Good Advice & Treats

Dad and I had a chance tonight to go to a gathering of other homeschooling parents in the area.  There we were able to socialize, snack, listen to sage advice from several veteran homeschoolers (some of them having been doing this for 20+ years) and then have a Q&A session with one another.  Over and over, they kept hitting the same points. 

1. What works for one family or child, may not work for another.  If a curriculum or style of teaching is working, try another one.  There are so many choices out there, don't feel like you have to do what 'everyone else' is doing.

2. Don't compare yourself.  Your family is not your neighbor's family.  Nor should it be.  Let you and your children be yourselves.  Not everyone needs goats, chickens, and five acres to be successful at homeschooling.

3. Get support (even if it's just online), don't try to do it all by yourself.  Make sure both parents stay involved.

4. Let go!  Take a break!  Change things up when they need it, or just take some time off if you're experiencing burnout.

5.  Have fun!  If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right.  This is not to say that there won't be days where you have to push your kids to get an assignment done.  But if homeschooling as a whole is stressful and painful - then change how you're doing it.