Lately I’m hearing from people who might stop homeschooling because something unrelated to homeschooling is making it too hard for them to teach their children.
For example, a woman is grieving the loss of her mom, and is taking it so hard that she’s just not up to working with the kids. So she’s wondering if she should just put them in school.
I’m not sure the answer is to stop homeschooling. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time off of homeschooling and even her normal routine if she’s too upset to do those things. Grieving is a natural part of life, and her kids are grieving, too, I’m sure. The whole family could benefit from a break. When they’re up to it, they can pick up their studies again. (Here’s more about grief and homeschooling.)
The bottom line: if you figure out the real problem, you may not have to give up on homeschooling after all.
(Originally posted 10/31/08)
Oh yeah. SO TRUE! I think that’s why so many people think I’m crazy to have six kids. They can’t figure out how I can do it without going crazy. 1) I discipline. I could NEVER handle my life if I didn’t. 2) I AM crazy. 🙂
That is a great essay and so true! We really do not know how to grieve in this culture.
Absolutely, I agree, the real reasons need to be sought for and found when we hit a bump on the homeschooling path. Kids in school are still affected when there is grief in the family. What could be a more important lesson for a child to learn than the effects of grief and how to grieve individually or as a family? I can’t think of a single more significant thing to learn than how to deal with the changes life throws at us. All changes/troubles can induce a grief-like reaction, it’s simply a matter of degree. Some day our children will be thrown into change and we can help them learn by being with us as we grieve. It’s a time to be kind to ourselves and to realize the most significant things going on around us and focus on them. Sending the kids to school sounds like throwing the baby out with the bath water.
If the mom doesn’t feel up to the type of homeschooling she was doing before, perhaps the answer is enrolling the children in an independent study program and/or bringing in a tutor to help out. Something to take the burden off of her while she grieves while still keeping the kids at home. There’s no shame in seeking outside assistance when life gets challenging 🙂
Janet, thanks for stopping by 🙂
Elena, thank you!
Alison, you make a great point about teaching our children to adapt to change. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
CW, that’s a great idea. Letting them be home one way or another is the best thing.