Don’t Get Burned by Homeschooling Stress
Friday, May 19th, 2006By Mimi Rothschild
The decision to homeschool is one that many parents make when they want to raise their children in a Christian atmosphere. Homeschool allows you to bring up children who love the Lord and are committed to faith. A successful homeschool is an enriching experience for the entire family; however, it is not without problems. As a parent who is educating your children at home, you will likely experience burnout at some point; feeling exhausted, stressed, and generally overwhelmed. Homeschool does not have to be a frustrating experience for you if you change your attitude about the way your child is learning!
One of the most common reasons for this burnout is the continuing battle to meet self-prescribed standards and pre-determined deadlines. Some homeschool parents feel like failures when their children don’t seem to do as well as they hoped. As a parent who is teaching your children at home, you should keep in mind that your ultimate goal should not be to pursue an agenda, but to raise your children according to the Lord’s will and allow them to know Him. Your primary goal should be to ensure that your children become good people, regardless of their academic performance.
Many homeschool parents are frustrated, stressed, and at a loss for direction when their children don’t “get it.” They can lose control when children become stuck on a certain subject or course, and become so focused on fixing the academic error that they lose sight of the bigger picture. This situation feeds on itself, creating undue amounts of stress for both parents and children. You don’t have to let frustration and pride rule your homeschool. It is important to always keep in mind that even if your homeschoolers don’t seem to understand the lessons, they are learning in a loving environment that will allow them to succeed even if they can’t pass a chemistry test.
Homeschool is not an agenda; it is a lifestyle choice. Parents who decide to homeschool do so in the best interests of their children. When you allow stress and frustration to take hold, you are defeating the purpose of the situation. As a homeschool parent, you can put your faith and trust in the Lord and know that your children will be rewarded for doing their best—as you will be rewarded for doing your best for them. Once you realize what is important to focus on in your homeschool, everything else will fall into place. Don’t let homeschool burnout get the best of you!