Is Homeschool Hard? – (It is!) But it’s so worth it!

Thinking of homeschooling? It’s a big decision!

Deciding to start homeschooling is a really big decision! Like any big decision in life, you may question your choice. This can especially be true as you’re making your pros and cons list.

Entering a new chapter of life can be scary. In fact, deciding to take the plunge with homeschooling is more like entering a new BOOK in life! 

Learning up front all the ways homeschool can be hard, and why it’s so worth it, is really important when making this big decision.

While I can’t say I have figured it all out, I’ve compiled all the information that I’ve learned along the way. Tips I would have loved to have known when I was just starting out homeschooling.

Read on to see why homeschool is hard and why it can be the best decision for your family.

Homeschool – It IS hard

I will tell you right off the bat, homeschool is hard!

Whether you’re pulling your kids out of a traditional school setting, or just starting out with kindergarten at home, whatever stage you are in – know that it will be hard.

Very hard and some days you will question everything.

Reasons it’s hard

Balancing being teacher & mom –

• I am a big believer in not trying to recreate school at home. Homeschool is different than traditional school, and it will look different and that’s ok and great! But you are still teaching your kids a little differently than you would if you weren’t homeschooling. You’re also assuming another role with making sure responsibilities are met for school work. On the flip side you also need to remember you’re their mom first. Work can wait when there are tears or frustration.

Work –

• If you work outside the home or remotely, the idea of adding in the responsibility of homeschool is a lot to think about. Finding balance is key and it can be done. I wrote a whole post on how to work while homeschooling . It’s full of encouragement and ideas on how to both, and do them well!

Single Income –

• If you don’t work, or if you stop working to homeschool, and live on a single income, this can make homeschool very hard. It can be a big sacrifice. Leaving out other parts of your pre-homeschool life like dinners out, or vacations or even trips to Target. But there are many ways to homeschool on a budget that can ease the financial burden that homeschool can bring.

BIG responsibility –

• This should probably be the first reason I list as to why homeschool is hard. It’s a HUGE responsibility to take on! Essentially having your child’s future in your hands is a lot. But if you stop and think about this one, you already have that wonderful responsibility as their parent. This is just adding in a layer, and as you’ll learn, it’s a really great part of their lives to be responsible for. Choosing to be the main influence and deciding what and how they’ll learn, is one of the best parts of homeschooling your kids.

Must be organized –

• This reason goes hand in hand with the one above. Whether you are naturally an organized person or not, you must be organized when it comes to the responsibility of homeschool. I’m talking more about being organized with your record keeping for your kids, rather than your actual homeschool day to day “stuff”. Although I do have a lot tips and homeschool organization ideas for small spaces! I also wrote a post all about homeschool record keeping and how to get it all organized with detailed information on what you need to keep and how to keep it all together. This will be very helpful when it comes time for your annual homeschool evaluation, if your state has an evaluation requirement. Being organized with your homeschool records is especially important as your kids grow and enter high school.

MATH (ha!) –

• Math, or science or art or history or whatever the subject is that is hard for you, makes homeschool hard. It doesn’t have to though! There are so many various ways to learn and teach these days. Reach out on a local Facebook homeschool page to see if other families near you are also struggling with that subject. Get a group together and pool resources to find a local tutor or online tutor to help out. Another idea is look into joining a local homeschool co-op . One where parents take turns teaching different subjects in which they’re confident or qualified to do so. Online there are a TON of opportunities to outsource or get some help with the subject you are struggling with teaching. Don’t let the fear of algebra or whatever it is be a reason homeschool is hard for you.

No down time –

• Another one that can be moved to the top of the why homeschool is hard list, ha! You will be together, with your kids ALL THE TIME. As much as you love them, and yes, you made the choice to spend ALL the days together, it can make it very hard as a mama who just needs some quiet. You’ll need to make sure there is a time of the day, early morning or late at night, where you get some time just to yourself.

