Homeschooling is Hard
I just need to tell ya, homeschooling is hard. It's kickin' my butt - rockin' my world - takin' me for a ride - kinda hard. I mean, I knew it was going to be ... at least that's what everybody told me as I was preparing to take the leap. It's kind of like having a baby. You know your life is about to change - drastically, but you don't exactly know what it's going to look like yet. It's different for everybody and each family. I read a lot in preparation for this big adventure, and one recurring phrase was that the first year will be your hardest. - - - Oh, it is. But, no one ever really spelled out why.[Sigh] I've put off writing this piece so many times. I don't really want to, but I feel like I need to. I kinda can't move on until I get it out. I don't want this to sound like complaining, so please don't take it as such. But it's difficult for me to say because I also don't like to admit I'm failing or can't handle something. So... (setting my pride aside) if for no other reason, than to see myself written on these lines, and to be able to work through it, I will share with you why I find homeschooling is hard. These are the things I'm struggling with.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small percentage of the sale.
The top 5 reasons homeschooling is hard:
1) Homeschooling is hard because it is a lot of pressure to endure day after day. I feel like their whole future, let alone education, is resting on my shoulders. If they fail, I fail.2) Homeschooling is hard because it requires more patience than I have.3) Homeschooling is hard because somebody always needs me for 14 hrs straight. That's all day. Every day. And it's exhausting.4) Homeschooling is hard because I rarely have time for myself. And when I do, I'm too exhausted to do anything of real value.5) Homeschooling is hard. I don't know if I can keep doing this. I am tired. I am weary. I feel all alone.
The Problem:
"God is always with me, holding my right hand, guiding me. When my flesh and my heart fail, He is my portion. I will choose to trust in Him. Psalm 73:23-28
Don't Neglect Your Quiet Time:
Back to the story:
So, potty talk aside, I'm learning to walk with Him in the chaos of my new life. I'm learning to hold His hand every. moment. by. loud. messy. stress-filled moment. It is through Him that I will learn how not to worry about my future, or their future, or this weeks' circumstances. Instead, I will be thankful and trust that God will guide me through each day. I want to live each moment of each day in His presence. His perfect peace. And that is a choice.
Encouraging Words:
Before I started this adventure, I put together some encouraging scripture verses that I could easily find and go to when I needed them. (Ha, I know myself pretty well ;) These verses are strengthening, life-giving, uplifting promises from God. And I have been referring to these pages of comforting words for the past month.
"Yes, it is our job to foster learning. It's hard to set our parenting goals on making our children successful by the world's standards. intellect, appearance, money, power, and fame. But if their hearts and minds are not turned wholeheartedly toward God, we will miss the mark by God's standards. God looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 Home education is not our primary goal - home nurture and discipleship are, and home education is simply the natural extension of those biblical priorities. When we follow God's biblical patterns and principles for home, the natural and normal fruit should be not just spiritual growth and maturity, but intellectual growth and maturity as well. Our role as a home-educating parent is to provide a rich and lively living and learning environment in which our children can exercise their God-given drive to learn and then to biblically train and instruct them within in the natural context of our home and family life. It's that simple."
God's word is truth. John 17:17
Stop Believing the Lies:
Below I've listed again the lies I was believing. But this time I posted the Truth next to them, just in case you've been believing those same lies, or something similar.1) Homeschooling is hard because it is a lot of pressure to endure. I mean, their whole education is resting on my shoulders. If they fail, I fail.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Mathew 6:33-34
2) Homeschooling is hard because it requires more wisdom & patience than I have.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6
Exactly how I was feeling. Remember Peter?3) Homeschooling is hard because somebody always needs me for 14 hrs straight. That's all day. Every day.
"Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season ye shall reap if you don't loose heart." Galatians 6:9
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the son of man is going to come in his father's glory with his angels , and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Matthew 16: 24-27
5) Homeschooling is hard. I don't know if I can keep doing this. I am tired. I am weary.
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." Hebrews 10:35-39
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." Psalm 127:1a
I'm glad we had this talk. In fact, I was just reading in my devotional book, you know the one, ;) this:
"You are on the right path. Listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way I designed just for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, and more than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of Life day by day, and moment by moment. As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repeat to you: Follow Me. John 21:22
Do you feel like your sinking? Are there 'waves of adversity' crashing over you? Don't go it alone. Don't be a Peter. May I encourage you to fix your eyes on Jesus. He is our help, our strength, and so much more.Talk soon,Heidi