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Homeschool regrets, we all have them right? I believe it heavily weighs us down as homeschool moms. And that is why I’m sharing my homeschool regret with you.
Homeschool regrets, we all have them right? Things we wished we’d done differently. Things we wish we hadn’t done at all.
Regret.
It’s one thing that I believe heavily weighs us down as homeschool moms. And that is why I believe it is SO important to share our regrets. By sharing them we are acknowledging things we’d change. WE are recognizing our imperfections. We are sharing our lessons with other moms. And in doing this we can learn from one another.
So, what is my biggest homeschool regret?
NOT slowing down, and by doing that I PUSHED too much.
Okay, that is actually two regrets, right? But, they go together, at least for me. I actually JUST realized this regret a few weeks ago.
I shared the picture below on my blogs Facebook group (are you a member? If not, you should be!) and in the description, I shared this text:
She came across a locust shedding its skin. She has been sitting here for an hour. Drawing it’s different phases. This is real life learning. Do we have more school to do? Yes! But THIS is learning. The text books can wait, we have to embrace when life gives us a peek into Gods beautiful design. This is homeschooling mommas.
It was on that day that I realized how much I had missed in regards to homeschooling through the years. You see, there was a time I would have rushed her. I would have pushed her in the door and told her, “Right now we have to finish school. You can come back later”. And you know what? Later wouldn’t come.
I know this now because a few months ago I realized that I was homeschooling out of negligence. This lead to a HUGE overhaul in our homeschool. Out went curriculum and in went a more relaxed environment.
The results?
Peace. We have thrived and the tone of our home has changed. The kids want to do an art lesson on a day that’s NOT art day? So what! A locust decides to come out of its shell during recess? Let’s push back math.
The world is NOT going to end!
Rushing around to get “school done” zapped the life out of our homeschool. Pushing my kids to “finish the textbook” meant there was NO time for interest-led learning. And that leads to a burnt out mom and burnt out kids.
So, if I had a do-over what would I do?
I would have said yes to that unit study on dog breeds.
I would have said yes to more cooking lessons.
I would have said allowed them to separate and followed their own interests earlier
I wouldn’t have pushed phonics to the point of crying (I mean who says you HAVE to learn to read in Kindergarten?!)
I would have realized that things like 4H, sewing, piano, etc really CAN (and should) count as school! They are not tasks that are done “after” the curriculum is checked off.
I would have said yes to more snow days, leaf hunting days, and nature walks.
I would have said yes to my kids and no to other obligations.
Moms, if you are having regrets in your homeschool journey can I encourage you today? You can STOP the path yours on. You can turn around and restart. There is no time like the present. And guess what? The world will NOT end. It will keep going, and with it may come a more joyful homeschool journey.
What is YOUR biggest homeschool regret? Sharing regrets is not always an easy pill to swallow but it is SO important. Another mom may learn from or be encouraged by your story 🙂
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You are right, there is no cookie cutter approach to education. I’m sure you’re doing a great job!
I too, was one of those mums who pushed too hard at the start. Not good. Now our homeschool is very different, and we run out own organic market garden. So though my children aren’t the academic type, they’re miles ahead with practical skills. We grow a lot of our own food, butcher our own animals sometimes, breed chickens and ducks and DIY all sorts of cleaning/beauty products etc. I feel inadequate sometimes with the academics, but I know there’s no one-size-fits-all education.
My biggest regret is trying too hard to replicate school. What a nightmare!
Congratulations!!! Hope your year went great 🙂
I think it’s natural to worry, but I think if we let it, it can and will steal our joy.
As I finish up my first year, I have struggled with this too. i just have to remind myself that they are learning and it isn’t going to look like regular school but I still worry.
I am finishing up my first year and I wish I would have started homeschooling sooner. My kids are 9 and 11 so it is never too late to start!
We figure our school day is 9am-2pm That is 5 hours a day. In our state we have to have 900 hours. That’s 180 days. We may finish book work around 1:00. The other hour they explore interests. That may be drawing, cake decorating, playing piano, or physical education. At 5 hours a day that means we need to have school 180 days a year. This isn’t even counting things like field trips after 2:00, vacations where we go places educational, weekend zoo or museum trips, 4H projects, bible school, music camps, or other activities during the summer. In other words you can very easily reach the required academic hours and still have a relaxed schedule 🙂
I am afraid if I don’t push the textbooks aND I let the atmosphere relax and explore more , (which I know they would love), then the won’t be ready for ACTS and college. How will kids develop the skills they need with some people only doing school 4-5 hours daily? Also, how do you get your required hours In by the state being more relaxed, reading books, and exploring? I want to do these things but worry my kids will fall behind and I won’t get in the hours required and that will make us have to do school to year round.
Oh, Latifah. Believe me, if God is calling you to it, HE will equip you for the journey!
Not homeschooling is my biggest regret. I just can’t bring myself to actually pull them out of school and just commit to doing it myself.
You know Katie, that is an EXCELLENT question! The right answer will look different for everyone. You have my mind spinning and I am going to turn this question into a blog post 🙂 Check back next Friday (June 24th) for it!
We are just starting out (my oldest are triplets currently in homeschool kindergarten) but THIS is the time I want to set in our home and school days. My question is, how do I find the balance (as they get older) between allowing days to unfold and learning to emerge in the most important areas while not allowing us to become negligent in the “other stuff” (math, sciences, social studies, etc) that are actually important as well (my husband is a clinical pharmacist- he would not be if he weren’t skilled in math and science).
Where do we find the balance??
No, it’s not too late at all! Homeschooling can begin at any age 🙂
Hi 🙂 is it too late to home school at age 10?
Yes! We all need to make more time for slowing down 😉
Yes, mine does too. I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be though. We adapt, learn and move on:)
So timely for me! I am trying to rush through the rest of our curriculum but my kids just want to explore outside and read books from the library. Time to slow down and let them learn what they enjoy!
Yes to all of this! I think these are all lessons some of us have to learn as we go. Our homeschool looks incredibly different now than it did when we began because it took years for me to understand what’s truly important and what can wait.