We had so much fun with our babies, didn’t we? Bathing them, feeding them, watching as they took their first steps, and gasping with surprise when they spoke their first words. And then, in the blink of an eye, they’re suddenly old enough to go to school! How did that happen??? Now, you’re doing school tours, looking at websites and brochures, talking to principals and teachers trying to find the best school for your kids. But in between all the tours and talks, did the thought of homeschooling ever pop into your head? You probably thought, why not? I practically taught my kids everything they know, so I can probably teach them their alphabet and their numbers too, right? It should be easy. Well, take it from someone who has experienced a lot of homeschooling, it’s not quite a walk in the park. So before you make up your mind, here are some questions you can ask yourself.
Go back to the basics. Do you want to homeschool them because you want to supervise their education? Make sure they get the best? Or maybe your reasons areĀ financial? Or maybe you’re considering homeschooling because your kidsĀ have a lot of extra-curricular activities and you want them to focus on the activities.
Now that you know why you want to homeschool, you can get started on building a database of information. You can research online and buy books; you can attend homeschooling conferences and listen to talks. You can even join support groups (there are many on Facebook), and even meet homeschooling families to see what it’s really like.
Okay, so you know and have seen what homeschooling is like. Do you think your kids will benefit from it? Weigh the advantages and disadvantages, and compare them to other options you have.
If you think your kids will benefit from homeschooling, the next question to ask yourself is whether your husband will support you. Even if your hubby won’t be able to teach your kids all the time, having his full support will definitely go a long way.
Being on top of your kids’ education means planning curricula, the actual teaching, checking work, and more. It’s not simply something you have to do, it’s a lifestyle. And you have to ask yourself if this lifestyle is what you want, and if it is aligned to your and your family’s values.
Now that you understand that homeschooling is a lifestyle, and that it’s no walk in the park, the last question you have to ask yourself is whether you can commit to it. You can’t just decide to not homeschool your kids when you don’t want to. And when you have your kids’ education on the line, quitting is not an option. You’ve got to fully commit to this or not at all. What’s that saying? “Go hard or go home.”
We’ll say it now moms: Homeschooling is not for everyone. While there are some moms who make homeschooling look easy and fun, there are also others who opt to send their kids to traditional schools. And there’s nothing wrong with either of these options! It’s really up to you. So, when you do make that choice, think of your kids, yourself, and your husband. We know you’ll make the right choice!