by Kristi Clover
1. Know WHY You Are Homeschooling—& Write It Down
No matter how long you have been homeschooling it’s important to remember why you are homeschooling.
This last September I had a girlfriend call me after her first day back to homeschooling and ask me for a little pep-talk. She wanted me to remind her why we were homeschooling our kids. I encouraged her to take some time to remember why she started — and then to write it all down.
Now, I can tell you all about the multiple reasons why we chose to homeschool in our family, but you need to know why YOU chose to homeschool.
When those hard days come, and they will come (see next tip!), you need to remember why you are doing it.
2. Know You Are Going to Have Hard Days
I’m just being honest. Hard days are going to come in your homeschool. But you know what, everyone has hard days. I wrote a blog post all about how to survive the hard days. Just know they will hit. Don’t be surprised. Be prepared.
3 Slow Down
If you have lots of hard days, it might be time to slow down. You may be trying to cram too much into your school day. Your kids may need to slow down the pace of a particular subject. There are many things that can contribute to hard days. My best advice is to take a break and do something fun to create some good family bonds. Then once your batteries are charged, start back — but go at the pace for your own family.
4. Give Yourself & Your Kids Grace
We are not perfect, and that’s okay. But the Lord is going to use you right where you are. Show your kids what grace looks like in your homeschool. Share God’s grace with them when they get frustrated, cranky, or lazy. It’s good to share. But don’t forget to give yourself grace, too. We are usually our own worst critic. So, it’s time to stop.
5. Get the Right Support
Creating a support system is a great way to find the encouragement you need to keep the excitement alive in your homeschool. However, it’s really important to know who the right people are in your life. The people in your life who do not support your decision to homeschool are NOT the ones you want to turn to on hard days. Find local groups to support you. We need to stick together.
Just Remember…
You can do this homeschool thing. Don’t forget to rely on the Lord. Think about Peter and how as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he didn’t sink. So, keep your eyes on Jesus!
This article first appeared on Kristi’s blog, and is used with permission.
Kristi Clover is a Christian, homeschooling mom to five blessings ranging from teens to tots and wife to my high school crush. I’m also an author, speaker, blogger, podcaster, and vlogger. All that means is that I like to “write and talk” — and I know way more technical things then I ever wanted to know!
Hear more of Kristi Clover from her speaking at Annual CHEA Convention workshops.