Do you feel like your previous homeschool year was a disaster? Now is the time to reflect on your homeschool life and determine how to make next year better…or at least avoid the things that made this year hard.
Homeschool life is challenging. I know I am stating the obvious. But there are things that can take you from this is challenging, to that was a complete disaster I don’t know if I should continue with this experiment.
Mom, I think you should keep going, and I want to walk you through why you felt your homeschool was a disaster, so you can reclaim your confidence.
Homeschool life is filled with opportunities for growth and learning…for you and your kids.
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The Seasons of Homeschool Life
I live by the phrase to everything there is a season. Maybe it’s my age, and I have more years to reflect on. Or I’ve just experienced so many seasons, I’ve learned that the one thing we can depend on with seasons, it will change.
When we first started homeschooling it was a disaster. And it is not an exaggeration. I really didn’t think I could do it. There were many times that first year that I was convinced my kids would have to go back to school.
And I was a homeschool graduate. I was prepared for anything. I started our homeschool life with confidence and swagger. Nothing was going to surprise me because I knew exactly what to expect.
In case you didn’t know it, there is a big difference between homeschooling girls and homeschooling boys. Here I am, our first year of homeschooling, with two boys who were only familiar with public school. It was like hitting my head against a brick wall. I was so frustrated, but I was the expert homeschooler here. Right?
I didn’t give up and I kept going. The second year was only a slight improvement from the first year. But we kept going.
When my oldest graduated from high school, I did some more reflecting on his homeschool journey. And I started going through the grades. Fifth grade was the first year and a disaster. Sixth grade was only slightly better. Seventh grade was hard. Eighth grade was hard too. In ninth grade things started clicking.
I wanted to share this with you, so you know I am not writing some fluff piece to make you all warm and fuzzy inside. I’ve been in a season of disaster, and come through it. You can be confident that your season will change.
7 Reasons Your Homeschool Life was a Disaster
Let’s get real. Things are not going to magically change on their own. We need to be willing to examine everything and find areas to improve.
Here are 7 reasons your homeschool was a disaster. Remember, just one of these things could have been the cause. Get out your mom notebook, and write down the answers to the questions. If you are going to make changes, then you need to honestly assess the causes.
1. Wrong curriculum
The curriculum you choose will play a very important role in your homeschool. It can make or break your year. Ok not really break because you can change it. But it will have a tremendous impact on how well your year goes.
Our first year was a total disaster. A lot of it due to the curriculum we were using. I couldn’t change it because we didn’t have the money. So we had to suffer through it.
It is really hard to homeschool when your child despises school, and the curriculum you use can cause it.
I did change the homeschool curriculum the following years.
Did you curriculum work for you this year?
2. Schedule didn’t work
How you plan things is going to impact your homeschool. Maybe your tried time blocking and that didn’t work. Or you tried to schedule every minute of your day, but that didn’t work either. We need time management for moms who work from home.
Or you looked at tall the social media posts about waking up whenever you want and starting the day with lazy mornings. Sounds good, right? But that didn’t work either.
How you planned or didn’t plan your homeschool, will also impact how well it went. Or didn’t go.
How did you plan your school year? Did it work for you?
3. Unrealistic expectations
I think this my might be one our superpowers as moms. And it is with good intentions. We want the best, and we want to do our best for our kids.
We see all the social media posts of kids running around outside and petting chickens. Then think that is what all homeschooling looks like.
Or we assume that we should be enjoying homeschool all the time because all the other moms seem too. Our expectations can make us feel like a we are failing as homeschool moms.
Do you have unrealistic expectations? If so, what are they?
4. Mom burnout
It is a real thing. When we are trying to juggle so many things, homeschool mom burnout can hit hard. You start to do crazy things, like look at private school tuition or contemplate the vacations you could go on it you weren’t buying curriculum.
And sometimes your just tired. Yes, you are a busy mom juggling all the things. You’re going to get tired. You aren’t 20 any more able to plan large events and pull all nighters, and still get up with a ton of energy.
Are you feeling the way you are feeling because you’re burnt out?
5. You’re deschooling
This is a real thing. We spent the first years of our school journey going to public school. We had the routine down. Get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, and get out of the door. It takes time to change this routine.
It may even take a year. I say this not to discourage, but to encourage. If your first year of homeschool felt like a disaster, then you might be deschooling. And it is normal.
Are you in the deschooling phase?
6. Trying to fit a homeschool style
There are so many homeschool styles, and many well-intentioned homeschoolers think their way is the best. Or if you are going to do a certain homeschool style, then it has to follow the letter of the founder.
