To the mama considering homeschool...
Only you and your family can make the decision to homeschool. Consider it for one year at a time. Make a list of your fears and hesitations and pray through each one. Reach out to women in your local church who have walked this road ahead of you. Get on the same page with your spouse.
Then... if it still feels like the next right thing... take that next step.
Here are some things to consider as you process this decision:
1. Consider your calling.
Is homeschool something you can't stop thinking about? Something you feel God might have led you to? Have you experienced closed doors in other areas? Maybe it's a calling. Maybe He's asking you to take the next step.
2. Consider your support.
Is your husband on board? Do you have family or church members who will encourage you on the hard days? Is there a local homeschool community you can link arms with? I believe having your husband on board is a must, but the rest may not be. It's helpful to take a wide look at who you feel you could call on when you need extra help.
3. Consider outside resources.
Remember that you don't have to homeschool alone. Home education is exploding across the country and there are so many resources, whether you want to outsource math or homeschool with the help of a co-op. If you know a local homeschool family, they're often your best resource to find out what's available in your area. Don't let feelings of inadequacy in certain subjects (like algebra or chemistry) stop you from taking the next step.
4. Remember homeschool doesn't have to look like school.
It should look more like "home" than "school," with a handful of hours devoted to formal schoolwork and the rest devoted to life training: helping in the kitchen and around the house, one-on-one discipleship, learning to live well in a family, exploring personal interests, exploring nature. Homeschooling is really just an extension of intentional parenting.
5. Consider your bandwidth.
Homeschooling isn't the easiest option. But there are hard things about sending kids to school, too. If you're enduring a season of illness, caring for aging parents, or working full-time, this may not be the right season. However, God is not limited by any of those things... and it still may be an option.
6. Remember Jesus.
If you're worried that your kids won't learn what they need to, or you don't have enough patience, or you'll be tempted to give up, trust Jesus to sustain you. You will have rough days. But you'll also experience the most precious moments with your children—straight from the hand of God—that remind you exactly why you're doing this. Jesus promises to never leave or forsake you, which means you're never doing this alone. And that's such good news.
