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So, a year has gone by since everyone’s world changed in March 2020. I feel fortunate that we were already homeschooling when everything occurred. I was already home with the kids, and we didn’t have to scramble to figure out our kids’ education or who was going to be home with them. We were already in control of it and had been for years. But we did see changes to our homeschool.

I think there is a fallacy that the pandemic isn’t affecting homeschoolers. After all, we are home with our kids and educating them already. So, it must not impact us. Believe me, I heard it from many people.

Well, it isn’t true.

Yes, the pandemic hasn’t impacted my kids’ education as much as the public school kids. I’ve been planning and educating my kids for years. I don’t rely on someone else to do it for me.

However, homeschooling isn’t all about sitting at home doing work. Far from it!

Homeschooling has changed for many families since March 2020.

How the Past Year has Changed Our Homeschool

We have faced a lot of changes to how we homeschool in the past year. You’ve probably faced some of the same issues too.

Changes to Our Homeschool #1- Extra-curricula Activities

One change we’ve had in our homeschool is with our extra-curricula activities. Most completely stopped.

In general, people don’t realize how much homeschoolers are out and about. Most homeschool families I know have their kids in outside activities: co-ops, music lessons, homeschool groups, 4-H, sports, and more.

My once busy schedule suddenly came to an abrupt halt, and my kids could no longer enjoy their extra activities. I know the same happened with public school kids, but it also impacted the homeschool community.

Slowly, we are getting back some of those activities a year later, but many have faced huge and lasting impacts. They aren’t the same.

Changes to Our Homeschool- No Field Trips

I believe kids need to get out in the world and experience things. That is why we try to incorporate meaningful field trips over the years.

Our state was going to celebrate its 200^th anniversary in March 2020. Perfect time to complete our state studies requirement by traveling through our state, visiting the places we would be learning about.

Well, that obviously didn’t happen with closed museums, limited capacity in outdoor spaces, and events not taking place.

Unless it is an outdoor field trip (hiking, walking the beach, etc.), getting out in the real world and seeing things has stopped. It has altered my way of homeschooling. Now things are virtual trips and Google Earth views, which isn’t the same.

How Socializing Changed In Our Homeschool

Okay, so what about the big S word. You know, socialization. I hate that word. Often I want to use the quote from The Princess Bride, “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”

Homeschoolers interact with others all the time: all different ages and in various settings.

Over the past year, the interactions with others have changed. They still see a couple of friends, hang out with others in Scouts, and play too many Minecraft games with friends and use Messenger to talk while they play. It still isn’t the same, though.

Opportunities to be with others may be opening up more; however, I won’t subject my kids to all the “new” ways of doing things.

For me, I want my kids to live a normal life. We don’t take part in some activities with new guidelines that limit us to participating in it as we used to. That is just my way of dealing with everything, and I know others disagree. That is fine. We all need to do what we see as best for our families.

Why Am I Sharing This???

I have come across so many people who think the last year’s events don’t impact homeschoolers. It isn’t accurate. Everyone has been affected in different ways.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who experienced changes to our homeschool.

However, it isn’t all doom and gloom. Changes in our homeschool aren’t all bad.

Yes, our kids have lost activities, interactions with others, and their education has been altered.

Overall, though, I’ve come to realize this is another one of those “seasons” of homeschooling where you adapt and do what you can. Homeschoolers are good at that. We know that, like with our natural seasons, this to will pass.

I know I am fortunate to be in charge of my kids’ education. More and more, I am happy that I am not relying on someone else to make educational decisions for my kids. This has become even more important this last year. I’ve had to change how we homeschool some, but not enough that their education is compromised.

Through it all, we’ve learned to prioritize things in our homeschool. Some days we need time off to de-stress, so we take it. Other weeks, we keep a consistent schedule because it’s what we need. We have learned to adjust and look carefully at our priorities and the big picture.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Homeschool When Life Gets Stressful

So, homeschooling has changed over the past year. Homeschoolers are flexible and will adapt. Through it all, I continued to educate my kids and have them with me day after day, navigating life together. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Well, I got that off my chest. I know others are feeling frustrated, so I wanted to share. Believe me, you are not alone.

Happy Homeschooling!