Recently I ran into someone online that was insisting homeschooling was never a good fit for any family, no matter what.
It got me thinking, am I as hard-lined as this individual? Do I think everyone should homeschool? I mean can everyone homeschool?
Who can homeschool?
First, let me start with saying I do think more people could homeschool than how many people think they could.
I hear many mothers saying they aren’t smart enough, patient enough, or don’t have enough time to homeschool.
In my opinion, those are all things that can normally be overcome, if one desires to overcome them. It’s hard to listen to moms put themselves down in their explanation why they don’t homeschool. Don’t sell yourself short!
I do think that homeschooling is a fantastic educational system when kids are given the freedom to explore their passions, fly through material that’s easy for them, and take their time on material that is more challenging.
I do not think that school-at-home is best for everyone. Unless the student is particularly fond of that setup, it can be stifling. We did school-at-home for a number of years, for various reasons, and I do wonder if it squelched some of the creative side of my teen. Allahu alim (only God knows).
Who should homeschool
If your child is acting out and showing you disrespect, I do think homeschooling is a great option. When you have to work together as a team to get school work done (and I know, that doesn’t come overnight), or to find projects that ignite passions, then you find ways to see eye to eye.
Will you suddenly have a perfect relationship with your child? No. No one said it’s a miracle machine, but I do think it’s a tool to help bring a student closer with their family.
Also, if your child’s Islam is suffering, it can be helpful for them to have a break from the social circles that tell them how weird it is to cover, or not eat bacon, or to fast. I can’t tell you how many adult Muslims I’ve met that have muted their Islam and cite prodding from school mates as the first reason why they became skittish of their beliefs and practices.
Last, but not least, if your child’s educational needs are not being met by the school, don’t automatically assume that you are not better suited to fit their needs.
Nearly all the resources available to teachers are available to parents, plus there are specific blogs that help parents wade through specialized homeschooling resources .
When homeschooling is not a good option
As I said, homeschooling can be a great option for kids that require special education tools and techniques, but it’s also an additional strain on the parents to find those resources. I’ve known many families that brought their kids home from a public or private school because their special needs were not being met and thrived.
On the other hand, if there are other children in the home that have vastly different special needs, or very young children, the additional work to find and use the right resources might be more energy than a mother has in her day. Additionally, the resources parents might need, like speech therapists, are not generally free to the public while in a public school these types of resources are included in their education.
Conclusion
I believe most people can homeschool when they have the drive to do it. I think too many mothers sell themselves short and believe that outside “experts” are better suited to fill that role.
Mothers are resourceful and find the resources they need to homeschool, again, if they have the drive to do so
Each family is individual, and has varying circumstances. The line between whether homeschooling or going to a traditional school is best is not black and white.
Above all, don’t sell yourself short! I can’t tell you how many times I said, “I couldn’t be a stay at home mom! I’d be so bored!” and now I couldn’t imagine how I’d fit in going back to work, even if I didn’t homeschool!
Don’t let perception be a handicap!
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