We’re about 3 months into our first homeschooling experience. How’s it going?
It’s good. Really. Honestly. It’s going well. And I’m not just saying it.
The people around us have been quite supportive. Everyone from family to friends to our embracing internet “family”. Friends, who are also parents, are asking me for my experience. I’m excited to share with them and give them realistic encouragement.
Kindergarten is a good age and great school year to begin with. When we first started, I worried that I’d mess up my child for life. That she would be behind other non-homeschooled kids and consequently, treated as an outcast. Fearful of making mistakes, I did some careful research. Even after the year began, I continued browsing reviews, reading up on what amount of academics other seasoned homeschoolers were doing.
It can be a double-edged sword sometimes. In this day & age, having internet access and the feedback of the world right at your fingertips can be both a blessing and a setback. When you’re wondering if what you’re feeling at a precise moment of your day is imaginary or not, the encouragement you find online is wonderful. In fact, sometimes it’s overwhelming. There is at least one other mom, another family who are going through or who have just come through the exact same situation. They encourage without belittling. It’s just enough motivation to continue.
Yet, if you’re wondering if you’re doing enough, being creative enough, sometimes the internet world can get you discouraged. If you don’t have any extra cash, or are lacking in artistic creativity, you can feel overwhelmed. There are some super creative people out there, who seem to exude and exalt homeschooling to a special art form. (Thank you kindly to those of you who so generously share your printables with the rest of us. God bless you all!) You can suddenly feel underwhelmed. But don’t get stuck there.
Realize that you’re only responsible to your own family. You maintain creative control. You don’t need a lot of extras in order to teach your children. Get to know your child and work from there. When you see all those great-looking ideas, start thinking of ways to put your own spin on it. Make it work for you. Your child doesn’t know what’s fancy or not until you introduce it to them in your home.
When the school year first started, I was so nervous and worried that I acted like this Kindergarten year was an experiment. I actually said, to other people, that this year is a safe one to attempt homeschooling. If it doesn’t work out, then they shouldn’t be scarred for life.
Dumb move on my part! Talk about a motivation killer.
I’m now speaking positively from the get go. Rather than assume bad, negative things, I presume and hope that things will go well and I am planning to continue next year as my young student head’s into Grade 1.