How to Start Your Working Homeschool Mom Life Positively
Are you starting your working homeschool mom life soon? I know how scary it can be! I was terrified when I started out. And I had no clue what to do! But that’s why I’m here!
I’m going to give you some of the advice I wish I’d had. I’ve gathered it along the way over the past five years from other working homeschool moms in my community and from my podcast. And I hope it will help you to feel more at ease as you embark on this exciting journey!
Deschool, Deschool, Deschool!
I need to put this on a t-shirt because I constantly talk about deschooling! I speak about the importance of deschooling because it’s such a fundamental part of starting your working homeschool mom life positively!
Deschooling is not just for your kids – in fact it’s much more important for you as a parent! If you are the product of a public school education, you’re going to need to break the programming. Otherwise you might try to duplicate school at home, and I can guarantee you that this doesn’t work!
So why is deschooling important for a successful working homeschool mom life?
- It’s a time to adjust to your new normal. And it may take way longer than you expect! So my suggestion is to trust the process and take as long as you need to get into the flow!
- You’ll need the time to work out your schedule. Once again, this is going to take time and it will definitely also change periodically. But you need to have a point to start from.
- Observing how your child learns is going to save you so much frustration and stress in the long run. You might have taken your kiddo out of school because they weren’t coping. I believe that a lot has to do with how kids are taught. It sure was the case for us! And if you can find out what engages them, you can save a lot of resistance and reluctance…and time!
- Deschooling also allows you to open your mind to all the wonderful ways that kids can learn. It may be frightening at the beginning, especially of you’ve always thought of learning as what happens at school. But there is so much out there there for kids at this junction in time! Be open to it and magic will happen!
The public is indoctrinated to believe that skills are valuable and reliable only if they are the result of formal schooling.
Ivan Illich, Deschooling Society
A Successful Working Homeschool Mom Life is Unique
Comparing your working homeschool mom life to someone you see on social media, is going to make you feel miserable! Remember that people only share their best moments or that they live lives that are far removed from your own.
Sure you can get inspiration from what you see, but try your best not to compare! And once you’re able to accept that your journey is unique, you’ll be able to create a life that’s perfect for you and your family!
Some practical things you can do to achieve this…
- Unfollow people who make you feel bad about yourself.
- Test lots of different schedules until you find one you like. Don’t be afraid to change it up as needed!
- Think outside the box with everything. Homeschooling gives you so much flexibility so go wild!
Lower Those Expectations Way Down!
I had very high expectations when I started my working homeschool mom life. But I think it was because I had no idea what it would actually entail! And I’d been going way down lots of social media rabbit holes trying to find out what a working homeschool mom should look like. See above! 👆
I expected a perfect house, kids always happy to learn and lots of fun and adventure. And when this didn’t happen, I was so disappointed, frustrated and angry! I’m sure you can imagine how this played out! Yes, everyone was miserable!
By lowering your expectations you…
- take off the pressure,
- enjoy what you have,
- open yourself up to new things!
Lean on Your Community
I don’t know what I’d do without my community. And yes, an online community is just as valuable and worthy as an in-person one! I live in a place where there are not a lot of women like me, so I had to go online!
A community has helped me in so many ways over the last (more than) five years. And if you’re just starting your working homeschool mom life, then I strongly recommend getting one too!
A community helps you with so much:
- Feeling like you’re not alone!
- Giving you resources and advice.
- Being a shoulder to cry on.
- Telling you I get it!
Let Me Support You in Your Working Homeschool Mom Life
I have so many ways to offer you support. And please feel free to reach out at any time!
