Not so new: New homeschooling parents are already experienced educators

Posted by Chris | 0 comments

Three years into this homeschool adventure, I still feel like the newbie in so many ways.

It is not uncommon for me to hear a discussion among homeschooling moms about some must-have book or product that everyone uses – except I’ve never heard of it. I am forever trying to figure out a way to consolidate records and portfolios and paperwork. I am sure all the experienced folks have that down pat. And I have changed curriculum horses so many times, I can’t get out of midstream.

But in the past few months, I have fielded more and more calls and e-mails from moms who want my advice about how to start homeschooling. I always warn them that I am the new kid on the block, relatively speaking, so I don’t have all the answers. I do live in an area where homeschooling numbers (at least by my anecdotal measure) are increasing exponentially and for that, I feel very blessed.

Then the parents who ask me about homeschooling worry about their ability to be a teacher and about the notion that their children will become sunlight-deprived, friendless oddballs who wear socks with flip-flops and spend every conversational moment staring at the ground.

The second concern is easy to alleviate, at least where I live. There are more co-op programs available than a student could possibly do. Classes, field trip opportunities and activity groups abound for all ages and needs. The biggest problem for homeschoolers here is finding time to be at home.

However, alleviating a parent’s fear of failing their child is a much tougher sell.

We worry we will fall short because we don’t have enough education, enough money or enough patience – or because we don’t know the “magic teacher words” that permeate discussions of public education. (What is “adequate yearly progress” anyway? And don’t I want more than adequacy?)

This newbie still falls short in that department sometimes. I can work myself into a frenzy feeling that I have shorted my son’s education in some way. But as I try to remember and convey to those new homeschoolers, I have been his educator since his first breath – even before, in many ways – and I have to trust that I can do this now. And I pray a lot. And I run up a lot of late fees at the library.

When we count the experience we have educating our children since that first reading of “Goodnight Moon,” even the newbies can feel equipped.

What is your advice to parents considering homeschooling? How do you alleviate their teaching fears?

Chris Worthy is mom to Caroline (16) and Nolan (11) and will soon celebrate 21 years of marriage to her favorite person, John. Chris practiced law before becoming a writer and stay-at-home mother more than 11 years ago. She enjoys cooking, crafting, spoiling dogs, green living and rummaging though old books. Follow along at www.chrisworthy.com