Before I started homeschooling, I really thought classical education was going to be the way for us. I read the popular books, like The Well-Trained Mind, and thought this was perfect. Until I actually tried it. I quickly discovered that classical would not work for us.
Are you trying to fit a specific homeschool style?
7. Too many field trips, not enough home
The problem with homeschool socialization is we have too many opportunities. Sometimes we say yes to too many things and need more time at home.
What are you saying yes to?
7 Ways to Reclaim Your Homeschool Life Confidence for a Better Year
Everything I mentioned above may not apply to you. But if one or two resonated, then keep reading. You can do this mom.
1. Find the right curriculum
This isn’t about the perfect curriculum, but finding a homeschool curriculum that works for you. Some curriculum may work for some grades, but not for another.
I’ve pieced together curriculum, and I’ve used all-in-one curriculum. Each has pros and cons. Some worked great, others were ok, and still others were added to the never again list.
Also, working from home and homeschooling add another dynamic to your curriculum choices.
Get your copy of The Momtrepreneur’s Guide to Curriculum, and start planning your year with confidence.
2. Ditch the schedule and create a routine
There are so many ways to plan your homeschool day. After so many years of working and homeschooling, I’ve discovered the best way to plan our day—creating a routine.
Ditch the schedule and create routines that work for you and your kids. Start with a morning routine and go from there.
3. Adjust your expectations
You don’t have to enjoy homeschooling all the time, nor is homeschool just public school at home. Homeschool is all about freedom. Don’t try to live up to someone else’s expectations of homeschooling.
Find what works for you and go all in on it.
4. Take a break
If you’re tired or burnt out, then you need to take a break. Your greatest asset as a mom, momtrepreneur, and homeschool mom is your physical and mental health. Take care of it.
You also gain a fresh perspective when you unplug. Reset your mood, expectations, and a bad day by taking a break. Moms do have no good very bad days, but don’t let that determine the rest of your homeschooling.
5. Homeschool is not public school at home
This is the biggest mistake that most newbies make. Assuming that kids should be spending 7 hours on school, and you should be more involved in learning and teaching every subject.
Homeschool is not public school at home. Kids will finish schoolwork in a few hours, but that gives you lots of time for experiential learning. You don’t need to teach every subject. Kids can learn indecently, and you can outsource learning. Virtual science labs anyone?
6. Be a rebel mom. Find your own homeschool style
You can be a rebel mom, even in the homeschool world. I don’t do read alouds, all the time, because I don’t like to read aloud.
Find what works for you, and make it your style. If you want to do Charlotte Mason, but you don’t like all the book suggestions, then replace them. Let your kids read twaddle, so you build up a love of learning. Find subjects that interest your kids and have a blast.
7. Say no
There are lots of opportunities for homeschoolers, but sometimes you need to say no. Just to keep your sanity. You can’t do everything, so it is ok to know your limitations and accept them.
Conclusion: Homeschool Life and Celebrating Successes
Reflecting on your homeschool life allows you to celebrate your achievements, growth, and the invaluable experiences you’ve gained.
Homeschooling is a journey that is filled with triumphs and sometimes disasters. But that’s how we learn and grow. If your year was a disaster or close to it, you can change it for next year.
Start with The Momtrepreneur’s Guide to Curriculum. It is years of experience packed into over 60 pages of sanity saving tips. Get your copy now!
FAQ Section: All About Homeschool Life
Q: How can I balance homeschooling with other responsibilities?
A: Create a routine for you and your kids, involve your kids around the house, then learn to let get of the things that aren’t as important. You will never find the perfect work life balance, and that’s ok.
Q: What if my child struggles with a specific subject or concept?
A: Understand your child’s learning style. This is the first step in finding the curriculum that works best for your child. If there is still a struggle, then get your child evaluated for a learning struggle. In this case, knowledge is power.
Q: How can I stay motivated and inspired throughout the homeschooling journey?
A: You won’t be inspired all the time. Or riding on the euphoric homeschool feelings. But that’s not why we homeschool. We homeschool because it is the best thing for our kids. That is your motivation.
Q: What if I face criticism or negative feedback about homeschooling?
A: Who cares. You are raising your kids. The random people in the peanut gallery aren’t. You don’t need to explain yourself to them.
Q: How can I create a socialization opportunity for my homeschooled child?
A: There are too many social opportunities for homeschoolers. The hardest part will be choosing between all your options.
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