Part of making the decision to homeschooling should include weighing the pros and cons involved. It is a good idea to talk to anyone you know who homeschools. Ask them what they like and dislike about the process; what they find difficult; what they have found to be precious. You can also find places on the internet where people who homeschool meet on message boards to discuss their school and their lives. If you find one you like, join. Most homeschooling communities are very open and are happy to share their experiences with you.
In my talking to many others who homeschool, I will present to you advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling.
Disadvantages
There is no point in painting a rainbow picture of homeschooling. Idealism is a quick path to burnout. So, let us examine some homeschooling disadvantages together:
Lack of Time - Homeschooling can be a full-time job unto itself. It takes research, preparation (how depends on your homeschooling style and curriculum), time to set up, clean up, organization, and of course, teaching itself. This is a lot to do on top of other work, be that a job outside the home, or all that goes with running a family.
Personal Space - Homeschooling parents give a lot of themselves. One thing that often takes a back seat is making time for yourself. It takes a lot of energy to homeschool, and that energy has to come from somewhere. Make sure you make time for yourself, every week, be that going out with a friend or a solo dinner in your room with a good book.
All that housework! - It is hard to keep up with routine chores when much of the week is devoted to school. Think of homeschooling as a full-time job, and organize the rest of your life accordingly. A weekly plan goes a long way to keeping chaos at bay!
Pressure - We all do it. We look at what others are doing, compare ourselves, and usually find ourselves short. Whether it is the public school, private school, your homeschooling friends - do not compare. Everyone has their own unique styles and way of schooling their children. Find what works, and proceed confidently.
Advantages
Yes, there are disadvantages to homeschooling. However, there are many advantages, too.
A schedule that works - Are your children early birds? Do you find your peak time of day starting at noon? It can all work in homeschooling. Homeschooling works with your family. Personally, my children love knowing that they are eating breakfast while most of their friends are already in class.
Wide range of learning - You are not stuck to a pre-set curriculum in most cases. There are so many cool things to study - Latin, Spanish, how to garden, quilting, sewing, art, music, microscopes...well, the list is endless. Every year you will find new things to learn, see, and do.
Flexibility - We can take a family vacation in November, a month off in December, a week off when we all have the flu. Homeschooling is flexible. We had no plans to study parade floats, but after watching a parade one day, one of my children starting planning their own float design. While there is no way I am ordering 20,000 roses to decoate a full-size float, we can build a mini-model. We learn art, building design, physics (how to make it move), and math (figuring out measurements to make it all fit. Flexibility!
Knowing your kids - I list this last because I consider it the biggest prize of homeschooling. While there are times every day I would gladly hide in my room, overall I so enjoy my time with my kids. In teaching them, I really get to know them in ways I did not before. I not only love my kids, I being around them.
These are just a few, but maybe it will help get you started. In the end, what is required is taking the plunge. It is a leap of faith both frightening and exhilarating.
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