Staying Motivated to Homeschool

This is the time of year when it is hard to stay motivated to homeschool.


It has been an especially rainy and somewhat gloomy day outside, it is winter and I think it got dark around 5:00pm? On top of that kids are somewhat out of the routine - only a few weeks out from Christmas and New Years - kids are hard to keep focused. Not only that, this is about the time of year when all those New Years Resolutions are nagging in the back of your brain. So what is a homeschool mom to do?

Here is some advice from a veteran Christian homeschooling friend of mine:

1. Stop with the "big goals" - broad goals are hard to define, hard to execute, and easy to beat yourself up over. Instead be steady. You already know the small steps it takes to get through a typical day - it isn't the grand gestures that are going to make homeschooling a success - it is the everyday, slow and steady routine that will get you to the ultimate goal - well schooled children.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

2. Focus on the positive - Can your child read well? or are they better at math? Praise the good subjects! Instead of being constantly critical of your students weaknesses - focus your energy instead on the subjects they are great at! Yes, you will have to teach that really hard subject, but don't make it the whole focus of any one day - or that day will be TERRIBLE, for both you and them. Try to tackle the hardest subjects in-between two favorites and refer back to the small steps - you can't learn math in one day - but you can discourage your child and create a wall of resistance in a single day.

Philippians 4

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

3. Take a day off once in a while - Public schools take 1 or 2 school days off every month. In January it is Martin Luther King Day, February is President's Day - some months there isn't a holiday at all, but school will still be out at least one day. These breaks are necessary to blow off steam and to keep you and your student fresh.

Ecclesiastes 3

13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

4. Keep to a routine - Aside from taking a day off once in a while it is important to keep to a daily routine. Your student needs a regular program so that they know what is expected of them, not only that but the teacher needs a routine, too. Why do I need a routine? Quite frankly there will be days when I do not feel like homeschooling - but having a routine will keeps me on auto pilot even on the days when I am tired, cranky, and just having an off day.

Proverbs 6

10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
Scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

5. Enlist some support - You know other homeschool moms, don't be embarrassed to reach out! You might find that they are struggling with the same issues you are - maybe they have some sage advice, and maybe they have a great coffee maker and a good ear - either way. You are not alone in this! Don't buy the lie that you have to be super mom, we are so much better when we stick together!

1 Thessalonians 5

10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hang in there, You can do it!