It feels like there are fearful messages everywhere we turn. I find this especially true in the homeschool space. Not only do we hear it from the outside world that tells us we’ll turn our kids into unsocialized misfits. We also hear the messages of fear mongering from within our own ranks.
It seem that every wher we turn we are fed lines and conspiracy theories of watch our backs because they are coming for us. Who is they anyway?
It takes courage to step out boldly, past the noise and fear mongering and take our childrens’ education into our own hands. This awesome responsibility is something we don’t take lightly, and I think it is why we are susceptible to these fearful messages.
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A Little Homeschool Encouragement
This post is not about fear. We’re going to talk about pushing past these extreme messages with truth. If you need encouragement today in your homeschooling, keep reading. This is for you.
Bad Homeschool Stories
Before I jump into the how of being a courageous homeschooler, I think it is important to acknowledge that there are some scary homeschool stories out there. Bad things happen even to the most well intentioned families. While we can acknowledge that less than ideal situations happen, it’s important to note that these things are extremely rare.
When I was in my second year of homeschooling I spoke with a very experienced homeschool mom who was involved with homeschool organizations all over the state. In fact, her husband had been president of the largest homeschool organization in Colorado at one point.
I asked this homeschool mom if she had known any homeschoolers that had CPS called on them. She told me that she knew of a couple of cases. In these situations there were family members that reported them, and there was true neglect happening. While it’s sad to hear that there are legitimate situations where kids suffer, we can also take heart that these aren’t cases where people are randomly getting into legal trouble just for homeschooling or doing what is best for their children.
Steps to Become a Courageous Homeschooler
If you have taken the step to homeschool your kids in spite of fear, you are already courageous. The following is going to help you believe it. Let’s take you to the next level of homeschool courage to truly embrace and love your calling as a homeschooler.
Step 1: Prepare With Knowledge of Homeschool Laws
It’s so important to know the homeschool laws in your state, and follow them. You might be surprised how many homeschool moms take their kids out of school without ever reading a simple explanation of what is required to homeschool. While this might seem bold on the surface, it has potential to create messy legal situations.
When You prepare yourself with knowledge, you can have confidence to know you are doing the right thing. So when someone confronts you for taking your kids to a trampoline park in the middle of the day, you can courageously tell them to back off. When you know you are working within legal guidelines, you can know that you are the one who is right if ever confronted. Since most people who question homeschooling don’t take the time to carefully research before commenting, your confidence and knowledge will usually back them down.
Step 2: Question Motives
There are organizations that send out newsletters solely to keep you informed of what’s happening in the homeschool world. One thing we all know about the news is that positive stories don’t sell. The need to create urgency to sell a product or service exists even in the homeschool space.
Questioning the motives of whoever is presenting a fearful idea leads to courage by overcoming the fear with truth. Why are they focusing on the bad stories? What do they have to gain by telling you this story? Most of the time, it is not to inform or help you in your homeschooling, even if they say it is.
Step 3: Be Careful Who You Listen To
I once had someone tell me that I might get pulled into court or have CPS come knocking on my door. This was all over a situation with an umbrella school that didn’t know anything about homeschooling in my state, and I had the situation well under control.
This person presented herself as a homeschooling authority figure of sorts. She is highly involved politically and comes from a perspective of everyone’s out to get us. The problem is, she was not an experienced homeschooler. At the time, I don’t think her kids were old enough to even need to follow homeschool laws.
Being a second generation homeschooler, I knew that she was giving me terrible advice. Actually, probably the worst homeschool advice I ever received. I also knew that she has a background in public education, but not much experience with homeschool. Yet I couldn’t help but think what if I wasn’t this experienced and confident in my homeschooling. Part of this confidence comes from knowing that I was in the right and doing the right thing (back to point number 1).
Knowing who to listen to is important to become a courageous homeschooler. If I had listened to the advice of someone who had only homeschooled for, like, a minute, I would have run scared. But I knew not to listen to her and could let the fear mongering roll right off me.
Step 4: Know Who You Are
You are the right person for the job of teaching your children. The purpose of kids having parents is to learn from them and get prepared for life. This is truly the natural order of things. I’m not saying that there aren’t times to let our kids learn from others, but they don’t have the qualifications you have. Even if it seems like they are more qualified, having that child placed in your arms and being their mom or dad is the highest qualification.
No other human on this earth will love your child like you do. Their best interest is constantly at the forefront of your mind. You are the perfect person to teach your kids, even if this world tries to tell you otherwise.
Knowing who you are and how uniquely equipped you are for your children leads to courageous homeschooling. When the voices around you try to say you can’t do this, you say I am their mom. That’s my super power and the only qualification I will ever need. The only response you will ever need that overrides all of the doubt is, I am their mom.
Step 5: Do It Even If You Are Scared
I’m sure you have heard this before, but I am going to remind you anyway. Courage is not the absence of fear, courage is acting in spite of the fear. If the fear mongering around you has gotten to you, then it’s time to behave your way to success. Fear tends to creep up when we walk into something new. Walk into it anyway.
I once was facing a situation (not homeschool related) and I was fearful. I remember telling my mom about it and saying I was going to take a stand, even if I have to do it on shaky legs.
You are made to overcome. If homeschooling is something you know you want for your kids, then do it even if it scares you. Take the next step and then the next step. Walk forward boldly, even if you’re walking on shaky legs.
Start Your Homeschooling Adventure
These posts will arm you with knowledge as you jump into the courageous homeschooling adventure!
How to Homeschool – My Homeschool with a View
Homeschool Planning: Yearly Schedules – My Homeschool with a View
Homeschool Planning: Record Keeping – My Homeschool with a View
