7. How can I involve my husband and my mom in the homeschooling process? I don't have to do it alone, right?
ABSOLUTELY, if it is humanly possible do not attempt to homeschool totally alone! Remember though, that kids do like routine (even if I don’t!) so when someone else takes over, it helps if the routine stays sort of the same.
I get my husband to read as much of the read aloud books as possible, he does it in the evenings with one kid either side of him in bed. They love it. Every now and then, if he's home during the day (which happens with farming work), he will homeschool and I will tend to other things (run away...run away....).
To make it easier for those angels helping you, write out a list of what schooling needs to be done and, if possible, let them sit with you while you are teaching, so they can see how it works (and doesn't work). Then book yourself a massage, facial, and shopping day – and leave him/her to teach for a day.
WARNING: Your spouse/mother/friend is NOT you. The kids WILL be taught differently - but I think this is a good thing. DO NOT COMPLAIN if it is not done EXACTLY as you do it, just fix it up later. DO NOT COMPLAIN if ALL the school work you normally complete in a day is not finished, just be grateful that the kids did some of what they needed to. A good thing to remember is how good it felt to go off by yourself for that day, without the kids.
If you are in a place where parents/spouses cannot school during the work week, why not take Mondays off from school and have those people school the kids on Saturday?
If you are in a place where you are new to the community and your normal support group is a long way away (eg you move from Australia to the US), join a homeschool group, make friends of other homeschoolers, and offer to take their kids for one day every 6 months (or less!).
Good Luck with it all, and remember, try NOT to do this alone, there is help out there!
Aussie Kim
Comments