Are you the best homeschool parent? Not, like, in the whole world. I’m pretty sure that’s been awarded to some woman up in Finland. Besides her though, how do you think you measure up?
Tweak the question a little – are you the best homeschool parent for your child? That answer is yes, of course. You’re the one who’s committed to doing this homeschool thing. You’re the one who shows up every day and makes the effort. And that makes you the best homeschool parent for your child.
Concerned You’re a Witch?
Nearly every parent I know, homeschooling or not, expresses occasional doubts. Concerns that they know don’t what the heck they’re doing in this parenting gig. Let alone homeschooling.
I picked up the book Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch mostly because the title made me laugh. It’s historical fiction, an off-beat and funny account from the illiterate mother of mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler. So far, the year is 1618 and she’s been accused of being a witch. Looking forward to seeing where the story takes me.
“I maintain that I am not a witch, never have been a witch, am a relative to no witches.”
Katharina, Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen
In the meantime, unless you dressed up as a witch for Halloween, you probably haven’t been told you’re a witch. And yet, some days might make you wonder if that’s your title. I assure you, it’s not.
Why You’re the Best
I recently heard an interview with… someone. Sorry – I can’t remember who it was, but she was a wonderful speaker who works to support new mothers. She always tells them, “You are the best mom this baby has ever had.” For the mom seeking help and reassurance, it’s a very simple yet powerful statement.
You’re the only homeschool parent your child has ever had. By default you’re also the best. What if you really took this statement to heart and understood that nobody else has the same unique qualifications that you have for the job of homeschooling your child?
Your Qualifications
You may wonder if you’re really qualified to homeschool your child.
To put it bluntly, you’re the only one who wants to homeschool your child. There’s an old joke that something like this:
Non-homeschool parent: “I don’t know how you homeschool your kids. I could never homeschool MY kids.”
Homeschool parent: “Yeah, I could never homeschool your kids either.”
It works both ways. Nobody else wants the job of homeschooling your kids. Think about it. You were the only applicant for the job, weren’t you?
Still, you have all the right qualifications. You’re motivated to help your child figure out what they need to learn and how to learn it best. You’ll go to tremendous lengths to homeschool well. And while you might get some stuff wrong, you’ll fix it and move on. Your child will survive and even thrive.
At times, you may question why you took it on. There’s no boss or supervisor who gives you glowing performance reviews and big pay raises. You don’t get to go home at the end of the day. (You’re already there.) Still, you mostly love it. You keep going, despite the lack of recognition and lousy pay. A big part of what keeps you going is the sense that you’re on the right path.
Confidence
I’ve met very few parents who claim greatness or even mastery of homeschooling. At most, homeschool parents will admit to a certain level of competency. A feeling that, while not as perfect as that woman up in Finland, they’re holding their own.
“Yet attributed to me in this trial is the power to poison, to make lame, to pass through locked doors, to be the death of sheep, goats, cows, infants, and grapevines, even to cure – at will. I can’t even win at backgammon, as you know.”
Katharina, Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen
You don’t have to be good at everything. Get comfortable with both your capabilities and your limitations.
Homeschoolers who stick with it develop self-confidence. Stay the course and you’ll find that you’re equipped to meet the challenges that arise. You’ll realize that you really are the best homeschool parent your child has ever had.
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