Image credit: Pixabay.com (2012), CC0/PD[/caption]
In 2005, my family, after several difficult years with my oldest son in school, made the equally difficult decision to become homeschoolers. At first, we kept our younger son in the school, quickly learning how educating our children, for us, would be a kid-by-kid decision. After a year of watching him squishhis sad little face against the bus window as it pulled away from our house, I relented and allowed him to join his brother at home. This decision was right for them but I would soon discover, it would not be the best choice for their little sister.
Here is a little bit of that story, which I recently shared in an excellent article by Susie Lloyd on homeschooling and burnout:
My daughter, Faith, started homeschooling when we brought her home from China at age three. We homeschooled with her for five years, until I realized, teaching a child who is deaf was much harder than I had anticipated. We were blessed to find a small, private, all-deaf school. The first person we met walking in the door of the school was a sweet woman from what we call "deaf church," aka Mass for the Deaf, celebrated by an amazing priest who also happens to be Deaf. Seeing that woman was a definite sign that we made the right choice. My advice for dealing with difficult homeschool days and decisions: Bring those tough days, those doubts, the plans that go awry; all of it to the Lord in prayer. Believe and trust that you have been called to give this gift to your family. God will equip you and sustain you in it [edited from original article].
Image credit: Pixabay.com (2016), CC0/PD[/caption]
Susie Lloyd’s article is fabulous, and I want to encourage anyone currently or considering becoming a homeschool family to read all the wonderful interviews and advice contained within it.
Excerpt from Got Homeschool Burnout? 8 Moms Help:
Are you stuck in homeschooling? Do you feel as if you’re running in place? Gasping for breath, feeling the burn but going nowhere? Time seems to loop like the movie Groundhog Day; every day is like the one before. The only sign of growth is the mold on your shower curtain. Everyone is sick of book work. Every day is a near occasion of scolding. You set your mouth grimly. Fine. Let’s just finish the books and check off the days. You’ve got burnout. It happens to all homeschoolers, usually in winter or Lent, but it can hit you at any time. This year, I got it in September. Why? I’m a marathon homeschooler. Twenty-five years, seven kids, 364 dog years and starting to look it.Burnout is not just a mom problem.
It affects everyone in the household and threatens the homeschool. That’s the bad news. The good news is there is a cure. Susie Lloyd shares tips for homeschoolers experiencing burnout.Copyright 2019 Allison Gingras
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