Homeschooling When You Don’t Want To!

Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. You have to have the courage to overcome difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances (Johnny is eating glue again!). You will probably experience frustration or burnout, causing you to lock yourself in a closet Googling “best schools near me,” if you’ve done this, you are not alone! Homeschooling is a challenging journey, and there will be days you don’t want to do it! Learning to navigate this path when you feel unmotivated or defeated will help you break free from this negative spiral. Here are some things to consider that can help you on your homeschooling journey when your heart isn’t fully in it.

Know Your Why

“Knowing your why” gives you purpose and direction. Reflect on the reasons that have led you to homeschool. Is it to give your children more than a public education has to offer? Is it to let your kids learn at their own pace or try a certain learning style? Whatever the case, write it down, memorize it, and remind yourself of it when you start to feel discouraged or unmotivated.

I wholeheartedly believe I am called to homeschool my kids in this season of life, even though some days I don’t want to. That may change one day, but for now, my “why” is to provide an education that teaches not only academics but also life skills.

Give Yourself Grace

Emotional challenges are common in homeschooling, particularly when the decision is not made willingly. I struggled with my husband for years about not wanting to homeschool. I was managing toddlers, pregnancies, moving states, and various challenges that caused emotional breakdowns about adding another responsibility to my already full day. It’s important to recognize your feelings of frustration, guilt, and overwhelm, but you shouldn’t remain trapped in these emotions. Remember that there is grace in difficult moments, and it’s okay to be imperfect; some days will be better than others. Just as you want your child to learn and grow, recognize the importance of your own growth in this process.

Analyze Your Expectations

Every year before the new school year starts, I imagine so many ideal scenarios when I consider what the year will be like. I can envision perfectly well-behaved children, everyone acing their spelling tests, and me at the whiteboard enthusiastically delivering each child’s math lesson (insert record scratch). However, this is never the reality. Can you relate?

When we have realistic expectations, we can alleviate so much pressure. Assess what you are trying to achieve with each child and what is realistic in whatever season of life you are in. If you are aiming for a traditional school experience at home with young children, consider teaching short lessons, or instead of aiming for a conventional school setting, see how you can integrate learning into your daily life with fun, creative, and flexible activities. If you are teaching older children, try setting aside time with each student alone to avoid being overwhelmed by all of their questions at once. Adjusting your expectations to meet realistic goals in your homeschool will help create a more enjoyable learning environment for you and your kids.

LEARN TO BE DISCIPLINED AND CREATE ROUTINES

The freedom moms have to stay home and teach their children comes with a significant responsibility to develop self-discipline. With the freedom to plan our day, from when we start school to what our kids learn, discipline plays a vital role in building a productive learning environment. I have had this struggle for years! Because I often lack the desire to homeschool, if I don’t have discipline in the routines I create, I could go weeks off track, and that is when I find myself overwhelmed and feeling guilty.

Each family’s daily schedule will look different; you have to create a schedule that works for you! I know some moms who start school at 7 AM and others who start at 10 AM. Your routine should provide structure while allowing room for adaptability when things occur outside of your control. Whether it is “morning circle time”, Tuesday science experiments, or scheduled breaks throughout the day, creating daily and weekly habits can help you and your child(ren) stay disciplined and engaged, especially on days that you feel overwhelmed.

I recognize homeschooling when you don’t want to can be so difficult, but when you focus on your reasons for doing so, give yourself grace, manage your expectations, and develop a structured routine that fits your family’s lifestyle, you can create an enriching learning environment for those who depend on you.

Over the years, I’ve learned to embrace the unique journey of educating my children and to find joy in the little moments and opportunities for growth along the way. The challenges that seem the most difficult in life often yield the greatest rewards when we persevere to the end. I have seen this to be true as my kids have gotten older. I have experienced so many precious moments with them that I would not have had if I had given up being their school teacher. Remembering all the things we discussed in this article helped me embrace homeschooling when I didn’t want to. I hope they encourage you, too.