Warnings from a Retired Homeschool Mom

Warnings from a Retired Homeschool Mom

If you arrived at this post while researching homeschooling, I’m glad I caught you in time. I need to warn you about some things before you make this life-altering decision for your family!

  1. Once you begin to see learning everywhere you just can’t unsee it.
  2. Once you’ve learned to think outside the box, it’s really hard to get back in.
  3. Being with your children all of the time is really tough…to let go of when they fly the nest.
  4. Your children may not learn to stand in line or raise their hand to speak until they’re in their teens.
  5. When they start college classes they may do annoying things like attend class, answer questions (if they’ve learned to raise their hand), visit the teacher’s office (gasp!), work ahead on their own, and turn their homework in on time.
  6. A day may come when you are no longer needed as a teacher and you will be demoted to taxi driver and counselor.
  7. You may have to duck under doorways while wearing all of your different hats (teacher, cafeteria worker, custodian, chauffeur, nurse, etc.)
  8. When your final student graduates you may have feelings of withdrawal from field trips and park days.
  9. Homeschooling is a very independent venture. No two homeschooling families are alike. In fact, no two homeschool students are alike, either. From year-to-year and semester-to-semester you will constantly be tweaking to tailor your homeschool to the changing needs of your students. At times you may feel alone, overwhelmed, and like no one understands.

 

If, after reading this, you are still thinking about taking the plunge, then go for it. Your life will never be the same, and I mean that in the best possible way. There’s nothing I can say to prepare you for the unique challenges of a Homeschool Mom, but I can’t begin to describe the joy it brings, either.

If you are an experienced Homeschool Mom, what would you add to this list of warnings?

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  1. Debby

    Sounds a lot of what I heard from a friend who homeschooled her daughter. Mom became to enjoy Science experiments!
    I can see these kids NOT raising their handater on. Funny!!

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      mcurren527

      I think that’s because of #9. We don’t ever feel like we’ve gotten it down and figured it all out. Also, the time goes by amazingly quickly.

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  2. Molly

    As a homeschool mom, I feel like I have recieved a first rate education (I didn’t while in public school) along with my kids! As for my warning, well, God will refine you. HE will pull out your imperfections. It’s inevitable. If your a slow learner, it will be gruesome. If your repentant and obedient, you will reap the reward in the end!

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  4. Dawn @ The Momma Knows

    One which hasn’t been mentioned yet: You WILL run out of bookshelf space!! You WILL buy things you don’t end up using. You WILL need help paring it down later on. 😀 Thanks for dropping by my blog Michelle!

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      mcurren527

      Oh, very true! I’m still trying to sell books and things. It’s wonderful to be surrounded by all of those good things, though.

  5. Karen Murphy

    I enjoy the journey of homeschooling my seven children but my heart is sad that it is over i’m thankful to the Lord that I got to spend that time with them because parents don’t realize how fast they grow up

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  6. Tamara Whitlock

    I would add: Your children may be permanently inoculated against “normal” reactions to peer pressure and devote themselves to their own interests rather than the will of the crowd. Your family may end up with abnormally close relationships even between people who aren’t the same age. Be nice to the people you meet at homeschool co-op when your children are small…they will still be there for your as you all “find yourselves” as humans when you are done being the Homeschool Mom.

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  8. Dianne

    Homeschooling does not guarantee a perfect child/teen/adult. When the homeschooled have to walk on their own, in their own fairhwalk, in the world where they are not surrounded by homeschoolers, this is where we see the how much we were glad and they were glad we did homeschool them.
    Also, homeschooling does not save them, God does. The walk from childhood to mature adulthood is still a tough road 🙂

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  9. Linda S

    oh, I love this! so much truth here 🙂 I am not yet retired from my gig as a homeschooling mom, but we have graduated 4 already. Child #4 just graduated from university and I’ll vouch for your point #5 — we’ve had many a laugh over this one with our kids!

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  11. Kathy conto

    I have homeschooled for 20 years and my last one is 15, I already miss teaching the younger age. I full fill that with teaching a co-op class and also teaching a monthly group called “Life of Faith” a group for young ladies 8 to 18. I also think being a part of a home school group is very important for children as well as for the teacher. We all can support and learn from each other. Good article.

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  12. Sarah

    Your #9 comes very close to encouragement I give to fellow homeschool moms who experience “burn-out” like I did. Years after I went through a tough season, I realized that what worked the first year, and even the second year, wasn’t what I needed to do the third, fourth, etc., year.
    Every year, your children are a different age and maturity level and grade level. Every year you are a different age and perhaps in a different season of life (childbearing, pre-menopause, etc.). Your family situation is never exactly the same (new baby, new job schedule, moved to a new place, caring for your aging parents, etc.). Your health may become challenged by illness.
    Every year you are teaching a new curriculum to students who have never had that curriculum before. Even if you’re using the same publishers, you are teaching a different grade level of each subject. At one point I was discussing high school subjects with my oldest 3 sons and every day taking time to teach my youngest 3 how to read and write. For a few years we had a two-family home school because we added my nephews into the mix. A couple of those years I had 8 children to work with each day.
    Every year you will have a different daily and weekly schedule. Sometimes these change during the schoolyear, too.
    Your children will have different learning styles, and most won’t share your learning/teaching style. You have to become the resident expert in how to teach them most efficiently. Dad is a tremendous help in understanding the boys. After all, I was never a little boy.
    Is it any wonder that what worked for the first year or two won’t work for subsequent years? NO !!! Cut yourself some slack and take time to breathe! These days will pass all too soon. At 31 years and counting, I only have a few years left. Would I do it over again? In a heartbeat.

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      Michelle Curren

      LOL! Actually, my daughter does. She’s had two different professors ask if anyone other than her wants to answer the question. My shy little girl grew up into a confident young woman.

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  13. Hélène

    Commit to it. Period.
    Life will get in the way. All the time. Crises will come.
    HS anyway.
    HS only.
    Christ is your sufficiency.

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      Michelle Curren

      I agree with you. That commitment is important, otherwise when the going gets tough, it’s too easy to think you’ll just put the kids in school. Consistency is important to them.

  14. Joy

    Love this so cute! I might add . . . You may end up with slugs and preying mantis in your canning jars, poised all over your kitchen! . . .kinda miss that these days 🙂

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