Individualized Homeschool

Recently I've had the opportunity to share my homeschool experience with other moms just beginning their homeschool journey. It has given me time to reflect on the start of our homeschool program. I remember doubting my ability to teach my children and feeling pressured to meet state standards or do it the way someone else did it because obviously they were better at it than me. To be honest, I still sometimes fall prey to the latter nagging doubt. I think women often compare themselves to others and when they do they usually find themselves coming up short. We all know at least one mom who seemingly can do it all. I know many moms that I have seen that way. Meanwhile, I'm the mom of two boys who have worn the same clothes for three days straight and I didn't even notice until the third day. Sigh. We are who we are and we shouldn't feel the need to be like anyone else.
You will always be able to find someone who is better at something than you are. Stop focusing on that. Because there will also always be some things you do better than others. One of those things is loving your children. No one loves your kids like you do. Treasure that, build upon it. It is far more important that children be raised by parents who love them and teach them the gospel than it is that they learn the ways of the world.
One last thing... Each family has it's own personality. Homeschooling should bend to fit that personality, not the other way around. I don't homeschool so I can be like others and neither should you. Follow your instincts. Heavenly Father sent your kids to you for a reason. He knows you are best suited to meet your kids' needs. He trusts you. You should listen to Him.

I'm just not that mom!

So Leslie reads all these wonderful homeschooling blogs by these mothers who spend all their time loving what they do. And all I can think when I read them is, "I'm so not that mom". I don't want to read about how wonderful they are at everything and how much they love it all. Not when I spend so much of my time wondering why I'm doing this, if I'll ever be good at it, and if my kids are really learning anything. I don't want to hear from moms who can do it all and do it all brilliantly. I'm a complete disaster most of the time. I can't keep my house clean to save my life. It takes me a week to get the house clean enough that we can have people over. We seem to fall further behind our school schedule every passing day. Furthermore, I don't want to be that mom. I'm good with who I am, warts and all. I may not like my children every minute of every day, but I do love them more than words can ever say. That's why I homeschool. Like public school teachers and politicians everywhere say, "it's for the children!".

(Just needed a moment to vent!)