To all of my fellow homeschool moms:
It’s back to school time and you all know what this means. Pictures of all of your friend’s kids with their teachers in their adorable classrooms. Pictures of their first cup of “freedom” coffee alone at Starbucks. You know you chose to homeschool because it was the right thing to do for your family. And sending their kids to school is the right thing for theirs. You may love homeschooling, but if you’re like me, around this time of year you start to feel a little pang of jealousy, or maybe just curiosity, at what it would feel like to send all of your little ducklings off to school for a few hours of quiet and solitude.
Would you read a book? Clean your house? Watch some TV? Go grocery shopping alone? The possibilities are endless!
Take heart, fellow homeschool moms! Even though you know you wouldn’t trade what you do for anything in the world, maybe, like me, you need a little encouragement during back to school time. I like to take this time of year to regroup, refocus, and get my heart in the right place before we ever crack open a textbook. Here are the things I am choosing to focus on during back to school time this year.
Why I chose to homeschool. Every family makes a choice about their kid’s education. Public, private, homeschool. Every family knows what is right for them and chooses accordingly. My family chose to homeschool. So did yours. Your reasons are probably not the same as mine, but remember back to the reason you wanted to homeschool in the first place and think about all the ways it has surprised you and ways you can make it better than ever this year!
Not having to say goodbye. I know it is healthy for kids to grow up and have freedoms and not have us hovering over their every move. I am rejoicing in the fact that I don’t have to say goodbye to them every day when they head off to school. Sure, they make me crazy. Sure, I would love to go to Starbucks alone. Sure, I would love to take up yoga or spelunking or many other things in my spare time, but I don’t have to worry about them while they are at school! One of the reasons I love to homeschool is that I can spend more time with my kids. I may also be insane. Time has yet to tell. I am doubly rejoicing this fact this year with Ethan starting sixth grade! I also know that I would do none of the aforementioned things, because my kids used to be in school and I did not always make productive use of my time, much less take up a hobby.
Freedom. I don’t have the same kind of freedom I would have if my kids were in school every day. Homeschooling allows for a different kind of freedom. I have the freedom to choose what they learn, how they get taught, when we go on vacation, when to start school, when to stop school; the list goes on and on. Instead of feeling jealous, I’m waving my flag of homeschoolers freedom this year!
My kids. Sure, all of the above reasons encompass my kids. They are the only reason I do this homeschool thing. Trust me, it isn’t for my sanity! This year I am really focusing on them; who they are, helping them grow and learn and become the best version of themselves they can be. I’m putting myself aside and letting my focus be on creating the best school year yet!
Me. I know I sound like I am totally contradicting myself here. You’re going “She just said she was putting herself aside…” I did. I said that. I meant that I am putting myself aside when it came to school. I wasn’t going to skip on art projects that seemed to messy. If one of the kids wants to learn quantum physics, then by golly, we’ll figure it out! What I mean is, that when the school day is done I am going to find time for me too. I am going to sit and read a book. I am going to go get a massage on a Saturday morning. I am going take a nap! I am going to make sure my batteries are recharged so that I can focus on the other stuff.
My husband. So often I put my marriage last. I know I’m not the only one! I run from sun up to sun down, being a mom and a teacher and a principal and a coach and a nurse and a chef; that I often forget that the only reason I am any of those things is because of the man I married. This school year I am choosing to remember my marriage. I am choosing to spend time with the man I love instead of the DVR after the kids go to bed. I am choosing to go on date nights. I am going to make sure I say thank you for all the ways he supports me. For letting me threaten to enroll the kids in school at least once a month (or sometimes more), for letting me change curriculum mid-year (again), for letting our house look like an art studio and a science lab, and not caring that no dish from the day has been loaded into the dishwasher.
So, while I still feel a little jealous of all of my friend’s back to school pictures and their ‘Boo Hoo/Woo Hoo’ breakfasts, I’m not going to let it bring me down! I’m going to focus my energy elsewhere, and relish in my last few weeks of summer since we don’t start school until after Labor Day (suckers)!
On a side note: If you are one of my (MANY) non-homeschooling friends, please don’t feel like I am looking down at you! I know you chose to do what is right for your kids and your family. As you know, we’ve run the gamut, and landed where we are. I really do like all of your pictures! Keep ‘em coming!
