Motherhood can be a thankless job. A homeschooling mom can even feel more unappreciated. It’s been said the hardest things in life bring about the greatest rewards. After homeschooling my three children, I can truly say that even though it was the biggest challenge for me, the biggest rewards and blessings have come from it. If you have felt defeated, tired, and frustrated, hang in there! Remember you are investing in your children’s future and God will continue to give you the wisdom and strength to move forward. Here are some encouraging thoughts to remember.
You know your children better than anyone. Because you are raising your children day in and day out, you pick up on how each of them learns best and what they need to succeed. Think about the reasons you began homeschooling in the first place. You love your children, and you want to give them the best opportunities you can. Because of your utmost concern for them and your innate desire to help them flourish, you are well equipped to find the best way to help them learn. When you encounter roadblocks, take a break for a few days and come back to it. This might give you some time to process why something isn’t working. Remember, your one-on-one ability to be with your child is like giving them their own personal tutor all the time, which gives you the opportunity to really hone in on their individual needs.
You don’t need to know everything to be able to teach your children. For example, when I was in school, I disliked history and didn’t remember anything I learned. However, when I started teaching my kids, I was excited and interested and learned right along with them. My enthusiasm spilled over to them and motivated them to be interested too. If you feel like you aren’t good at a certain subject, it doesn’t mean you can’t teach it. Most instructor guides give you clear direction as you learn together. Some curricula even have videos for additional help.
Homeschooling gives your children the tools to learn. When you teach your children how to learn and instill a good work ethic in them, you set them up for success as lifelong learners. No school is perfect. There are always gaps in education. But when you look at your homeschool as a constant platform for learning, you can welcome discussion, problem-solving, and creativity so your children will continue to be self-motivated to learn.
Raising kids isn’t about comparing them to others. It’s about raising happy and secure children. It’s not about putting on a front because you’re worried about what others will think of you. You can’t control if people decide to pass judgment. What you can control is how you interact with your children. All children are different—and this is a good thing! You were blessed with your unique kids with their own personalities. You can find joy in valuing each child’s differences and finding the best way to teach each child. And you will learn a lot in the process and might even be able to help other homeschool moms.
Take heart! Even as moms, we are all still learning. Our acceptance is not based on how well our kids are doing. We have been given grace because of our need, not because of our strength. It’s okay to feel like you don’t have it all together. In spite of those feelings, your children are still learning, growing, and blossoming as you are taking the time to teach, nurture, and love them. When you spend time together on a daily basis, you create a special bond with your kids that is so rewarding, and your kids build a bond with each other that will last into adulthood. ~ Gina
