You are not alone
Homeschooling is emotionally taxing. No matter how many practices you put into place, no matter how much you “let go” or unschool or relax, no matter how well you love your children—homeschooling is demanding. It requires a level of daily investment that for most people depletes them.
You are not alone if you feel that way. You are not doing it wrong, necessarily. It’s important to get relief and to keep working to expand how you homeschool into ways that rejuvenate and support you, so that you don’t end up bored, depressed, or temperamental. But the feelings of significance and investment that you hold in your heart every day are real and carry an emotional toll. I think it’s right and just to acknowledge that.
Just knowing that this is part of the journey of home education sometimes helps. It’s at least a good place to start.
Yes, it does help to acknowledge this. I wish that when I hard started homeschooling 15 years ago that I was able to give myself the grace to do so then. But things were different then…I felt I had to prove myself to my critics (extended family) and to myself. Now after having graduated my oldest last year, and realizing that none of my worst fears ever came to fruition, I can ease up on myself (and others have stopped harassing me too) 🙂
It IS hard work. Everyone acknowledges that public school teachers work hard (and they get paid, too!). I loved what you said yesterday in the HECOA Not Back to School Summit about how homeschoolers, even when they love it or have lots of support online or through a co-op, can feel isolated or alone. There is no “teacher’s lounge” for us for us to go to in the afternoon for coffee and to unburden ourselves.
It helps a lot to know that there will be ups and downs…even when we love what we do. And some days we may not love it. And that’s normal. It IS a journey and not every step is easy or fun. But it’s worth it!
Thank you for encouraging us in your virtual “teacher’s lounge”