“Oh, I could never homeschool my kids!”
You’ve heard it, and so have I. It’s often one of the first things said to you when you make a new friend at church or at the neighbourhood park. Sometimes you hear it from an old friend (perhaps they think you are judging their choices!) or a family member. The reasons given are numerous, and some are truly valid. I would never say for a moment that everyone can or even should homeschool their children. But after hearing this statement for years and pondering all the “couldn’t”s, I have come up with a list of why I really shouldn’t homeschool my kids.
I Shouldn’t Homeschool Because…
I’m too impatient
This may be the top reason people give you when they say they could never homeschool their kids — they just aren’t patient enough. Well, I’ve got to tell you that I’m about as impatient as they come. And in my impatience, I often lose my temper with my children. I’ve raised my voice and said plenty of words I later regretted.
In my own strength, I can’t get through a single day of this homeschooling gig without blowing it in this department. I’m so glad though, that as I’m investing in the character and training of my children, that the Lord is working on me too! I’m not sure where I heard it first, but children are holy sandpaper, and God is slowly smoothing out this rough and bumpy mom!
I’m not qualified
I don’t have a teaching degree. Not only that, but my own public school education was abysmal. As a result, I have very minimal knowledge of history and geography, and what math I once knew I have mostly forgotten.
I’m ashamed of my own ignorance. I never did memorize my math facts, and the truth is, I’m really not qualified to teach my own children. BUT that is precisely one of the reasons why I’m homeschooling them. Think of it this way, why would I trust the system that failed me to educate my children? So I’m learning as I go along, and filling in my own gaps each year. And because I love my children and have more of a vested interest in their future than any school teacher ever could, I know that we can do this together.
I’m too introverted
This one presents quite a challenge for me as a homeschool mom! Staying home all day, every day with a house full of children and being required to meet the bulk of their social needs is quite overwhelming to this introverted mama! And going out with them to co-ops and meet-ups in order to get those needs fulfilled in alternate ways? Even worse!
This is the chief reason we have an afternoon quiet time in our homeschool. Finding ways to accommodate my weaknesses and meet both my own and my children’s needs is a key to maintaining sanity while homeschooling!
I’m undisciplined, disorganized, and have poor time management
I am definitely not that Type A, get-er-done personality homeschooler. I don’t have any extensive lesson plans or homeschool schedule. Sometimes, when my kids are off playing quietly, I just hide and pretend like we don’t have math, science, or grammar to do.
But who says that just because we’re homeschooling we need to bring school to our home? Do we need bells and schedules to learn? Can’t we learn just as well in our own way? Does science really have to be on Thursdays?
I’m kinda weird and socially awkward
Here’s the thing though: I was public schooled and look how I turned out!
If my kids turn out weird, then they were probably going to be that way anyway — at least they will fit in at our family reunions.
I had a good job
Living on one income in today’s world can be more than challenging. I get that. If I could double our family income, why would I not do that? It probably sounds crazy to some that I left a well-paying, respectable career in the professional world to teach a 5-year-old to skip count and chase my kids around the backyard with a cardboard Viking sword.
But you know what? All that money I’m not earning isn’t going to amount to anything in the end. The investment in my children though, that has eternal rewards.
I don’t like being responsible
In my working days, I much preferred following the directions and plans of others to coming up with my own. Life and death decisions? No thanks! I always appreciated the situations where I could work under the guidance of someone with greater expertise than myself or where there were opportunities for collaboration. I have always been desperately afraid that I am missing some important viewpoint or am going to make the wrong choice.
It would be so much easier to pass the responsibility off to the school system when it comes to my children’s educations! But the truth of the matter is that I am responsible for the education of my children whether I homeschool them or not. I am their parent, and the buck ultimately stops here. If my children did go to school, I would only really be delegating part of their education to the school — I am still responsible.
I have a hard time with messes
I’m the mom who is forever chasing her kids around the house with a facecloth and hollering “go wash your hands!” anytime anything even remotely messy is being used. Food needs to be eaten at the table (yes, even toddlers) at our house. Sticky floors? Drives me crazy.
Yet as a homeschooling family, our house is a lot more “lived in” than most, and much more than I prefer. And while I could let this drive me crazy (and sometimes it does), I have learned to give myself and my children grace in this department, as well as to work certain rules and habits into our home to prevent as many messes as possible.
You know what the amazing thing is, though? Even with all these reasons not to homeschool, I’m doing it anyway. If God has called you to homeschool, you can overcome these and any other obstacles.
