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Think you can’t homeschool because homeschooling is hard? The benefits of homeschooling make it worth the hard work!
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She looked around our school room with obvious disdain. There were books scattered around, and two of my three kids were busy in their lessons. Our conversation had been interrupted at least three times by one of the kids needing me. There were dishes in the sink from breakfast and my to do list once again had no hope of being accomplished.
I don’t know how you do it, she says to me as she walks out the door. Sending the kids to school would be so much easier for you. I nod my head and agree, but end the conversation with this fact:
Homeschooling is hard, but it’s worth every minute
Is Homeschooling Hard?
Day in and day out I’m a homeschool mom. Learning how to homeschool was exhausting in itself. And now, I know that the weight of my children’s education lies solely on my shoulders. This is a heavy burden that honestly wears me down some days. Is homeschooling hard? Yes!
There are many reasons not to homeschool, but I don’t think homeschooling being hard is one of them. If anything homeschooling has reminded me to slow down and focus on what really matters. I think in our microwave society we expect things to be easy, free, and quick. We forgot that God called us to WORK. He called us to labor, and I don’t believe our lives are supposed to be easy.
Homeschooling has taught me so many things. Because homeschooling is hard it has forced me to realize that I can’t do everything. It has brought me to my knees in prayer time and time again. It has drawn me closer to the Lord.
But beyond that, I think we forget how hard it would be to send our kids to public school.
Public School Isn’t an Easy Choice
My oldest went to public school for 6 months. When it comes to homeschool vs public school it’s not easy. During those six months, we dealt with pink eye, two cases of strep throat, a weekly supply wish list, homework, packing lunches, hauling her to school, going back to pick her up, holiday parties, field trip permission slips, and a bully. Did I mention this was preschool?
I have friends and family who have kids in the public school system. On a regular basis, I hear complaints about homework, illness, common core, testing and everything else that comes along with the hard choice of sending their kids to public school.
The bottom line? Public school is hard.
Homeschooling Made Our Life Easier
Homeschooling is hard, public school is hard, parenting is hard. Did you give up on parenting because things got a little difficult? No. So, why would you consider not homeschooling just because it may be hard?Is homeschooling better? Not necessarily, but, for us, homeschooling made our life easier.
We no longer had to worry about whether or not our daughter received her weekly therapy in school. At the time she was allotted 15 minutes of speech therapy once a week when the therapist had time. When we pulled her out we were able to take her TO therapy every week for a full session.
I no longer had to drag 4-6 kids out in the cold every day to shuttle her to school. Yes, she could have ridden the bus, but that would have involved having her ready 45 minutes earlier, so I’m pretty sure they would have canceled each other out.
Homeschooling isn’t free, but neither is the public school. The weekly wish list from the school cost me at least $25 every month. I always wanted to send at least ONE thing in each week. Packed lunches are more expensive than homemade and if you purchased lunch every day at the school you could easily spend $100 a month. This isn’t even counting gas to get back and forth to the school, fundraisers, teachers gifts, holiday parties, and the insane cost of keeping up with the Jones’ back to school clothes.
The Benefits of Homeschooling
Is homeschooling perfect? No. I have shared before some of my homeschooling pet peeves. But there are many advantages of homeschooling. Here are just a few of my favorite:
Academic
- Homeschooled kids performed about a half grade higher on standardized tests than public school students in Math and 2.2 grades higher in Reading.
- Studies also show these students score above average on the SAT and ACT tests. Scores were especially higher in the areas of English, Reading, and Vocabulary. In the areas of Math and Science homeschooled students scored at or above the national average.
- Homeschooled children are able to work at their own pace. They re not confined to grade levels based on their age but instead can work at their academic capability.
Health
- A recent study found that teens are starting school too early to get a good night’s sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause depression, weight gain, and brain fog. Many teens are expected to start their school day when their brains are not even fully awake. Homeschoolers are able to start school when they are ready; they are not rushed in the morning and are able to get a good night’s rest. This unexpected advantage of homeschooling means that our kids are more ready to face their academic challenges than their public school counterparts.
