Homeschooling isn’t easy. It can be exhausting, mentally draining, and sometimes it feels like a losing battle with your kids. Yet, if you are in it for the long stretch, don’t lose heart.
Make sure you remind yourself of the extra freedoms, along with the extra joys that you share with your children each day because of that decision to homeschool. Here are the 7 joys of raising your children in a homeschool environment.
#1. Less-Stress Mornings
Getting kids ready in the morning can be pure chaos. Especially, if you have smaller preschool children that need their sleep. Any earlier and it will be a rude awakening to them and they’ll let you know about it. And if you have multiple kids, the chaos just multiplies.
Getting yourself up early enough to get them breakfast, help the kids with brushing their teeth, and finding them decent clothes to wear can be a losing battle. By the time you get them outside for the bus, you see that their transportation just pulled away.
Being able to wake up when YOU want is a huge stress relief for homeschooling families. There is not a crazy rush in the morning, with everyone fighting and screaming.
You, as a family, are able to wake up when you’re feeling refreshed (or when momma says so). More sleep will help smooth out the children’s attitude to some degree. If not, a nap time can always be in the near future.
#2. You Get to Spend Extra Time Together as a Family
Spending the extra time with your kids was a huge factor in why you began or are choosing to homeschool in the first place. There’s so much more you will experience, both good and bad, as a family. And through all of this, you will hopefully become a stronger family unit because of your decision to homeschool.
#3. You Get More Freedom in What You Teach Your Kids
Being in charge of your children’s education is a huge responsibility, one that I know you as parents don’t take lightly. If you have a particular faith, public schools and the government will not be able to stop you.
You are able to share your faith with your kids through their studies. You will also be able to avoid teaching them things that you disagree with that are being taught in public schools.
#4. The Joy of a More Relaxed Schedule
While I mentioned that you can sleep in longer in the morning, you can also take extra breaks when your family is at their wit’s end. Taking an entire day off to visit the zoo or public library will be a great field trip for the kids.
When it comes to a relaxed schedule, this is important. You may get more things done one day and fewer things done another day. It all balances out!
#5. The Joy of More Flexibility with Each Day
If you have certain errands that you need to run in the morning, have the kids go with you. There’s no set time when you have to teach your kids. If you find it easier and more of a success to teach them after dinner, then feel free to teach them after dinner.
The most joy in homeschooling comes from the flexibility that’s allowed. You aren’t tied down to a certain schedule, unless you want to be.
#6. The Joy of NOT Missing Out
Make sure you enjoy the little things that your children do, because this is precious time with them that you wouldn’t normally have.
If they are excited about a certain accomplishment, make sure they see that excitement and celebrate with them. Make sure you laugh at the funny things that happen throughout the day.
All I am saying is: this is a time period that you don’t have to miss out on because you are homeschooling. A big joy of homeschooling is NOT missing out.
#7. The Joy of Building Good Character
Building good character in your children is another big reason why parents choose to homeschool.
Keeping them away from talk about sex and using bad language, especially when they are really young, is important.
You can’t protect them from it forever, but there’s no reason that you can’t protect them while they are young. There is a time and place for learning everything.
You also are able to teach your children good character, by the way that you live and act towards others. When your children cross that line, make sure that you take the time out of your lesson, and deal with the heart issue that matters more long term.
These are the 7 joys of homeschooling your children. If you homeschool your children, what other joys have you come across during the process?
