| The power of a successful homeschool journey | | | | sufficiently rested |
| cannot be over emphasized. Every parent who | | | | When a mom is tired, burnt out and running from |
| homeschools wants to enjoy the adventure, grow | | | | play-dates to sports all afternoon and never takes |
| close to their children and have well rounded | | | | a moment for a quiet cup of tea and a book, she |
| children at the end of it. | | | | is bound to be tense and overwrought. When |
| But moms hold the power to sabotage their own | | | | mom has nothing left, she cannot give to her |
| homeschools and often they do not even know | | | | children and be a healing presence in her home. |
| they are doing it. Here are some warnings (and | | | | Solution- Mom needs to set aside small moments |
| remedies) for homeschooling parents so that you | | | | in her day to take a breather. This can be a |
| are do not become one of them. | | | | chapter of a good book, a walk around the |
| Warning #1 - You have no systems in place | | | | garden, a cup of tea - on her own. It could also |
| How do you know this is happening? You cannot | | | | mean getting to bed earlier so that she can rise |
| find your school books, the children cannot find | | | | before her family with a small head start on her |
| their pens and pencils, your laundry is piling up and | | | | day. Mom needs to take time out monthly as |
| you cupboards and fridge are empty. | | | | well, so that she can set her hand to a craft or |
| Solution - Take one afternoon on the weekend to | | | | hobby where she can take off the |
| plan your meals, do your grocery shopping, get | | | | "homeschooling mom hat." |
| your books ready for the next week and get | | | | Warning #6 - The homeschooling parents talk of |
| your children to make sure their desks and pencil | | | | nothing but their children |
| boxes are ready for Monday. Set up a laundry | | | | Does it seem like whenever mom and dad go out |
| system in your home to make sure that your | | | | or have a moment together, all they talk about is |
| family has clean clothing and linens. | | | | homeschooling and parenting? While there is time |
| Warning #2 - Your children take forever to do | | | | for that, it is also very important that they take |
| their work | | | | time to remember that their relationship ranks |
| Some children are slow workers, but many are | | | | right up there in importance. |
| dawdlers. If your junior grade children are taking | | | | Solution- Make a pact that you will do something |
| more than a 3hrs to do their work or your high | | | | special together, weekly or monthly, where you |
| schooler more than 6 hrs then chances are that | | | | do not talk about homeschooling, parenting or |
| they are wasting time. | | | | household matters. Just enjoy being together. |
| Solution - Make sure that you are giving your | | | | Warning #7 - Parents control their children rather |
| children short lessons so that dawdling is | | | | than build relationship with their children |
| discouraged. Ensure that you alternate a hard | | | | This is a tough one...isn't it? We want the best for |
| lesson for a easier lesson. Take the time to train | | | | our children; we want them to be all they were |
| your children in the habit of attention so that they | | | | created to be and to achieve much in their lives. |
| learn the importance of giving something their full | | | | But often a parent will go overboard and forget |
| attention and completing work in a timeous | | | | that the reason they are raising children is so that |
| fashion. | | | | they can be strong valuable members of a |
| Warning #3 - Your children spend more time on | | | | community. |
| school work than life | | | | Solution- Like a young sapling tree, protect your |
| If your children are spending more than a third of | | | | children as they need it. Train them in moral and |
| their day in formal academic pursuits, it is a sure | | | | spiritual guidelines as you take hold of those truths |
| fire way of producing burnout in mom and child. | | | | as well. As they grow and show maturity in |
| Solution - Raymond and Dorothy Moore, | | | | certain areas, permit them to begin making their |
| grandparents of the homeschooling movement, | | | | own decisions within the realm of what is |
| make use of a head, heart and hand principle. | | | | permissible to your boundaries as a family unit. |
| They said that a child's day should be balanced | | | | Warning #8- A homeschooling mom who spend |
| equally between these three occupations. Head | | | | too much time feeding on other lives |
| refers to academic pursuits; Hand refers to work | | | | I left this for last because this one point can be |
| in and around the home like chores and | | | | the single most damaging thing that can happen |
| entrepreneurial activities and Heart refers to | | | | to any homeschool. When a mom is always |
| spiritual and moral training a parent should impart. | | | | comparing herself and her children to what the |
| Warning #4 - Your children are allowed daily | | | | next person is doing, what the other children have |
| doses of TV and computer | | | | achieved, the projects that they are doing, |
| Children should not watch TV or work on the | | | | instead of getting on and living her life with her |
| computer everyday. It is an unhealthy situation as | | | | children, she is bound to become frustrated and |
| the stimulus that the brain receives from these | | | | defeated. |
| two activities causes a dumbing down process | | | | Solution- Accept the season that your family is in |
| where the child forgets how to entertain | | | | - perhaps you have just had a baby and an |
| themselves, play out imaginary games and be | | | | in-depth unit study will sent your teetering over |
| productively and creatively busy - to mention just | | | | the edge! Perhaps your children have special |
| a few negatives. | | | | needs and are not able to concentrate for long. |
| Solution - Make a list of all the productive pursuits | | | | Whatever the reason...accept the season. Also |
| that your child can do and put to when they nag | | | | remember that each home and family is unique |
| and ask for TV or their computer games. Ensure | | | | and your family has a specific flavor to it. When |
| that you draw them alongside you in your day to | | | | you try and bring in another family's culture to |
| day activities - and set the example yourself! | | | | your own, you dilute the beauty of your family. |
| Warning #5 - Mom does not ensure that she is | | | | |