The Truth About Homeschooling

1. Keeping your house clean with all of your children home all day long, every day, is like shoveling sand against the tide.

2. If you are new to homeschooling, you might want to learn how to coupon and shop the sales, because almost all meals will be eaten at home. At least, your kids won't be subjected to school cafeteria food.

3. There will be days when you think that your "on" button is stuck, or that you run in two speeds, "fast" and "faster". However, you have a great deal of control over what activities and chores are most important to you. You are your own boss.

4. You are responsible for all expenses related to homeschooling. BUT, you are in control of those expenses, and can find many ways to homeschool at low or no cost. We started homeschooling without any money at all, and I think that it actually made us better homeschoolers.

5. In reference to number 4, you will still have to pay school taxes, even though your family will benefit nothing from the school for which you support. Keep this in mind when area schools start complaining that homeschoolers cause them to lose funding. The fact is that schools cause homeschoolers to lose funding. I would rather spend those dollars on educating my own children.

6. Homeschool support groups are often disappointing. You may join a few of them, and get a new friend here and there, but don't expect the group to do much together as expected.

7. In reference to number 6, you might get a lot more satisfactory experiences from socializing with your church and scout groups, than with homeschool support groups.

8. There are many, many ways to organize your homeschool. The needs of every family are different. What works for one, might not work for another.

9. My favorite homeschool blog is Hacking High School. I have many favorite homeschool blogs, but this one is extra special, because it is written by a homeschool graduate.