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Homeschooling changed our marriage. There was a time when homeschooling wasn’t the topic of our conversation. There were evenings that were free instead of being spent grading papers or planning out lessons.
But, then I became a homeschool mom, and he became a homeschool dad. Our lives changed.
Yet, when I tell other moms that my hubby is involved in homeschooling sometimes they seem surprised. They want to know how to get their husbands involved in homeschooling too! How did you do it they ask?
The answer to getting dad involved in homeschooling is pretty simple really. It is only two words. Ask and Let.
I ASKED him to help
Yep, it was really that easy. When I was overwhelmed with teaching math, I asked him to step in. When I have a stack of papers to grade I ask him if he wants to help me grade them. The reality is that I don’t HAVE to do it all. Could I? Sure! And if I didn’t ask him to help I probably would still be doing it all.
When I am torn between curriculums I show him what I am looking at. When I am unsure how to grade an assignment I ask him his opinion. When I am worried that they aren’t mastering the material I share my concerns.
A fun field trip coming up I think the whole family will enjoy? Ask dad if he wants to take a vacation day and join us.
Sometimes homeschool dads just need to be asked.
I LET him help
Oh, this is a hard one, right? I mean we teach things a certain way. We grade papers a certain way. We have our paperwork and planners just the way WE want them. The homeschool dad in our life may not do things EXACTLY how we do. Guess what? That’s OKAY!I have found that even if he doesn’t do the lesson in the same order I do it, life will go on.
Homeschool moms are usually pretty Type A. Occasionally Type B, but even then we have a way we do things. But if you want dad to be involved in homeschooling sometimes you just have to let it go…
Let it go, moms, Let it GO!
The key to getting dad involved in homeschooling really comes in two words, ASK and LET. Ask the homeschool dad in your life his opinion. Ask him to help. Ask him to get involved.
And once you do, LET him do it. Even if it’s not the same way, and even if it’s not the way YOU want him to help or be involved. Be grateful for however and whenever he is involved.
This job is always easier with an extra set of hands!
For realz! I sure wish they were… (sigh) Oh well, gotta work within the parameters that we’re given. 🙂
Thank you Michelle! Wouldn’t life be so much easier if they were mind readers though? 😉
GREAT POST! This is true in every area of life. We need to be willing to ASK our husband for what we need/want. They aren’t mind readers… so matter how much the romantic movies and books would like us to think that they are. Your second point of letting them help is also an excellent one. Just because they aren’t doing it the way that we do doesn’t mean that it’s wrong.