- Homeschooled kids are less sick than public school kids (at least in my personal experience) because they aren’t around the germs and sicknesses in the public school system. I can’t tell you the number of times that I KNOW parents stuffed Tylenol in their kids and sent them to school because they didn’t want them to get “behind” or miss a day of school.
Personal
- Homeschooled children tend to be able to work more independently, and are more responsible for their own education. They tend to have more chores, allowing them to have better life skills. This increased responsibility makes it more possible to stand on their own two feet as an adult.
- Children who are homeschooled tend to be more confident in their abilities and have higher self-esteem.
- Homeschool parents are able to teach their children subjects from a biblical worldview instead of from the view of our government.
Need more reasons to homeschool? Check out 101 reasons to consider homeschooling!
The truth is that homeschooling is hard. It is not going to be easy and is not a decision to make lightly. But, the truth is that parenting is hard, marriage is hard, life is hard. But, we don’t give up! Instead, we make a decision to stay married. We choose to get up every day and live life to the best of our ability. We strive to be Godly parents and raise up great kids. None of this is easy. But, we do it anyway because we believe in it.
The same can be said for homeschooling.
Has homeschooling been hard for you? How have you overcome those fears that came along with homeschooling?
Related Posts:
101 Reasons to Continue Through the Hard Homeschool Seasons
Why Every Christian Should Consider Homeschooling
5 Things I Hate about Homeschooling by Simple Homeschool
8 Ways Life Got Easier When I Started Homeschooling by Penelope Trunk
Not sure how to get started homeschooling? Check out my book Homeschool 101!
My daughter-in-law has home schooled the kids always, my 10 year old granddaughter can hardly read, and I have a hard time getting any of the 3 to do there school work at all. Now they do not like grandma so much because I’m on them to do their work and I wonder what their grades were in previous years. I just started with them in August. I have no clue how to get them motivated to do there work.
I use multiple homeschool curriculums. Here are a list of my favorites: https://www.findingjoyinthejourney.net/best-homeschool-programs/
Do you use a home school program or create your own curriculum?
My granddaughter is in 4th grade. We have a small public school, she is 10 years old and has the same teacher for all except one year. She bloomed & worked so hard for the teacher. She had for that one year.She was hoping for a new teacher this year but it’s still the same that she feels uncomfortable with. She has always felt anxiety with this teacher & was having a hard time thinking about going back to school.
My son & daughter in law asked if I would homeschool her.
I am 72 years old, working from home 8 hours a day. Homeschooling would not be a problem. Will it be hard?
You’re so welcome!! Praying for you all.
I thank God for having me run into this article. My grandson has had major problems with bullying at school an home by his brother. I live with my daughter an see her struggle with the kids life in general. I ask the Lord to guide us . That’s when I accidentally ran into your article about home schooling. Thank You
“Hard things often have the most rewarding outcomes.” I LOVE this!! It is so true, and that alone can help us get through the hard days. Thank you for sharing your experience.
We have homeschooled for seven years now. I agree, “hard” is a terrible excuse to avoid something. We might not have any surgeons or soldiers if that was the case! Or parents for that matter. We have seven kids, so four are actively schooling. I did it when I had six years of intense sickness and pain. It was tough but I actually think it might have been a lot harder to send the older kids to school. They were really helpful. I do think it gets easier with each kid because of experience and also because my younger kids are in the room while the older ones do their work and they pick up on so much. My third son sat with his brother during math for a few years and he jumped a grade and a half in math from that experience. Hard things often have the most rewarding outcomes.
Hello Misty!
Thank you for the great reminders of why I am doing this. There are many (and I mean many) times that I have wanted to throw in the towel. This is my first year, so I question whether my kids are getting the best of me and what they need. I appreciate you pointing out the most obvious of things, and your ability to see that God has called you to this. I’m trusting in Him as well. Thanks again for the encouragement!
Yes, we have to remember easier isn’t always better, and chances are it’s NOT going to be easier 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by and for your nice words!
Thank you for this article! Some days it does seem easier to enroll them in public school. These articles are one ones that remind to stay the course.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging word. I agree homeschool can be hard. Especially in the beginning! We are on year 6 now and I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Life can be hard. I am learning to teach from a state of rest. Which means more snuggles reading time! Thanks for sharing.
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