Homeschool Doubts and Challenges

Did you know that you’ll probably have homeschool doubts and challenges for as long as you homeschool?

How’s that for a super encouraging word, right?

I actually hope it does encourage you to know you don’t have to know all the answers. I also hope it helps you realize homeschooling is often hard. It doesn’t always look and smell like roses. Just saying…

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Homeschool Doubts and Challenges

I’m over a decade into this homeschooling gig, and I still have doubts at times.

Am I doing the right thing for this child?
Will so-and-so ever get her multiplication tables?
Why aren’t my kids more independent?
What am I doing wrong?
Am I doing enough?
Am I doing too much?

Often times, homeschool challenges lead to homeschool doubts. Although there are many homeschool challenges I could list, here are some common challenges:

Defiant or difficult kids.
Yep, I’ll say it again. Defiant or difficult kids. Look. I get it. Let me just say that my kids try to test the Jesus in me many days. It’s such a struggle some days, that I wrote a post out of the overflow called Tips for Homeschooling a Challenging Child. Yes, the struggle is real at my house!
Finances. Maybe money is a strain on your family, especially if you’re going from two incomes to one.
The overwhelm. Yes, it can be overwhelming to pick curriculum and figure out your routine.
Feeling like you’re lacking. Maybe you feel you don’t know how to teach something or that you can’t reach your child. I understand that feeling 100%.

What I do with Homeschool Doubts and Challenges

Sometimes, the thoughts and challenges can be relentless. So, I want to share what I do in these times to encourage you and help you:

I pray. Yes, I do. I know that God knows my kids better than I do. He made them. When I feel discouraged, I talk to God about my feelings and ask Him to give me His Strength and Wisdom in specific situations. I also go to His Word {the Bible} and read it for encouragement.

I remind myself to stop comparing my kids to each other/other kids. Wow. That’s a hard one, right? It’s so easy to compare our kids to other kids, even to their siblings. I mean Suzy’s son knew how to read on a fourth grade level at the age of three and my child is still struggling with blending sounds in words. Every child is different. Embrace where your kids are and learn to move on from there.

I work on living below my means. One thing I’ve worked very hard to do {it’s a discipline for sure} is to evaluate true needs versus wants. I talk to my kids about it as we make financial decisions. There’s SO MUCH we can live without. Seriously. {I’m preaching to myself here.} Focus finances on what is needed versus all the things you don’t have. Of course, this one goes hand-in-hand with comparing yourself to others.

Talk to a friend who homeschools. Find someone else who homeschools or supports you homeschooling and open up. Share your doubts. Share your challenges. I assure you when you open up and share, you’ll hear, “Wait. I’m not the only one struggling with this?” Even if the person you talk to is struggling, you can still learn things from each other that can help make your journey easier.

Take one day at a time. Yes, I know it’s cliche, but it’s SO true. You don’t have to have all of high school figured out when your child is in middle school. I have found that when I focus on the future too much, I begin to get worried and anxious about the present. And honestly, today has enough troubles of its own!

Find a homeschool blog or book. The amount of resources for homeschooling is abundant! Just search and you’ll find encouragement and homeschool resources for your needs.

I hope this post was encouraging to you. My purpose was to help you see that you’re not alone. The homeschool doubts and challenges you have are NORMAL. Other people have those same doubts or challenges.

Enjoy homeschooling!
~Becky

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