Good morning friends!
Yesterday afternoon I was perusing the shelves of a local homeschool store. A great little hole in the wall place you can find New and used curriculums. Manipulatives, novels, christian books, educational posters and more.
We homeschool moms may as well empty our purses out on the counter at this kind of shop! So many good deals, you suddenly see your pile growing....lol.
As I was debating adding another curriculum (Apologia) to my pile. I hesitated. When out of the blue a woman walked up to me with a bright smile on her face. "I've used Apologia for many years, I overheard you talking about it. Can I anwssr any questions for you?"
Keep in mind, this isnt a worker/employee. Just a friendly homeschool mom who has been in my shoes before.
She got to talking about how she had been homeschooling for 11 years and she has tried it all. She gave me sage advice, and we laughed at the reality of not everyday going as planned.
In that moment, I couldn't be more grateful to this complete stranger.
This fellow homeschooler taking time out of her busy afternoon to help me. Im sure she saw the sheer panic and overwhelming look painted all over my face.
Its amazing how one person can set your mind at ease. To reassure you, that you've got this! Maybe it's a homeschool sisterhood.....
With saying all of that, here are a few Dos and Dont's of homeschooling.
DO- Remember that you aren't going to fail your child. You've got this! Even on the days your coffee is cold, the kids are in tears and you secretly are questioning if the math you just did is right....
DON'T- Set unrealistic schedules and goals for you or your children. Be intentional! Remember you want to set your kids up for success everyday!
DO- Find Co-ops, meet up groups, etc. To bounce ideas of off, for socialization and for friends that share the same journey as you. Not many public school families understand us homeachoolers.
DON'T- Compare yourself to other homeschool families. Everyone has their own way of teaching and learning.
DO- Research what type of homeschool method works best for your family. Charlotte Mason, Traditional, Montessori, etc.
DON'T- Think that because you bought one curriculum, that is the one that your stuck with. It's not like your purchasing the latest and greatest Mercedes...You may find trying a few out is the best way to see what works.
DO- Remember that there are buy sell and trade curriculum groups on Facebook, used book stores. Etc. You don't need to sell your lovely soccer mom van to afford an amazing curriculum.
DON'T- Sweat the small stuff! Have fun everyday and embrace those kids. A lot of learning is through play, field trips, you reading to them, etc. If tears are rolling and tantrums are flying take a break! You need it and they need it, set the zoo free and let them run around outside.
DO- Keep plenty of coffee around☕ a staple in my homeschool is coffee. Be it fresh and hot or cold after I got distracted for the last hour. Let's face it, it's usually the later!
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