A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

You know whether or not what you are doing with your kids is working. It’s not a mystery. You know if they are learning or growing or becoming more skilled.

You also know if your homeschool is not living up to what you hoped it would be. You know if your children are essentially happy (not every day all day, but for the most part—they expend energy and perform with alacrity). You know if they are essentially not.

• If your homeschool feels dull, it probably is.
• If your home environment seems tense, it likely is.
• If you are bored or unhappy, distracted or anxious, so is your homeschool.
• If you are preoccupied, your children will be distracted.
• If you don’t like the material, they probably won’t either.

Your homeschool won’t change into a magical space of learning through worry or the force of your will. Truth be told: it will never be a magical space of learning all of the time.

The goal is to find a groove that is both livable and stimulating, that is consistent (reliable) and life-giving. There’s a difference between a child who “hates her life” and one who is simply “low energy for math” today. Don’t over-react to a tantrum or a day of the blahs. But equally, and also, don’t under-react to a child who is exhibiting chronic unhappiness.

I trust you to know the difference. If you can’t tell (or if child to child there are differences – what is working for one isn’t working for the other), get some outside input. Ask the oldest child who lives all day with you what he or she observes. Ask your spouse or partner what they see.

Consider all options.

Get help.

Take a break.

The most important thing you can do for your children and your homeschool is to tell the truth about it.

A very good place to start.

Image by Jerry Kirkhart

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