The number of families who are homeschooling has climbed exponentially in the last few decades, especially this past year. If you are one of those families who recently decided to try it out you may be swimming in options and have no idea what is the best fit for your family. Or maybe you have been homeschooling for awhile and what you are doing isn’t working as well as you would like it to. I want to help my family’s, especially moms who generally facilitate their child’s learning, have clarity and focus as they travel the homeschooler’s journey.
I want to help parents create a love of learning within their kids, empower mom’s with skills and confidence that they can successfully teach their kids, provide parents with fun, reliable, and practical resources at their fingertips, and give families a daily dose of encouragement as we share our struggles and wins together.
1. To Instill a Love of Learning
It is an amazing feeling when one of my kiddos picks up an educational book to read, tells me about a brand-new project they are starting, or describes a unique skill set they want to learn, all on their own. Homeschooling has given our family the opportunity and time to pursue interests that excite my kids.
The homeschooler’s life is wide open with possibilities and I want to help other families on their journey become excited about learning. Inspired learning is a completely different experience than clocking time in a classroom with 20 other kids pounding through a dry textbook. Learning with purpose is the kind of information that sticks.
When your child gets so absorbed in a topic they just can’t stop talking about it, you know it’s information that matters to them. I want to help parents discover how to ignite that kind of passion for learning in their kids.
2. Empower Parents with Skills and Confidence
If you are that mom who has no idea where to start with homeschooling, or lacking confidence because you aren’t a “teacher”, let me say this “You are more than qualified to teach your child!”
You know your kids better than anyone else. You know their likes and dislikes, their strengths and challenges, the special quirks they have that make them unique and special. You know what makes them tick and you know what makes them giggle. Homeschooling allows you the special position of being able to give your child the extra help and encouragement when they need it. You are the perfect teacher for your child.
Choosing to be a homeschool mom means you have already said ‘yes’ to making your child’s education a priority. As their mom, you have the desire and willingness to learn what you need to in order to teach your kids effectively. It’s easy to let a bad day or negative self-talk get in our heads. I want to empower moms with tools to feel confident that they are giving their kids the best education possible.
3. Offer Resources and Recommendations
There is no end to homeschooling resources, websites, blog posts, videos, curriculum, “how to” books, freebies and stores available to parents who are currently, or who want to get started homeschooling. When you are just starting out, it’s overwhelming sifting through all the information and deciding what is the best method or approach to teaching your kids at home.
Families are unique and have their own needs, such as ages of children, multiple grades, values and lifestyle that need to be taken into consideration when creating the right plan for your family. You want to start off right. You don’t want to waste hoards of money on curriculum that will take hours to prep for and end up unused sitting on the shelf. I want to help you sort through the noise, figure out what you really need for your kids, and keep it simple.
I want to help parents have creative and engaging resources that they can put to use in their homeschooling education. Providing resources and recommendations that are fun, useful and beneficial to your kids and to you, will help your day run so much smoother.
4. Encouragement for Your Heart
We all need a little pick me up now and then! I want to offer you practical tips to keep your day, your schedule and your home running smoothly and help you be more organized, but we also need encouragement. Having great systems in place to help you get and stay organized can be a lifesaver for homeschooling families. But even the best plans can fall apart once in a while and we need to show ourselves some love, patience and grace when things don’t always go according to plan. We need to be gracious with ourselves and I want to be your cheerleader.
Mom’s run out of gas too. We get discouraged because the kids are fighting, not doing their best work (or any work at all), we lose motivation or inspiration, or life happens and school gets put on the back burner. Sometimes we need help. Sometimes we need a break. And maybe we just need to get out of the house by ourselves. I promise, you are not alone!
We all need encouragement and on a daily basis. Mom’s hearts are strong but also fragile. Our failures glare back at us. Most nights we fall asleep feeling the guilt of a laundry list of things we did wrong, could have done differently, or shouldn’t have said. We need encouragement to forgive ourselves, keep moving forward, and to remember what’s really important.
5. Share our Journey
The homeschooling journey is one of the greatest gifts of my life. It is not without its challenges though. Sharing our mistakes and celebrating our wins together is what make us stronger families. Being able to rebound when things don’t go as planned, laugh at our mistakes, and find strength in community is a journey worth taking.
Conclusion
My Homeschool Crossroads blog is here to help other mom’s feel encouraged, excited and empowered as they begin their homeschooling journey even when it’s challenging. It is my deepest desire to reach out to mom’s and help them on this path. Creating a love of learning within their kids, empowering mom’s with skills and confidence that they can do this, providing parents with fun and reliable resources at their fingertips, and encouragement as we share our struggles and wins together.
Let me encourage you that you are not alone, especially if you are just starting out with homeschooling. Maybe you are at your own crossroads and trying to decide which way to turn. If so, then you are right where you need to be.