Opinions of others can be discouraging –

• This is another BIG one. As resilient and strong as you and your spouse are. Or, as united a front you are on the homeschool topic, this one can be hard. Family members can be especially hard to handle with all of their opinions on homeschool and what’s best for your kids. Family gatherings can become dreaded knowing the topic of homeschool will be brought up. Trips out of the house with your kids during “regular school hours” can cause even strangers to question why the kids aren’t in school can be a lot. Neighbors even can be ones to voice their opinions. It can be so draining. This is a great time to return to your why you chose to homeschool. 

Your house may not feel tidy most of the time –

• Maybe not important to all, but for some this is a big reason homeschool is hard! You will be home a lot and your kids will be doing their thing haha. No matter how neat your kids are, there will be days where the dining room table is covered in school work/books. Breakfast & lunch dishes may be on the counter or in the sink at dinnertime. Laundry is piling up, art supplies are all over the kitchen island, etc. Of course this happens when working or schooling out of the home. But the difference is you don’t escape the chaos when you’re home, homeschooling most of the day! It can be overwhelming and make everything feel off and annoying, and that’s totally a normal feeling. Just remember, the mess is from the happy chaos, kids & homeschool will grow and change. Someday we’ll look back and wish for the mess and chaos. I try to remind myself of that quite often 😉

Homeschool is hard. BUT, it is SO, SO, SO worth it! Like a lot of other parts of life that can be hard, the reward is so worth it.

Reasons homeschool is worth it

The benefits of homeschooling far outweigh any reasons why homeschool is hard. I wrote a whole post all on the benefits of homeschooling and it’s full of great encouragement to keep you going when you’re doubting why you made the choice to homeschool.

I honestly can say that for my family, the number one reason we have embraced homeschool, is the gift of time that it has given us as a family.

Time for our kids to be kids, time to learn together in ways we wouldn’t be if we weren’t homeschooling, time for our kids to create an amazing sibling bond, time to step away from the busyness of this current world and spend our days together as a family.

SO many reasons it’s the best way to spend your days learning together. Not having to rush about. Staying in pjs on a rainy/snowy/cozy day. Hot chocolate or popsicles or whatever treat your kids love, while reading aloud together. These are just a few of the many reasons to love the homeschool life.

Providing your kids with the safeness of home and family, as well as learning at their pace and not being rushed about, gives them such a wonderful self confidence that they will carry into adulthood.

Also, homeschool is FUN! There are so many ways to embrace the fun in homeschool.

Homeschool is so worth it, for your kids, your family and for yourself.

How to prevent homeschool burnout

It’s nice to know there are going to be some hard times homeschooling. It’s also nice to know that homeschool burnout is very likely to happen to all homeschooling parents at some point.

As first time homeschooling parents it’s so easy to feel guilty when homeschool becomes a chore or something you dread when you’re knee deep in a burnout season.

It’s important to remember that the guilt isn’t necessary – it’s normal to feel this way either in the beginning of your homeschool “career” or later on, even as a veteran homeschooling parent.

I wrote a post all about homeschool burnout, how to recognize it creeping in, and how to cope when it strikes.

I can tell you firsthand, burnout happens to even the most enthusiastic of us homeschooling moms out there. Knowing how to handle it & to not feel like a failure when it happens is really, really helpful.

How to LOVE homeschooling, even though it is hard!

Homeschool is hard but I absolutely love, love, love it and the gifts it’s brought our family. When you’re feeling overwhelmed or like you’re not doing enough, stop and make a list of all of the things that you feel you are doing right. Or come up with a list of all the things that bring you joy in your life. Even the smallest joyful thought (an iced coffee in the afternoon!) will help to brighten your outlook.

Realize once again you chose this lifestyle. To be the one your children come to with all the questions. To see the lightbulbs go on when they learn to read. And, to have the gift of spending a rainy “school” day on the couch reading & watching documentaries for a reason. To create a family bond like no other.

Embrace the gift of homeschool, even knowing there will be hard days. And on those hard days, just put one foot in front of the other and do what you can do.  Remember, you’ve got this! 🙂