Can I homeschool?

I am basically an unorganized person. I’m a perfectionist. I procrastinate. I dread failure, but have grown accustomed to it. Occasionally, I struggle with self-esteem. My kids drive my crazy. Often, money is tight. I work outside the home. I have an only child. I have a big family. We are having a baby. I have a disability. My child has a disability. We’re moving. We live way out in the country. I do, however, love my kids. I love my child. I love my kids.

I’ve heard it all. These and many more reasons people feel they can’t homeschool. Everyone who is homeschooling now, has asked themselves at one time, “Can I homeschool?” You may be asking yourself this same question. The short answer is, “yes, “ but let’s look into a little deeper than that.

Do you know any homeschoolers? Do you like them? If you don’t know any, meet some. If you’ve met some that don’t quite “fit” with your family’s priorities, meet some more. Finding other families you can identify with and seeing them homeschool successfully can go a long way in boosting your confidence. So many people homeschool for so many different reasons. It’s important to find homeschoolers who align with your family’s values.

Another confidence issue may be that you don’t have a teaching degree. Unless it’s required by your state laws, it isn’t necessary. That’s what Teacher’s Manuals are for – to help you teach the lesson. There are so many teaching aides available, too : CDs for foreign languages, DVDs of lessons, software of educational games, online classes…the list is endless. Take heart, help is available. You learned how to be a parent, you can learn this, too.

So, now you’ve met a few homeschoolers or maybe quite a few. You may have even made a friend or two. Next, you should look at what requirements are needed by your state law to homeschool. Don’t panic. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association runs a website, http://www.hslda.org , which has a plethora of information available at no cost on their website. Please don’t rely on what you may have been told by someone else. Check out their site and see what the legal requirements are for homeschooling in your state. Even if you’re in a state that has several requirements to homeschool, remember that there are quite a few people in your state who have done this same research, made the plunge into homeschooling, and may have a hint, or 50 hints, to help you be successful and meet the requirements of your state. There are even software programs available, based on a particular state’s requirements, designed to help homeschoolers track and report specific information needed in that state.

Now you’ve got confidence from seeing your new homeschool friends’ success. As you meet more homeschoolers, you will also share in their struggles. Since we don’t live in Eden, our kids are still going to act like kids. Our own shortcomings will still be with us. If keeping our house clean is important to you, it will stay a priority (if even just for your own sanity), even if you’re homeschooling. If your house wasn’t a priority before you started homeschooling…well, it won’t clean itself.

Having confidence, a little support for homeschooling, and knowledge about what’s needed for homeschooling in your state lays the groundwork to answering the question, “Can I homeschool?” Yes, you can. I know parents with disabilities who homeschool successfully. I know people who’s kids have disabilities who homeschool successfully. I’ve met people with lots of kids and babies and toddlers; and I’ve known some with an only child who all successfully homeschool. I know people who move often, and some who live so far out in the country they can’t see a neighbor from their home who all run successful homeschools. Whether you’re a doctor or lawyer or barely finished highschool, you can have a successful homeschool. I know single moms and families who run a home-based business who have success in homeschooling.
The short answer is, “Yes, you can homeschool.” I believe everyone should at least try to homeschool. It may not be a lifestyle everyone would choose as best for their family, but it can be an incredibly freeing experience to see how joyfully learning can occur.