Homeschool : Fact or Fiction?

It’s a story as old as time.

You say the word “homeschool” in conversation, and suddenly you’re berated with a slew of questions.

Some reasonable and filled with genuine curiosity. Others seem to come out of left field.

So, when it comes to homeschooling, what is fact, and what is pure fiction?

Buckle up! I’m here to set the record straight! (Hang in there. It’s a long one!)

Myth :

All homeschoolers are weird.

Fact :

Some of the coolest, most well rounded and well spoken individuals that I have ever met are/were homeschoolers.

And let’s be real here, I was weird BEFORE I became a homeschool parent.

Myth :

All homeschoolers are deeply religious.

Fact :

Homeschoolers come from every walk of life, and each family is unique in their reasoning to homeschool.

The underlying reason that the vast majority of families have in common is the FREEDOM that comes with homeschooling.

Myth :

Homeschool parents are required to carry a degree of some sort, or have special training in education.

Fact :

Homeschool parents do not need special training or a degree to teach their children.

Do we magically know everything? Of course not.

However, we as parents, already are our children’s first teachers. Whether a family chooses to homeschool or not.

We teach them by our actions and examples. We teach them to walk, talk, tie their shoes, ride a bike and so on.

So what about academics? What if a subject is unknown or difficult to the parent? What then?

We learn together as a family.

We watch courses and videos online.

We seek help from those in specific fields.

We take classes.

We outsource.

We grow.

Myth :

Homeschooled children will not receive a proper amount of socialization.

Fact :

Public school does not automatically ensure friendships.

I spent all of my school years in the public system. And I was painfully shy. Had it not been for my love of music, and my desire to join choir, I probably would not have had many friends.

Our kids can make connections in church groups, organized sports, the Scouts organization, through co-ops, and in so many other forums.

Public school is not the only way.

Myth :

Homeschooled students will not receive an adequate education.

Fact :

The homeschool education is not adequate. It is so much better!

It is all encompassing. Fulfilling. And at times, it’s even fun!

Not to mention, homeschooled students typically have a deeper understanding of their lessons.

Myth :

Homeschool parents must have superhero level patience to homeschool their children each day.

Fact :

Out of all of the things that were said to me regarding homeschooling, this was in my top 5.

“I could never homeschool my kids! I just don’t have the patience!” People were always surprised when I replied with, “Neither do I!”

We were called to homeschool our kids. And yes, most days were great. But, there were also many days when I did lose my patience.

There were days when I had to excuse myself for a quick “mama minute”, to refresh, refocus, and collect myself.

There were also days when I completely lost my marbles and had to come to my kids and apologize.

I’m not perfect. None of us are.

And yet, the beauty in homeschooling is the freedom to take breaks when needed. To go for a walk. To sit under a comfy blanket and read a book. To drink a warm cup of coffee or tea.

To pray.

No, you do not need patience of steel to homeschool your children.

Instead, rest in this calling on your life. Give grace when needed. Even to yourself. And take as many breaks as needed. Take a whole day, if needed!

Myth :

Homeschooling is basically public school at home.

Fact :

Each family’s homeschool routine is different and unique. Some adhere to the traditional school calendar, others create their own calendar. Some families maintain a more structured school atmosphere, others are more relaxed. Each family does what works best for them and their needs.

However, one thing remains consistent regardless of routine : Homeschool is NOT public school at home.

Homeschooling is a cohesive environment where family, life, and learning exist simultaneously.

Myth :

Colleges will not accept a student who has been homeschooled.

Fact :

Most colleges will accept a student who has a homeschool diploma. This includes Ivy League schools. As the years progress, colleges are finding that homeschooled students are often better equipped to enter college than the average student.

Remember, every college is different. And each college has its own set of requirements. If your student is college bound, make sure you look into the requirements for your student’s preferred school.

Myth :

Homeschooled high schoolers will miss out on all of the normal milestone moments.

Fact :

From prom, senior trips, grad nights, and graduations, homeschooled students do, in fact, have the opportunity to participate in milestone moments, if they choose to do so.

Homeschooling, as a whole, has seen a dramatic increase in recent years. And with this incredible increase comes a large number of homeschool groups who offer these types of activities.

Our family found one such group that we LOVED and our guys were able to participate in these activities.

Not to mention the community, support and sweet friendships that came from this amazing organization!

Still have questions? Concerns? Feel free to send us a message! We are always happy to help!

And if you’re contemplating homeschooling but are unsure if you can do it, please hear me. YOU ARE ABLE!