Making The Decision To Homeschool: 3 Common Questions
Making the decision to homeschool is easy for some and excruciatingly difficult for others. When it came to my family, I was 100% on board with homeschooling. Unfortunately, my husband was 100% against it. In this post I share answers to three commonly asked questions that often arise when deciding whether or not to homeschool:
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Three Commonly Asked Questions
- How can I help my husband understand the benefits of homeschooling?
- What is the best method for homeschooling?
- Does homeschooling require the mother have unending patience?
How can I help my husband understand the benefits of homeschooling?
Homeschooling can be both exciting and terrifying. It’s normal to feel fear and doubt, but it’s important to remember that many successful homeschoolers have felt the same way. If your husband is not currently on board with the idea of homeschooling, consider learning all you can about the subject (in my case, I devoured books), then find opportunities to share what you learn with your husband. After months of reading stacks of books, and sharing what I learned with my husband, my husband, gratefully, did a complete one-eighty and became fully supportive of our homeschool journey.
“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember amateurs built the ark, but professionals built the Titanic.” – Unknown
Recommended Education Books
What is the best method for homeschooling?
There are many methods of homeschooling as there are homeschooling families. These homeschooling methods might include:
- Classical Education for Homeschool
- Charlotte Mason Style Homeschool
- Montessori for Homeschool
- University Model Homeschool
- Unit Studies
- School at Home
- Eclectic Homeschool
- Unschooling
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After many years of experimenting with different methods, we found one that works well for our family: a personalized, balanced approach with extended periods of focused learning.
- A personalized, balanced approach: As a mother, I sought out personalized opportunities for my children to grow spiritually, socially, physically, and intellectually through gospel learning, service and activities, and personal development. This requires time and effort, but the rewards for creating a custom “learning curriculum” for each individual child is incredibly rewarding for both parent and child.
- Extended periods of focused learning: Each school day, the child takes one or two classes. They then focus on a single task for an extended period of time. In this way, excellence is not fractured as it is each time the school bell rings in a public school setting. When gifted with extended periods, work becomes manageable and focused. In this focused environment, deep and effective learning can take place. If your child needs a little encouragement to find a hobby, check out this list of 199+ hobby ideas.
After making the decision to homeschool, you can have fun experimenting with different homeschooling methods until you find the one that is the right fit for your family.
Recommended Homeschool Method Books
Does homeschooling require the mother to have unending patience?
There was a time when I would half-jokingly respond to this question with this feisty response,
“Let me be clear, not only do homeschooling moms not have the patience they desire to homeschool their children on a daily basis, but you, as a “potential homeschooling mom” are not allowed to have patience, as it would make the rest of us look bad.” lol
Today, my response is rooted in honesty. Yes, homeschooling mothers ought to have patience, for patience is a virtue. That said, not one of us is perfect in the patience department. Each of us can benefit from the grace offered by Jesus Christ as we wrestle through the difficult moments in search of a peaceful (and patient) ending. Patience brings an element of joy and encouragement and beauty into the homeschool environment, as reflected in these two quotes:
“Our patience will achieve more than our force.” – Edmund Burke
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” – Aristotle
Set goals: Whether or not a person chooses to homeschool, they ought to be continually striving to have more patience. Set goals to help you succeed in this area.
Stay organized: Lack of organization is the root cause of much impatience. Take steps to become better organized.
Celebrate successes: Take time to celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Record your successes in your journal. Share them with a friend. Celebrate with a special treat.
Stay inspired: Surround yourself with inspiring stories and people who motivate you to keep going.
Take breaks: Remember to take breaks and recharge your batteries when needed. Burnout can be detrimental to your homeschool and overall well-being.
Making The Decision To Homeschool
When you finally make the decision to homeschool, the real fun begins. There are endless sources of inspiration from which to gather ideas. You can find some of our favorite homeschool and lifelong learning ideas on our social media accounts ⬇️.
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Conclusion
When faced with the decision, “To homeschool, or not to homeschool?”, ask yourself all the questions, consider the answers, then move forward with faith.
Life is an adventure! Discover what education method works best for your family, then embrace it with your whole heart and soul.
Good luck!
