Transitioning To Homeschooling: Part 3

Now that you have, prepared yourself, and your children for the homeschool change, and researched your child’s learning style and curriculum for that learning style, let us now start talking about finding your support.

When it comes to support, there are people from all ends of the spectrum. You may have great support from friends and family, you may not have support at all, or you may find yourself somewhere in between. Regardless of where you find yourself, let’s discuss how you can find and grow your own homeschool support.

A great place to start is to look for a homeschool social media group for your area. Homeschool is exploding all over the country so trust me, there is a local group out there! Join that page and use the knowledge of others on there as a resource, and as a place to form new, homeschool relationships. For example, the local homeschool page, I am a part of, allows people to post questions, events, information, and field trip ideas. It has been a great resource for not only myself but others in the area as well.

Another great way to grow your support is through a homeschool cooperative (co-op). There are so many out there ranging from different styles. Some are very hands-on and require parental involvement, and some are child drop-off situations. I have been a part of two co-ops, both of which were very different styles. The first co-op was very involved and hands-on. We would show up every day at a friend’s house, and each parent would teach an assigned subject for the whole year. It was more of a small private school setup. It had many positives, but for me, my children, and our lifestyle, it didn’t quite fit.

The second co-op we were a part of and currently still are is the co-op I direct at our local church. This particular co-op is a one-morning-a-week commitment. It focuses more on enrichment topics and leaves it up to the parents to teach the core subjects how they see fit for their own children. We found this style to fit our family perfectly. We have formed many new friendships, and it becomes like family.

Now, in the case that there isn’t a local co-op in your area, it would be a great idea to seek out a mentor. Someone who has been through the journey and can offer great encouragement, and insight. It certainly doesn’t have to be anything super formal but, it is extremely beneficial to have someone in your corner to rejoice on the good days, lift you up on the challenging days, and help you on the confusing days.

Lastly, if you have friends and family that wholeheartedly support you and your children in your homeschool journey, don’t hesitate to ask them to be involved! I have found that more times than not, they are honored to be a part of an opportunity like that. Remember you don’t have to go through the homeschool journey alone! Invite the people around you who support you to help you.

With all of this said, remember that you are not alone, and there are so many people out there, willing to help you, even if it is not from close family and friends. As we go against the norm, when it comes to education for our kids, society likes to make us feel like we are wrong for the decision we made, and that we are ruining our kids for doing so. Remember, these are all lies and false statements. I know that you will be a success in the homeschool lifestyle! Use the tools and resources around you to build a rock-solid community and support. The many blessings that come with this decision are unending and worth it!