When we first began homeschooling, it seemed like an exciting, scary, wonderful, overwhelming endeavor – one that I knew little about. In the ensuing 14 years, we’ve had good moments and bad moments. We’ve laughed and we’ve cried. We’ve tried and erred. And, I’ve learned a few truths that I wish I’d known from the beginning.
30 Truths about Homeschooling
1. My homeschool doesn’t have to look like a public school classroom, my best friend’s homeschool or my favorite blogger’s homeschool.
2. It’s HOMEschool, not homeSCHOOL.
3. Being flexible is an asset, not a character flaw.
4. The days may drag by, but the years fly. Enjoy the days.
5. This, too, shall pass.
6. Sometimes tossing the lesson plans out the window and heading out for an impromptu field trip or snuggling under the covers with a few good books is the best course of action.
7. There will be days when you cry, scream, and feel like throwing in the towel – before lunch.
8. There will be days and moments that make up for #7.
9. Ticonderoga pencils really are the “world’s best pencil.”
10. You will doubt yourself. That shows that you’re human, not a failure.
11. Homeschooling is about 30% academics, 70% relationships/character building.
12. Don’t ever disdain the way someone else’s school looks. There are many seasons in life and, at some point before your children graduate, your homeschool may look like the one you currently disdain.
13. If you have more than one child, you don’t ever have to worry about your kids not knowing how to deal with a bully or engage in conflict resolution.
14. If you have more than one child, you don’t ever have to worry about your kids not having friends – despite how they may act at times.
Photo by ND Strupler
15. They will learn to read.
16. Not only can you tailor your school to your child’s natural talents and gifts, you should.
17. Just because public schools put all the emphasis on reading, writing, and math, while largely ignoring the fine arts doesn’t mean you have to.
18. Focus on what you ARE accomplishing, rather than on what is falling by the wayside.
19. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1
20. No one ever said homeschooling was easy.
21. Taking a “life skills” day to catch up on laundry, housework, and cooking has educational value and, on occasion, can save your sanity. Here are 10 tips to help you keep up with the laundry.
22. Quality literature can provide much more educational value than dry textbooks.
23. The project/science experiment/craft doesn’t have to go exactly as planned to have educational value. Some of the greatest inventions were the result of “failures.”
24. God gave you your family for a reason. Do what works for you.
25. Rabbit trails can provide some of the most memorable learning moments and memories that your family will treasure.
26. Games can be a fun, inexpensive way to teach new concepts or review skills. Here are some family board game ideas for teens.
27. It’s great when school can be fun, but it’s not your job to entertain your kids. Sometimes we have to do things that aren’t fun. That’s life.
28. Sometimes that skill you’ve been trying forever to pound into your kid’s head takes off like wildfire when their interest level catches up to their skill level – or vice versa.
29. Having a certain meal for each day of the week makes planning lunches a whole lot simpler. Learn more from these eight tips on How To Menu Plan.
30. Investing in your kids will always be worth the time, struggle, and temporary frustration.
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This post was originally published on The Homeschool Classroom (now Real Life at Home) on November 21, 2011.
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My heart needed this message today. Thank you!
I’m so glad you were encouraged, Stacy.
31. Homeschooling may not be inexpensive.
32. Sometimes your kids will not reflect the character training you have provided for them. they will go their own way.
33. It’s OK to ask for help- with teaching, doing laundry, cooking, driving. I asked for help from the school district (gasp!!) when I had exhausted my resources with my disabled kid.
34. Some people will never get it.
35. It’s OK to explore alternatives.
Thank you for this. #15 and #16 are exactly what I needed to hear today. 🙂
I had to laugh, because I know #12 is true :). This post if full of wonderful homeschooing truths, thanks for sharing!
I loved this! Thank you for sharing. As a future HSing mama, I love to read as much as I can about HSing and I love lists like this!
Loved your thirty and Beth’s added five. Thank you for sharing.
We do “Wild Days” aka nature studies…
We also do “Crazy Days” aka field trips. #6!
You probably meant #19 Ecclesiastes 3:1
All good truths! My favorites: #7 and #8. So thankful for #8!!
Kinda wonder about #9, though. We stand by our mechanical pencils! 🙂
We are new to homeschooling this year and I wish I could have read this list before starting! Thanks for sharing…But I am with Sara, I have recently become hooked on mechanical pencils…Ticonderoga are a close second though. 🙂
Kris, you are my favorite homeschool blogger ever.
Awww…thanks, Jennifer!
I’m going to print this list and keep it in my planning notebook. Thank you for this!
This is FABULOUS!! And I can attest in my years of experience, EVERY SINGLE WORD above is true! LOVE this post and will be sharing it with whomever I can! Blessings! Carlie K.
This was SO good to read – so good in fact, I am going to print it out and stick it on my pin board. Thanks for taking the time to compile it, type it out and share it.
MUCH appreciation!
Thanks for posting these! They are all true and time flies faster than we anticipate! As a veteran homeschooler I needed these to remind me to slow down with my kids and enjoy the time we spend together!
Great reasons, Kris 🙂 I am going to share this post with my theblogfrog.com community. Thanks a lot, and waiting to read more of these.
Well said.
Just loved this post, Especially #15… and 13!
I have learned that homeschooling isn’t for sissies!
Great list! Thanks for sharing!
Great list! Thanks for the encouragement.
Yes, Kris! So true! New homeschool moms must heed #12 – we start out so idealistically, but not everything works with every child. You may have to embrace change and adapt as you go along (see Beth’s #35).
Can I add ~
#36. You can homeschool through high school
#37. High school homeschool is different to homeschooling the young scholar. Older students are much more involved in what, where and how they study.
#38. Have fun with toddlers! Enjoy happy junior school days! Explore every opportunity in those middle school days and be free to follow delight-directed studies. All too soon, serious academics change this liberty (see #37)
Loved this.
#39 Home schooling is bad for housework.
Have linked to this.
i loved this! especially the parts about the pencils, and the bully, and the friends…
and enjoy the days. so true, so true!
thanks!
I just sent my daughter back to public school and some days I miss homeschooling terribly. It was the right decision at this point in our lives but you’ve inspired me to remember to keep afterschooling. I especially love numbers 6. and 30. Thanks for this. I’m definitely going to share it. 🙂
Exactly- I consider my son’s education as my primary responsibility. The public school he attends assists me but we are responsible.
THIS. WAS. AWESOME!
Greetings,
FYI,
The quote in #19 is from Ecclesiastes 3:1 and not Ephesians 3:1
Sincerely,
Tom
Thanks for catching that, Tom. One of these days, I’m going to be able to afford a professional proof-reader…or just be able to get the kids to be quiet long enough for me to think. 😉
#12 – yes! A few years ago I would have said that we would never in a million years be unschoolers!
Great list!
I giggled at 21. I bet we’ve all been there.
My most important “aha” moment was when I realized, if I want my children to have the best academic education, I should send them to a private school. If I want them to have the best foundation for life, I should teach them at home. Our children are all grown, respectable, contributing adults today. Praise God.
Laughed and cried. So true. Love it!
That was encouraging, thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this amazing summary, love these. And yes those are the best pencils ever! And yes it matters! Shared for others, we need this reminder!
Hiya, I’m intending to home school my only child so numbers 13 and 14 have left me wondering….