Considering HomeSchooling your Kids?  

By Jill A. Smedley for Work-at-Home.org

If you are considering being a home-based teacher for your own children and homeschooling, know that you are in a definite minority. The good news is this minority has grown substantially since the 1980’s. There are now organized home school co-ops, sports teams, and state conventions that back up the ever growing population of home school families. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Well, even though home schooling is a very rewarding task, it can also be quite challenging. So, before you spend your economic stimulus check on the best home school curriculum and turn your dining room into Mrs. Mom’s one room school house-be sure to weigh the questions below in order to decide if home schooling is right for your family.

WHY DO I WANT TO HOME SCHOOL?

Being a teacher to your kids is a demanding job, and it doesn’t pay, at least in monetary terms, that great. Yet, the benefits of an educated and well rounded child are worth it.

Parents can take a more active role in the education of their children by choosing to home school. Perhaps the parents feel that the public or private school system has failed or will fail their children in an academic, emotional, or even safety related way. Every child develops differently and at a different rate. Home schooling can provide your child with the pace that they need in order to learn in a non-threatening and confident manner. Of course there is the moral and religious standard that brings a lot of home school families to their decision to educate in the home. Have you already thought of many of these issues? You are not alone. Most home school parents can claim that one or more of these issues have led them to their decision to be a work at home parent by teaching their own children. On the flip side of the above thoughts there are some sketchy reasons to home school. If your child simply has attendance or behavioral issues in the public school system, you may want to check out other options. Too many times home school is used as an escape from other issues that a child may need discipline in.

2. IS MY FAMILY ABLE TO HOME SCHOOL?

This is a simple and practical question. If your family is used to more than one income, can you sacrifice one? Moms in the home are not as scarce as people once thought them to be. More and more Moms are getting creative and finding ways to work from home via internet. It isn’t impossible in this day for Mom to simply move her work space from the office downtown, to her dining room table. If Mom can’t work from home, then try some creative financing. What luxuries can you do without? Make a budget and stick to it. Finances aren’t the only factor in being able to home school. You also need to check out your state law on the matter. Some states require that the home school teacher have a degree from a two or four year college or that certain curriculum be used. There are states however, that simply require that you keep records and register your kids every year online or by phone. Lastly, with this question there are the parents who think they are just not smart enough to accomplish the task. Don’t underestimate yourselves! There are so many resources, help books, and teachers on DVD that you can find something that will help guide you through each grade. Surf the net; you will be surprised at how much help is out there.

3. CAN WE TRULY COMMIT TO THIS?

Choosing to teach from home is like a relationship with your spouse. For better, or for worse, until death you do part. At times teaching your kids can feel like the latter instead of the former. If you are a parent choosing to work from home in order to teach your children, then you will have to make a schedule. You can’t have Sally interrupting a business call, and you certainly wouldn’t want a client to interrupt multiplication facts! Plan your work around your kids. They come first. If you don’t have a business schedule, there will be other distractions that you will have to ignore. For example, don’t answer the phone during school hours. That’s what voice mail is for. Don’t run the vacuum while your kids are doing trigonometry. Trig is hard enough. Stick to your school schedule with only special exceptions. It is easy to get pulled into others things when you are suddenly a stay at home mom. Appointments and errands must take a back seat to your children’s education.

Your kids are worth any and all sacrifices you may make whether it is choosing to work from home, or giving up an income all together. We as parents have only one chance to give our kids what they need to prepare them for adulthood. Be honest with yourselves and if you greatly hesitate at the questions above, then take your time and look for other options before making a decision. As was stated before, don’t underestimate yourselves and what you can accomplish. You can give them a great education with the right tools and a lot of love. Being a teacher to your kids is a demanding job, and it doesn’t pay that great. Yet, the benefits of an educated and well rounded child are worth it.

Jill is an Indiana mom of a twelve year old girl and a nine year old boy. She has been a stay at home mom for the past twelve years and has home schooled her children for the past five years. She writes in her free time.