5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Homeschool
Let me start out by saying that I am a HUGE advocate for homeschooling. You might be wondering why I would write this post then… I think it’s important to go into homeschooling with a practical outlook. If I told you that homeschooling is all rainbows and unicorns, you won’t be prepared for the hard parts!
In this article, I’m playing the devil’s advocate by bringing up the hardest parts of homeschooling (that I’ve experienced in my first three years of having my kids home.) This is not to discourage you, but to encourage you to have practical and realistic expectations. Let’s dive in!
Breaks are rare
The house is difficult to keep clean and tidy
The dishes and hot meals are never ending
You’ll likely face opposition from your kids
It can be lonely
Breaks are rare
This has been the biggest struggle for me so far. With four kids (currently ages 4-10) and a husband that works swing shifts, I rarely find time for a break. I’m constantly “on duty” and it definitely has taken a toll on my mental and emotional health.
Tips to avoid burnout:
Setup a regular day/time for a babysitter, if possible. I wish I’d done this from the beginning, but I’m thinking of reaching out to my parents to start it now. Having a set “day off” would give me a much needed break from the chaos. Four hours on Tuesday morning (or whatever works for your schedule) would give me time to either do chores without interruption, run errands without kids, or just rest!
Join a local co-op. I have quite a few homeschool mom friends who have found drop-off style co-ops. Ones that don’t require any teaching commitment from the families and allow the students to be dropped off for a half-day or full-day of learning. I am very non-committal, so I have not looked into this, but I think it’s a great idea!
Share the load with your husband. Ask him to teach a subject (and take complete responsibility for it!), have him help with the littles while you teach the bigs, or ask him to share in the household chores. However you need help, don’t be afraid to ask.
The house is difficult to keep clean
When you are home with kids basically all day everyday, it’s nearly impossible to keep clean. Maybe my standards are too high, but I can’t stand a messy house! The clutter of toys left out, dirty floors, and piles of laundry stresses me out. I often feel like I’m trying to save a sinking ship… while I’m cleaning one mess, the kids are in another room making more messes.
Tips to a cleaner homeschool house:
Plan lots of time outside of the house - parks, libraries, and extracurricular activities outside of the home give our house a break from the messes. I like to tidy up before we head out somewhere and come home to a clean house!
Prioritize family responsibility - we’ve really had to focus on each child’s responsibility to our home, showing them the importance of keeping it tidy and how personal responsibility is something they need to learn now that will benefit them into adulthood.
Adopt a minimalist lifestyle - I am constantly cleaning out and donating things. Less stuff means smaller messes! You can also control the amount of stuff by creating a rotation system with toys and books.
Dishes and hot meals are never-ending
Not going to lie, I was so relieved when we started homeschooling because I didn’t have to pack lunches in the mornings anymore! But now, I’m cooking hot meals multiple times a day and sometimes having to run the dishwasher twice! Some days I think I’d rather throw a sandwich and some sides into a lunchbox in the morning and call it a day.
Tips to cut down on the cooking and dishes:
Meal prep - spend a day at the beginning of your week prepping food that you can easily reheat for lunch the rest of the week
Lunch board - sometimes for lunch I’ll put a variety of foods on a big cutting board and all the kids will eat off of it, instead of using plates. Our favorite is a big bowl of chicken salad in the middle surrounded by crackers, fruits, nuts, and cheese.
You’ll likely face opposition from your kids
Whether you’re homeschooling from the very beginning or transitioning from public/charter/private school, your kids are probably going to oppose homeschooling at some point. My kids had 1.5-3.5 years of public and private school experience before I brought them home and my best friend has been homeschooling her kids from the very beginning, but all of our kids have had their fair share of complaining.
Tips to avoid/deal with opposition:
Keep a running list of pros/cons that you can go back to. For example, “Yes, one of the great things about being in a public school was that you had a lot of friends! But, by being homeschooled, you get to spend more quality time with your friends who are also homeschooled and we get to hang out when most kids are still at school! Remember when we went to a birthday part on a random Tuesday? That was so fun!”
Remember your “why” and talk about it often - for whatever reason you choose to homeschool, explain the decision to your kids.
It can be lonely
If you don’t make the effort to leave the house and find a community, then homeschooling can be very lonely. Despite being home with your kids all day, you’ll likely hunger for adult conversation and fellowship.
Tips to avoid loneliness:
Find local activities that cater to homeschool families. We’re so blessed to have found dance studios, jiu-jitsu studios, and a rock climbing gym that hold daytime classes specifically for homeschool families. These other families have become our community and we all benefit from time spent together.
Join a co-op. Every state has homeschool co-ops, find one that suits your needs.
Find a church. Our church body is a tight-knit group and we are so blessed to have them. Although none of the other families homeschool, we really enjoy the fellowship as a family on weekends and their prayers and encouragement for our homeschool helps keep me going.
I hope that this post doesn’t discourage you from homeschooling, but encourages you to build a community, find and advocate for homeschool classes/clubs locally, and ask for help as you begin or continue your homeschool journey. Bringing my kids home has been the biggest blessing, and despite the challenges, I wouldn’t go back to the private or public school system for anything! Please reach out if you need encouragement or prayer.