Is Homeschooling Right for You?

Making the decision to homeschool is a big one that more and more families are turning to these days. How do you know if it’s the right thing for your family, though? Recently, we wrote a post about how to tell if homeschooling is right for your child. On the other hand, is homeschooling right for you? In this post we will explore some ways to answer that question.

First, let’s portray a realistic picture of homeschooling. It’s hard work. Let’s not sugarcoat that. As a Waldorf teacher-turned-homeschooler, I can tell you that once you start teaching your own child, you develop great respect for what teachers do. (As a side note, we developed a full main lesson curriculum at Enkindle Academy to take the burden off you.) However, it is 100% worth it for a variety of reasons. We elaborate these in the post linked above. It has to work, however, for both you and your child.

How to Know If Homeschooling is Right for You

First, it should bring you joy. Whether you do all your own teaching, use a printed curriculum, or outsource some of the teaching to others, it should be a joyful process, overall. You should love seeing your child learning, and you should enjoy learning with them. For example, many of our parents do the main lessons alongside their children. It should spark interesting conversations at the dinner table and side projects you can explore together. Several of our 8th graders this year, for example, are inventing new devices after taking the electricity part of our 8th Grade Physics Block. Watching your children blossom should bring you life, and if so that’s a good clue you’re on the right track.

That doesn’t mean it will always be easy, though. Once again, imagine the life of a teacher and all they go through. It’s not always a walk in the park. However, just because your child sometimes gives you a run for your money doesn’t mean it’s a deal breaker either. Even the most well adjusted youth should challenge us at times. That’s part of their process of building a self. What matters is that they’re motivated and you’re enjoying the process.

A Point About Neurodivergence

This leads me to my next point which is about neurodivergent children. Some parents think they cannot under any circumstances, educate their neurodivergent child. That, however, is not necessarily true. It’s more common than some people think. In fact, the failure of schools to truly see and meet a child motivates quite a few families to turn to homeschooling. There is help available. I can recommend two resources: Delta Genesis and Robyn Brown. Despite the challenge, homeschooling a neurodivergent child can become the most wonderfully and enlightening process as you deepen your knowledge of what a human being truly is and how to help them arrive at wholeness.

Other Considerations on the Path of Homeschooling

Another characteristic I would consider is independence. Your child should be capable of some independent play and/or friends so you don’t burn out. That leads to my next point: breathing. You should be able to breathe. Of course, I don’t just mean that physiologically but in a broader sense of your energy. I elaborate this in greater detail in last week’s post about having a daily homeschool rhythm.

Finally, even if you’re asking someone else to teach your child some or all of their lessons, you need to think like a teacher. That means developing the capacity to see your child as if he or she were someone else’s – in other words, with objectivity. This is a good exercise for parents, anyway. That means not getting lax on the routines and expectations you set, for example. Business means business, and the challenge most parents have is staying too emotionally bound up with their child.

It sounds counterintuitive, but from the helm of being both a class teacher and a homeschooler, I can tell you the hardest thing about homeschooling is falling too deeply into sympathy with your child. Thinking like a teacher means establishing some inner space between you and your child so you can give them what they need and not just what’s easy. That’s much easier said than done. However, perfection is not required, only the willingness to keep getting better. If you have that, and you’re still not scared away, then you’ll have the answer to, “Is homeschooling right for you?”

How We Can Help

Enkindle Academy offers prerecorded and live lessons for students in grades 5-9. We teach all academic subjects plus fine arts, creative writing, and empowerment groups for teens. We also offer 1-on-1 tutoring for all subjects including academics and fine arts.

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