Homeschool moms have a lot on their plates. Between homeschooling, running the home, being with their children ALL the time, and keeping up with the mile long list of other responsibilities they have homeschool moms can quickly burn out. Whether you are a homeschool mom or a friend of one, you can help a homeschool mom out. I believe there are 10 things homeschool moms need to succeed. Let me share them with you. Hopefully, it will help you or someone you know on their homeschool journey.
10 Things Homeschool Moms Need to Succeed
When I sat down to start working on this list, I wrote a post in the More Than a Homeschool Mom Facebook group to ask the awesome moms there what homeschool moms need. I will be including a few of their suggestions because there were some common threads between all of their answers.
Support/Encouragement
This was the most common answer suggested by the moms in the group. Homeschooling can be hard if you do it alone. I’ve said it before but homeschooling is better in a community. I don’t mean that you need a huge network of other homeschool moms but it is important to have other people to support and encourage you. Having a supportive friend in your life when you homeschool can be one of the big reasons you will succeed! Jennifer from the group said, ” I think it’s really hard to deal with outspoken people who attack your decisions when you are already second guessing yourself.” Doubt can be difficult but it can be defeated when you don’t do it alone.
Family/Friend Support
I know this may seem like the one above but I guarantee you it is different. You see, it can be so important to have friends who don’t homeschool support you. Homeschoolers hear a lot of things that are really difficult on a given week. It can be so encouraging to have a friend who doesn’t homeschool say things will be ok. If your friend is homeschooling and you don’t, be an encourager. Be the smile they need on a hard day and don’t be afraid to say you don’t understand. It is completely ok to say you don’t understand but you are happy to listen. Sometimes people need a listening ear instead of an open mouth.
A Break
Homeschooling can be draining. Not only are you educating the mind, you are teaching the heart. Sometimes homeschool moms just need a break. I am a huge advocate of a daily quiet time. I believe that setting aside time when no one is needing anything from you every day is essential when you do life with your kids all day every day. Whether you find your break in a daily quiet time or in a weekly outing make sure you are making time for you to take a break from it all. If you never take a break, you are likely to burn out.
Other Passions
I have met a few homeschool moms who made their children and homeschooling their entire world. There were no other passions. I can’t discourage this enough! You need your own dreams, passions, and interests. You need things that refuel you that have absolutely nothing to do with your children. It isn’t selfish. It’s the best thing you can do for your family. Your children will move on and you don’t want to be stuck with an identity crisis. Homeschooling is a part of who you are but it isn’t all you are. You are more than a homeschool mom!
Resources!
Homeschooling is hard but it can feel impossible when you don’t have access to resources you need most. It can be so hard to find the right homeschool resources homeschool resources. I know that when I first found out officially that R had dyslexia I went on a crazy hunt for dyslexia resources. I will be honest with you. Pinterest quickly became my best friend. I found that lots of the other homeschool moms were pinning some great resources. I am also hoping that as the More Than a Homeschool Mom Facebook Group grows we will be able to ask each other and learn from one another.
Groups and Co-Ops
We can’t do this thing alone and we shouldn’t have to. Homeschool groups and co-ops are a great place to find support, encouragement, resources, field trips, and so much more. If you aren’t in a local homeschool group, I highly recommend plugging in with one.
A Kick Butt Printer
There are some amazing printable resources out there! A good printer can be a homeschool mom’s best friend. I know that I use mine on my printables all the time! It is so important to have a great printable on hand if you are planning to homeschool as it can be great for so much.
The Ability to Ask for Help!!!
I have met some amazing homeschool parents who are burnt out because they refuse to ask for help. I actually spent a few minutes talking about that in a Facebook Live recently. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. We were never meant to do this alone!
The Ability to Say NO
As a homeschool mom, you will be asked to do things ALL the time by well-meaning people. Many people believe that because you are homeschooling you have all the time in the world. You may be asked to help with a ministry, babysit, run a glorified home daycare, homeschool someone else’s kid (who wants that pressure…), or handle a plethora of other errands that would help someone out. There are times when that will be 100% doable but it is so important as a homeschool mom to be able to say no. Sometimes you just won’t have time and that is ok.
A Dose of Perspective
When you are in the trenches of homeschooling it can be hard to see things clearly. We all make the mistake at some point. We get so caught up in what we are struggling with, we miss the obvious solution. I think every homeschool mom needs a good dose of perspective. Your child won’t die if you just can’t even today. Sometimes a reset day can be just what you need as long as every day doesn’t become a reset day. It is completely ok to step back from an overwhelming situation and get a good dose of perspective before trying to conquer it.
What do you think homeschool moms need most? Leave me a comment with the item I left off this list.
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