We all want to matter, to make a difference. As homeschoolers, we’re particularly focused on making a difference for our children. But we don’t always recognize what I call the butterfly effect in homeschooling – the profound and positive influence we can have beyond our own family through small acts.
In mainstream media, the butterfly effect is the idea that small acts can have big effects. In science, it’s linked to chaos theory and seeks to determine if something as slight as the flap of a butterfly’s wings can set off a chain of events resulting in some large event like a hurricane.
While no one I know wants to cause a natural disaster, I do believe most of us enjoy the idea that our small efforts might lead to long-term good and lasting consequences.
Living a Life that Matters
One of my favorite books is Living a Life that Matters by Harold Kushner. In it, he speaks about how all of us want to do just that – make a difference during our lives and leave a lasting mark for the good.
This is the very essence of homeschooling. You homeschool your children because you want to make a positive difference in their lives. Yes, you question at times whether you’re successful. Rest assured that you are. Maybe not every single day. But over the long haul, you’re making a difference. It just takes more effort – a lot more – than a single flap of your metaphorical butterfly wings.
Your Wider Influence
Your influence beyond your family doesn’t take nearly as much effort. This you can easily liken to the flap of a butterfly’s wings. Because it’s not difficult, I think most homeschoolers fail to recognize their contributions. Whatever your involvement, whether you’re fully engaged or just peripherally involved, you’re an ‘influencer’ in your community.
On a certain level, all of us know that every time we mention curriculum we love, an amazing book, a great teaching tool, a parenting tip, or even a parenting failure, we are helping other homeschoolers as they navigate their family’s own homeschool journey. They may embrace or reject our ideas but we’ve made them think more intentionally about what they’re doing. We’ve helped them better clarify their own purpose or goals.
Perhaps even more importantly, every time you recognize the gifts of another homeschool parent or student, your small remarks can have big effects. As homeschool parents, few of us have an employer or clients to give us positive feedback and rave reviews. Encouragement to or from our coworkers – other homeschoolers – can have a tremendous impact for the good. And our children, while they appreciate our interest and praise, love to hear it from another adult.
Everyone has a chance to do this, not just veteran homeschooling parents. Brand new homeschoolers provide fresh perspectives and ideas that have the potential to innovate everyone’s homeschooling and parenting approaches. And children, the whole reason we’re doing this homeschool thing, are endless sources of inspiration to fuel the butterfly effect in homeschooling.
Like it or not, we’re also ambassadors for homeschooling to the larger community we live in. Non-homeschoolers look to us to understand the how and why of what we do. (No pressure. Just a truth.) Through your words and actions, you may inspire someone to incorporate a little homeschool philosophy into their family culture or maybe even take the leap into homeschooling.
The Butterfly Effect in Homeschooling
At homeschool group events, large or small, there’s always a lot going on. I usually don’t process all the information I get from other parents and students until after the fact. I’ve watched and learned from my ‘coworkers’ and am now much more intentional about following up to let parents and students know when their words and actions had a positive effect.
We can all try to be more intentional about letting people know they’ve helped us, that they’ve made a difference. And, although we may not have knowledge of the outcomes or recognition for the part we played, we need to remember that all those tiny flaps of our own butterfly wings – the information, the encouragement, the funny stories we share with other homeschooling parents and children – all of those small acts can have big effects.
P.S. During Covid, I think this butterfly effect, while harder to achieve, is more important than ever. For more on this, read my post on socialization for homeschool parents.