A good friend of mine and I were talking about whether or not we really know what we’re doing with this homeschooling thing. She is more a veteran than I as her oldest son is going into high school and she has homeschooled her kids from the very beginning. So far, we haven’t messed up our kids. . .but can we really, really train a child all the way from birth to high school and send him forth into the world confident that despite our shortcomings, that child can do well?
Moments of self doubt creep in, even for us veteran homeschoolers. Even for those of us who are confident that home is the best place for our children to be, there are still moments of self doubt. I think it’s normal to wonder if you’re really doing right by your child.
And yet, I believe we are. Academically, homeschooling allows me to tailor a curriculum specifically to meet the needs of a gifted child. It allows me to tailor a curriculum that challenges my daughter’s reading and comprehension levels, but allows her to be in her grade level for math.
More importantly, I’ve come to discover that I have a lot to teach my kids. From me, my kids learn character traits and how to become kind people. It’s from me that they get answers for some of life’s deeper questions, and it’s from me that they are shaping their world views.
They are learning how important it is to help one another out. My older children are learning to protect the younger ones and the younger ones are learning that those who have gone before them are wiser and have more experience. All of this they learn. . .at home.
So the next time self doubt creeps in and you wonder whether or not your child is really benefitting from a home education, be assured. You possess all the skills to teach your child to be successful. You don’t need to be a trained teacher. You just need to be committed to your child’s education. Home is a great option by its very nature.
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