5 Ways to Stop Homeschool Doubt
Homeschool doubt happens to all of us homeschool moms at one time or another. For different reasons, we all start to doubt our abilities to teach our children from time to time. Here are five ways I stop homeschool doubt in its tracks.
#1 Don’t Overschedule
We as parents, and especially homeschool parents, want our children to have all or some of the opportunities that public school kids have. That, however, can lead to overscheduling, which leads to the homeschool mom spreading herself too thin. It leaves you feeling inadequate. Don’t overschedule! Whether it be trying to complete too many subjects in one day or trying to run children too many places in one day, there is only one of you. So, just don’t do it! (Take a look at our schedule.)
#2 Practice Self-Care
Make sure you are able to care for yourself properly. When you fly in an airplane the stewardess instructs you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first in case of an accident. That’s because you can help no one if you don’t take care of you first. The same applies to homeschool. Homeschool moms are under quite a bit of stress. They manage home, family, their children’s education, and sometimes work from home too. Take time to pamper yourself.
#3 Spend Time With Friends
Sometimes just getting away helps with homeschool doubt. I know when I spend time with my friends I feel so much better about my abilities as a mom, homeschool mom, and wife. It’s rejuvenating and refreshing.
#4 Listen to a Homeschool Podcast
Listening to other homeschool moms talk about their struggles and how they’ve overcome them is so therapeutic. It gives me ideas as to where to begin to pick up the pieces and start again with the confidence I need to be the best homeschool mom I can be.
Here are a few I really enjoy:
The Homeschool Solutions Show with Pam Barnhill
You can listen via these links or you can download the Stitcher App to your smartphone.
#5 Stop Comparing Your Homeschool to Suzie’s
Our families are all different. You have different limits than I do, I have different strengths than you. We all have value to bring to the table.
A couple of years ago I read “Start.: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, Do Work that Matters” by Jon Acuff. In the book, he says, “Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Comparison is poison.” This is a true statement!
Stop looking at Suzie’s homeschool, she’s been homeschooling longer, she has more resources, she has more help… This list is going to go on and on, so just stop it. Stop robbing yourself of the wonderful homeschooling life you have with your beautiful children and be content with where you are for the season you’re in.
Make the most of this time you have. One day you’ll have more of everything, hopefully, but right now you are pouring poison into your homeschool instead of life.
It’s my sincere hope that next time you start to feel homeschool doubt coming to rob you of the joy homeschooling has to offer, you remember these words and pick yourself back up, dust yourself off, and hang on because this homeschooling gig is one doozy of a ride.
