, spelling, just to make sure that you are doing a good enough job of teaching YOUR child.
The same people would avoid you like a plague while they spot you in a coffee shop, they will also comment and point out flaunts and "mistakes" in whatever you do.
Don't take it personally, they just don't understand, they are not educated enough about the subject to be able to comment and pass any judgement. Straighten up your crown and keep queening. You own it, you are the Homeschooling Queen.
2. YOUR CHILDREN
Ah, the little darlings. Most of people assume that homeschooling is "easy", oh "everyone" can do it. They imagine that homeschooling is a breeze, you sit down and sip tea from a floral teacup, while your children complete 5 different curriculums, learn 7 foreign languages and get a art degree from Harvard online. All in one day.
The reality is, most of the time we spend time sitting with the children, explaining, creating, trying to teach them the independence, the basics of math and the reason why pin pong balls float. The kids have good and bad days and we all have been there right? The tears and the tantrums because they don't feel like learning or just because geometry is not what they like. Testing your and their own limits, learning that sometimes you need to do stuff you don't want or like doing.If you have never thought about putting your kids in boarding school I suggest you check if you are not a cyborg...
3. YOURSELF
Being homeschooling mum is not a job for faint hearted. You need to be hardcore and very disciplined. Sometimes you need to do an extra research on how fog and clouds are made when your 6 year old pops in the question you don't know the answer to. It's ok, we cannot know all the answers. It's ok to say to your child that you need to double check the answers, its not failing its learning, for both of you.
4. THE FACT YOU HAVE NO TIME
If you think you will be spending your evenings watching movies and playing games on your iPad. You are WRONG. Pinterest addiction is a recognised illness and the fact you are up at 3 am cutting out a paper brain is normal. Don't worry, the children will not appreciate any of it. Put the scissors down and go to bed.
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| stock photo by PEXELS |
5. THE SOCIAL ISOLATION
If you don't have a good homeschooling network around you, make sure you look for one. Being on the same boat as someone else sometimes puts a fresh perspective on our own problems. Having other parents to talk to and laugh with is essential. Make sure you get out, don't feel like people gives you looks, its a good lesson, for both and your child.
6. YOU HAVE NO MONEY
All of your cash goes towards sharpies, watercolour brushes and online courses. Book depository is on a favourite tap in your explorer and you have paypal account as touch and pay. Educational board games cover the entire living room and you cannot wait for a sale on TPT. Yes we all know it well...
7. THE GUILT
Worrying if you are doing enough, if you made the right decision. Will your child be ready for life, will they education level be ok to pass exams or get into Uni? Will it?
Statistically homeschooled children have higher level of skills and knowledge than children who attend public school. Don't stress, you are doing fine. They are getting exactly what they need. You know best.
I would love to hear from others about struggles they have , so I can add them to my list.
Peace and Light
HQ
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