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Homeschooling is HARD. There, I said it. It’s the truth, and I’d laugh at anyone who says it is easy. However, I don’t want to discourage you from starting or continuing with homeschooling.
One of my favorite quotes is this:
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
Theodore Roosevelt
This is true about homeschooling.
You will face many fears and doubts about your choice to homeschool. But don’t ever quit because you think homeschooling is hard and it shouldn’t be. It should.
Table of Contents
Why is Homeschooling Hard?
Many factors make homeschooling hard. But there are also many reasons why you should keep on the path of homeschooling despite these reasons.
Reason #1 That Homeschooling is Hard
You are going against the norm.
If the world has taught me anything, it is that people don’t like to go against the norm. They want to fit in and for people to accept them.
Believe me. You will face many questioning looks and sometimes downright rude comments from family, friends, AND complete strangers when they find out you homeschool.
Some are well-meaning, and some are just people that think they know what is better for your family than you. Realize this is their issue and not yours. People don’t like things that are different and things they don’t understand.
You don’t need to justify your decisions to them or make them feel comfortable with your choices. Keep your vision and “why” for homeschooling in mind and move on.
It also greatly helps if you find your homeschool community to hang with. It always helps to surround yourself with friends and family that support you.
Get used to going against the norm. It isn’t so bad.
Reason #2 That Homeschooling Can Be Difficult
If you’re not a “real” teacher, people question your teaching ability.
Since I am a certified teacher in elementary and special education, people kind of give me a pass on this one. However, they ask if I will send my kids to school once they hit high school. After all, I’m only certified up to 8th grade. (Insert eye roll.)
I can’t imagine how tough it is for moms that don’t have a teaching degree when people question their ability.
I’ll be the first to say that a teaching degree doesn’t make a good teacher. After all, I’ve met plenty of teachers who obviously have degrees but are lousy at what they do.
Why?
They don’t have a passion for what they are doing.
But guess what?
As a homeschool mom or dad, you have a strong desire to see your kids do well. An invested parent is far better than a teaching degree. Therefore, you will do whatever you can to meet your child’s needs.
That often means researching learning styles and curriculum choices. It means seeing what homeschool style will help your child the most. Plus, it is learning and re-learning anything you need to in order to help your child (yes, even re-learning algebra).
It gets grating and can shake your confidence when someone questions your ability when you know you are doing all you can.
Don’t let it get to you. Instead, keep working hard and know that you’ve done the best for your child.
Plus, DON’T let the high school years scare you. It isn’t as scary as you think. Really, truly!!!
There are many resources that can help with the high school years. You can find help for transcripts, which courses to take, complete online curriculum for high school, and so much more.
Also, consider that by high school, kids are pretty independent learners. Plus, there are things you can do in middle school to help.
Reason #3 Homeschooling Can Make You Want to Pull Out Your Hair
Your kids love you and will try your patience.
You know how they say kids behave the worst for mom? Well, they do.
The NUMBER 1 reason people give me why they can’t EVER homeschool is that they wouldn’t have the patience.
Ha, ha, ha!!!
Believe me. I am NOT the most patient person.
My kiddos have driven me to the edge some years (ages 9-12 were the toughest in my house). There were some years I probably threatened to put them back in school weekly. I even started making plans to do it. It was that bad.
But I didn’t do it because it wasn’t what was right for our family.
It is challenging to be a teacher and mom. Kids may resent it at times. But, imagine being with your teacher All. Day. Long. You never get away from them.
Plus, it is hard to be with the same people day after day, after day, after day… You get the point.
Kids are comfortable with mom and dad, so they will test the limits much more than they would in a traditional school.
Lucky us, huh?
It is great that our kiddos can feel comfortable and confident with us.
Reason #4 that Homeschooling Can Be A Challenge
So many decisions to make.
I mean we need to decide So. Many. Things.
- Learning style for each child.
- Curriculum from the thousands of options out there.
- How to work with each child.
- Manage younger siblings.
- Plan outside activities and appointments.
- Schedule the day so we can meet everyone’s needs.
- Feed the kids.
- Plus, all the typical household chores and family obligations of being a mom. Not to mention the moms that work AND homeschool too.
Phew! It is so hard.
No wonder people think they can’t do it or need to throw in the towel. Homeschooling is hard.
But…
There are many resources to help with schedules, curriculum choices, support for working homeschool moms, and any other issue you can think of.
It’s a matter of finding your people to help you and give you some encouragement. That is one good thing social media has done. Homeschool families can connect with others and get the help they need.
Reason #5 Homeschooling Can Be So Dang Hard
For some reason, we love these little buggers, which means we want the best for them.
As a teacher, I adored my students and wanted to do right by them. I wanted to help them learn and grow. It was an exciting and daunting task.
As a teacher of students with various behavioral and mental health needs, I can remember dealing with some TOUGH behaviors. I had been hit, kicked, spit on, called names that no person should ever say, and dealt with emotionally draining situations.
Then I had my own kids.
My son would start giving me a hard time, and suddenly I didn’t seem to know how to deal with it.
What?!
After all, I had dealt with some challenging kiddos. Yet, I suddenly felt unqualified to handle my kid’s behavior (which paled in comparison).
Do you know why?
He was MY kid.
When it is family, it is personal, which means you have a lot more invested in the outcome. You don’t want to “mess up your kids.” You want the best for them. That’s probably why you chose to homeschool.
But we all have doubts. Especially when homeschooling is hard. We don’t want to ruin their future if we fail them.
Pssst, here’s a little secret. You won’t fail your kiddos for the simple fact you care and stress out about it. On the contrary, I’m sure you will do all you can to help them become productive and successful human beings.
So what if they never memorize the periodic table or quickly recite their 12s facts. In the big scheme of things, you must remember what matters.
- Can they think critically?
- Do they know how to learn independently?
- Have you instilled the beliefs and character you value?
Think big picture. Your kids will be fine.
So Why Homeschool?
After looking at the reasons homeschooling is hard, it all comes back to Teddy Roosevelt.
Important things in life are hard. They take grit, determination, and a lot of hard work. Because at the end of it all, the hard things in life are the most valuable.
We’ve learned lessons, set good examples for others (our kids), and showed others that they can do it too. After all, we did it and survived.
So, jump into homeschooling or continue your journey. Homeschooling is hard, but you teach others that it is worth the effort. You are making a difference and maybe someone else’s role model.
Happy Homeschooling!
Great read!! Thanks for sharing such a great blog, keep sharing such great blogs.
Thanks so much!
I have homeschooled my children, both my children have started their online school. Blogs like these have always helped me in homeschooling my children in the best possible way.
Aww, thank you for your kind words.