Just Enough and Nothing More

When I was younger, I was taught that I had to be my own woman. I couldn’t rely on anyone, because you just don’t know when they are going to pull the rug out from underneath you. I learned it from experience, from indirect messages from our culture of modern feminism, and from the few women who were in my life. “You must go to college, get a job, be a strong woman, and take care of yourself.”

I understand this point of view, and in many ways, agree with it. However, I took it to mean also that I didn’t need anyone’s help, and I certainly didn’t need to look up to anyone. Besides, the few times I did look up to someone, they fell short of earning the angelic halo I wanted to give them.

This is a very lonely, and stressful place to put oneself. It’s also arrogant to think that nobody in the world is worthy of my respect and admiration. And, while I was eschewing the idea that I could have role models, I had nothing to aspire to. I wanted to grow, but I didn’t know how to without help. I rebuilt the wheel over and over, starting over, and never confident in my path.

As a homeschooler, without even knowing it, I picked up some role models along the way, and it’s their inspiration which has helped me become successful. These people represented the goal of what kind of homeschooling life I wanted to have, and I didn’t even know it! But looking back, I can see how I could have never been successful without these individuals to guide me. Because they were successful, I knew I could be too. I knew it was possible. I may not do it exactly like they did, but they provided a framework, and hope.

Role models are different than celebrities. Role models represent the kind of person I want to be. They are not to be oohed and aahed, liked a god. They are to be studied, admired, and seen as a brother or sister. They are just like us, and we are like them - human. And we can accomplish what they have done.

When we are homeschooling, having role models gives us the clear message that we can do it. We can persevere through any challenge. Homeschooling can be awesome. We can make it awesome. Just like our role models are doing. We may not do it in the same way as they are, but we can be just as successful at it. We can use their successes to guide us, to see what has worked. We can look at their failures as lessons to us. We can watch how they recover from failure.

Who are your homeschool role models? Friends? Conference speakers? E-list participants? Writers? Celebrities?

Here’s a list of a few of my homeschool role models. They deserve credit. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

Pam Sorooshian - She has been my role model from the get go. I orignally “met” her on the California homeschooling lists. Time after time, what she said hit home with me. She has a perspective, and a way of expressing her perspective, which so often matches mine. Her kids are almost all grown, and she has been happy and thriving since I’ve know her. So have her kids. Where she is now is where I want to be in my homeschooling life when my kids are grown. Because of that, I listen closely to what she says. I may not always agree with it, but she is a model of success for me. Whatever she’s done, it worked.

Karen Taylor - She has been a role model for me in many ways. She is soft spoken, yet so strong. She’s always smiling and so giving. She’s got a great attitude, great kids, and a great husband. I admire her balanced strength, and her ability to keep her head squarely on her shoulders through even the roughest moments in our state’s homeschooling history. She is a leader in the homeschooling community who inspires me to keep pushing my limits in leadership.

Linda Dobson - I don’t know Linda personally. I’ve never met her, and I’ve only talked to her a couple times through email, and that was purely business. What I admire about Linda is something that few others have done - she has made a solid name for herself as an author and speaker in the homeschooling community, all while raising a young family. She started writing at about the same stage I’m at now, and look at her now. She is a role model for me as an author and speaker.

I have many, many other role models. So many in my local groups, on the e-lists, fellow bloggers, fellow speakers, and fellow leaders. You have all given me so much. Thank you all.

Who are your role models of the kind of homeschooler you want to be?

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2. The Parent’s Role
3. What About Calculus?
4. Even Unschoolers Can Get Homeschool Burnout
5. Homeschool Makeover - #4