I Could Never Do That

A phrase that I hear all the time is "you homeschool? I could never do that!" and I have to be honest and say that can really irritate me sometimes.

Why?

Because I simply don't feel like I'm doing something special and amazing and over the top.  This comment, "I could never do that" implies that I'm doing something most people can't.  But the truth is that I'm just doing something most people won't.

When we first started on our homeschooling journey almost 9 years ago now, I was nervous and had my doubts that we could really do this.  But I soon learned that it's not all that difficult- at least not to the extent I had built it up in my mind.  Especially in those early years when children learn mainly through play- it's just all about exposure and lots of play time and reading.  Done and Done.

While I will admit that we've had some struggles along our journey (learning to read, fractions, etc) it has never been something so difficult and trying that I'm willing to throw in the towel and admit defeat.  It is simply an extension of our parenting.

If your child is acting a fool and refuses to do his chores, do you just throw up your hands and say "OK son" or do you buckle down and teach them it's not an option?  When your kids are cranky and don't want to go to bed early, do you allow them to stay up even later?  Or do you handle your business like a MOM and get those temperamental children on the path to dreamland?

Homeschooling is exactly the same.

When my kid throws a fit because he doesn't think he can learn how to multiple those fractions, we sit down and we go through it together.  When he whines about his geography work or laments that fact that those spelling exercises are pointless- I do not just give up and let him run the show.  Just as I wouldn't do with traditional "parenting issues", I take the same approach for our homeschool.

I'm not doing anything differently.

I take the same approach to education as I do to the rest of my parenting.  My job is to cultivate, encourage, support, provide, uplift in ALL THE AREAS.  This isn't extraordinary- this is simply called parenting.

And every single one of you CAN do it if this is what you desire.

Please don't let your fear of the unknown overwhelm you.  Have confidence in your ability to raise a good child and know that homeschooling is simply an extension of what you are already doing.

So now when someone says to me "Oh but I could never do that", I smile and respond, "you'd be surprised what you can do."