Rainbows, Unicorns, and Don't Forget the Spiders

Once you start becoming interested in the homeschooling world, many homeschooling parents will express to you what a wonderful experience it will be. Your relationship with your children will be stronger. You have the opportunity to have meaningful conversations. Their relationships with siblings will be tighter. You can guide their education toward something that interests them. They can learn more in tune with their learning style. School can happen in less than half the time they would sit at a desk in the brick and mortars. You can go on field trips. And, there's so much more!

All of this is completely true. I can say that some of the things that my children talk to my husband and me about I never brought up with my parents. I'm glad they come to us to talk through things. My kids play. Even as teenagers, they still go outside to ride bikes, play baseball or manhunt, and climb trees. They know how to just be without a screen. At high school level, they are completely finished with school in about three hours. And, it's a full load on their transcripts. It is very rare for those three hours to be together. Most of the time those hours are scattered with nice breaks in between because, frankly, who wants to sit for three hours straight?

All that being said, it isn't always rainbows and unicorns. As a homeschooler, you begin to discover the spiders. Sometimes you need peace and quiet from those chatterboxes or screaming banshees. You run into moments (or longer) when someone has no desire to complete school. Sometimes you're sick. Sometimes they're sick. Sometimes you have naysayers (could be family, could be strangers) that loudly verbalize why they think homeschooling is ridiculous. And, sometimes you are at a complete loss as to what your next step should be and end up crying in the bathroom. But, although these bits appear to be spidery, you find pretty quickly that like those arachnids you can see things that other people can't, you can find communities to help you get the job done, you have the strength to rebuild when something has been knocked down, and sometimes you will know that you just need to start a dance party to get everyone feeling better (check out the history of the Tarantella).

When you begin homeschooling, it is easy to start with rose-colored glasses (it starts that way every school year for me). When the glasses come off, and the spiders spin the webs in front of your eyes, step out of the middle. Take the break you need or your kids need. Allow God to do His thing. Once you can breathe again, take a new view from the outside looking in. What needs to change? Sometimes it's nothing. Sometimes it's everything. Reach out to a trusted homeschool buddy- one where you can speak or freak out freely with, one that will listen and non-judgmentally help you walk through ideas. Complete a pros and cons list for your ideas. Allow your children to be a part of the decision making as much is appropriate. Decide on your route and allow you and your children the grace you all need.