I love learning new things – trust me, even after 19 years of teaching there are still new things to learn!
19 years???
Yep! I can hardly believe it some days. You would think by now I would be facing each day with complete confidence and NO doubts!
HA! Right?!
Yes, even after 19 years I still swim in doubts some days.
Am I teaching them enough?
Am I teaching them at ALL?
Could they learn more from someone else?
Am I preparing them for the future?
Is this really the best idea?
Are they even listening to me?
Should they go to public school?
Have I lost my mind? (Don’t answer that one, please!)
Of course, most of those questions are rooted in fear and should have no place in my thought process. But yet, they pop up from time to time. Even after 19 years.
So what is a homeschool mom to do? Where can we go to get support and encouragement when we need it?
Our Spouse– Hopefully you entered into this as a team. You should have. And if not with a spouse then at least with some support. Knowing what you are doing, and more importantly, why you are doing it, is vital. Having someone on your team who can remind you of those things is also vital. On the days that are my hardest, just sitting down with my husband to talk about why we first made the decision to homeschool is a huge lift for me.
Our Friends– Here again is where team is so important. Walking through life with others who are doing the same things we are just makes life easier. Knowing we are not the only ones struggling, that we have friends in the same boat, just helps, right? If you do not have friends doing what you are doing, find some. Whether through your local homeschool group or friends in your neighborhood, find someone that you can encourage and can encourage you.
The Word– Around our home we often say to our kids “what does the Bible say?” I think it is a good question to ask ourselves as well. When we fear- what does the Bible say? “Do not fear for I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10 When we worry about the future, what does the Bible say? “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:34 When we wonder if we know what to teach- what does the Bible say? “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deut. 11:19 God has given us the truths we need, we just need to speak those truths to ourselves. All. The. Time!
Is it easy? Not even close some days! But it is possible with a little help. Rely on your spouse, your friends, and most importantly, on God to get you through!
You WILL get through.
