Just Enough and Nothing More

Advice abounds about what to consider before deciding to homeschool. Take this piece, for example.

I have a different list, however. If you are seriously considering homeschooling, these are the questions I think are necessary to ask.

1) Do I like my children and respect them as people? It seems so simple and straightforward. But in the search for the right curriculum, the right way to homeschool, whether it’s a good idea and all that… it’s easy to forget to simply sit and ponder, “Do I like my children and respect them?” This is a question every parent should ask, really.

2) Am I willing to be patient and tenacious while keeping a loving spirit? Homeschooling, as with any change, requires time to adjust. Our kids and spouses, and our own selves, may find it challenging and confusing. When we are confused and challenged, we might act differently and say things we wouldn’t normally say. Kids might push boundaries trying to figure out the new rules. If we expect it to be easy right off the bat, we will be disappointed. If the first few months are difficult, it is only with patience, tenacity, and a loving spirit that we can find our way. Without these things, we will make what can already be difficult even harder, and make decisions that we might regret later (such as rushing into a program or curriculum because we want to have “just anything” so we don’t have to worry anymore).

3) Am I willing to learn and grow? Even if we have been through a rigorous teacher training, or have raised dozens of children, becoming a homeschooler is learning a new skill. Learning how to find materials, how to work one on one with our own children, how to get in touch with other homeschoolers, how to create a curriculum, how to find balance…these are just some of the things we need to learn. If we go into it thinking we already know everything we need, or that our children have to do all the work, we’re in for a surprise. Also, in order for our children to do their best, they need to see their parents learning new things to know how to do it, and to really understand why it’s so important.

4) What’s really important? It’s easy to get wrapped up in the details and perfection. But really, what is important to us? What is the real, deep, meaningful reason why we are so concerned with where our children get their education? We need to travel far into our hearts and understand who we are and what we’re in this for. If we keep what’s important in mind, that first year of homeschooling won’t necessarily be less work, but it will be less flailing around and confusion.

5) Can I handle the criticism and questioning? All new homeschoolers will get asked why they are considering it, whether they think their 4 year old will be able to get into college, and many other things. Are we ready to face our family, friends, and strangers on this? If not, why not?

6) How much baggage do I have from school? Baggage is the filter through which we see education. If we have a lot of it, it will be hard to see clearly. What is our baggage and are we willing to look at it so we can learn to keep it from dominating how we see the world?

7) How is my relationship with my spouse? Homeschooling, as with any change, is challenging under the best of circumstances. As with any major challenge, it will affect our relationship with our spouse. It can also affect our relationship with our children, our family, our friends, and anyone else who is in our lives. Whether it affects our relationships positively or negatively depends on how we deal at a relationship level, regardless of our opinions on education or homeschooling.

All these questions are important to consider before homeschooling. But even if we don’t address them before, we still have a chance every day to answer these questions during our homeschool adventure. These are life questions. Homeschooling is life. It’s not science fiction or fantasy. Our success as homeschoolers depends on our success as human beings and as families. Any question we can ask ourselves about being successful people is worth asking before we homeschool.

After asking these questions (and abiding by any laws in your state), pay attention, be awake, and explore together. We’re here. We might as well have a great time together while we’re here.

Related posts:

1. Questions About Homeschooling and Learning Without School
2. The Search for Homeschool Curriculum
3. 10 Questions New Homeschoolers Should Ask Themselves
4. Homeschool Success Secret - Restart Everyday