It is not through our strength, personality, or intellect that we are enabled to walk this homeschooling path. And as each year passes, I gain confidence and assurance that we have made the right decision for our family and that everything will turn out alright, in spite of all of my inadequacies.
well written. I am many of those things as well. 🙂
Thanks Annette. I figure most of us homeschool mom can find ourselves in at least one of these!
Ha, those are all the reasons that I don’t want to homeschool either. Thank goodness there are more reasons that I do want to! 😀
BTW – I NEVER thought of this before: “Think of it this way, why would I trust the system that failed me to educate my children?”
I agree! The reasons I have TO homeschool are infinitely greater than the ones NOT to!
I love this SO much. I shouldn’t be homeschooling either, since I have a lot of the same knocks against me! 😉
Thanks Kym 🙂
Yes! But, I am so thankful for a God who helps me through each day! My girls are much happier and healthier being educated a home and our family is so much closer. Overcoming obstacles!
You’re right Lori. I certainly couldn’t do it in my own strength! Phil 4:13
While I love this , articles discharge as these now make me sad. I now have a friend who is not Christian. She’s not anti Christian either. She just doesn’t know . She was not called by God to homeschool but by a love for her children and their needs. I as a Christian do not feel called by God to homeschool. I was tricked by my husband into it. So while I love this, let us also encourage all homeschoolers, even those not Called by God.
So sorry this makes you sad Laura! It is not my intension to discourage others, or suggest that anyone who is not a believer will be unsuccessful as a homeschool mom. I only meant to highlight all the reasons other people think I shouldn’t homeschool — and certainly not point out to anyone else that they shouldn’t!
Thanks for sharing your point of view!
I love this! And I guess I shouldn’t homeschool either.;)
🙂
Thank you for this! It’s great to hear that other moms are on the same homeschool page as I am still in the stage of questioning myself at times!
Thank you for writing this article.it feels less scary when you know you’re not alone.much needed encouragement.
Hi I am now laying in bed pleading with God that’s I shall not homeschool. Bcoz I’m losing the vision and I’m not the best to do that. And I read this post. I don’t know what to say…
How can I know God is calling me to homeschool? I really want to homeschool my daughter, and she seems interested in wanting to be…she will be a 6th grader next school year. However, I know my husband will not be in favor of the idea, he is one of ‘those’ people who favor what society says you should do…and his mom would object and I would have to listen to her mouth as well. However again, my husband also does not participate in anything with our child, he never spends time with her, does not participate in any of her schooling now, couldn’t even tell you the names of all of her teachers, he’s just very uninvolved in her life so I pose the question of why should I even care what he thinks…I want to do what’s best for my child and since I am the one with her all the time I know her best. So how can I do this and be comfortable with all of the obstacles around me? Oh and let me also mention that my mother in law is critical of everything I do so this would be nothing new.
Hi Roni,
I’m sorry are going through such a rough time with this! Discerning God’s will can sometimes be very difficult, and I don’t feel very qualified to advise others in this area at all. I would like to say, however, that your relationship with your husband is extremely important to your daughter and your own well being and worth strengthening.
I can’t imagine how difficult homeschooling would be without spousal support in the decision — it can be a hard enough road when both parents are fully on board.
Here is some support, advice, and encouragement from other homeschool moms who have something to say on this subject:
http://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/spouse-is-against-homeschooling/
http://thehmmmschoolingmom.com/dad-is-against-homeschooling/
Hello! God bless!… I just wanted to THANK YOU! for this article! You really don’t know how deeply you have encouraged me during this homeschooling hard time and journey! I mean, every single word sounds so significative for me!… When I started (even before) when my husband and I decided to go homeschool I expected (honestly) find support but the only thing we found were excuses, bad reasons, etc. trying to stop us to make this possible. Even that, we prayed and God opened the door and here I am as a full time homeschooler mom with a 7 & 5 Years old daughters, and believe me, it is the BEST decision we made ever!…
But yes, a lot of times, and you know is it A LOT OF TIMES, I’ve lost my temper and patience, but something tell us that we have to keep going, and specially my children because both tells me all the time : mama! we don’t want to come back school!… we want to stay at home with you , we want to be here forever. When I listen those words I cannot imagine another way, and I know God is with us, and as you said: he is working WITH ME more than with my daughters!
By the way!… we are super fan of Jesus Story Bibles and we have the book, I enter here to find the Coloring book and I got it! thanks!… Just today, we started the Devotional for the 40 days before Easter!! And believe me! Today we saw the Glory of GOD during the school time and now this!….for sure, God always works in us!
To Jesus all the Glory and the Power forever!
Thank you and GOD bless..