6 Life Lessons from a Retired Homeschool Mom

If someone would have told me, 27 years ago, that I would be homeschooling my children for more than two and half decades, I would have told them that they were crazy. After all, my original plan was just to make sure that they had a good foundation with reading, writing, and arithmetic, and then I was going to put them in traditional school.

Well, one year lead to another, and four kids, and 4,860 days later (that’s 27 years times 180 compulsory school days), here I am. My youngest child, Adrianna, graduated from high school two weeks ago, and I have officially retired as a home educator.

I'm not going to lie. Homeschooling four kids with different temperaments and learning styles was no easy task. Additionally, for part of my homeschooling career, I was a single mom, so you can imagine the challenges, but I can honestly say that it's been a wonderful adventure and I have very few regrets.

One of the beautiful things about this journey is that I’ve learned some very important life lessons along the way and I’d like to share a few of them with you.

1. Pace yourself in order to persevere.
I’ll be the first to admit that patience hasn’t always been a strong point for me. In addition to that, since I am not a educator by trade, teaching little kids how to read, write, and do arithmetic was a challenge.

There were times when I was literally pulling my hair out of my head (if you know me, you'll know I'm that I'm not exaggerating). I was trying to do too much, all at the same time, and I was tired and discouraged. Once I realized that homeschooling wasn't a sprint, but a marathon, I took a deep breath, and found my stride.

Remember, important things take time. You’re in it for the long game and if you don’t learn to pace yourself, you’re going to burnout.

2. Be willing to have a teachable spirit.
I discovered that one of the keys to teaching my children was learning to be teachable, myself. That was a difficult concept for me to accept, at first. I felt that, as the parent and teacher, I had to know all the answers in order for them to respect me. The only problem is I didn’t know all the answers.

Each of my children were so different, so the methods that worked for one child, didn’t necessarily work for the others. Instead of patiently observing and actively listening to them and getting feedback, I callously continued to do things my own way. My stubbornness had created a rift between me and them that took a long time to repair.

No one person has all the answers. Be willing to listen to others, even those who might be younger or less experienced than you. You will gain a wealth of information, and even more importantly, you’ll build good, lasting relationships.

3. Doing the everyday things can help develop your passion.
Several years ago, an editor, at a local newspaper, asked me about working as part-time writer for her company. Since I loved to write and tell stories, I was very excited about the opportunity.

My husband said that it would be a good idea for me to do a resume, but I was a little tentative. I had been a homeschooling mom, at this point, for almost 18 years. What could I possibly put on a resume?

As I sat at my computer attempting to pull one together, I struggled with some self-doubt. Other women had been developing themselves professionally in the workplace, but I had been at home helping my kids learn grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

What I failed to realize was that teaching writing to my kids, and to others children in the homeschooling community, had developed my passion.

When I started writing down everything I had done, I was shocked to see all of my accomplishments. I eventually interviewed for the position and I got the job.

Just because you don’t get paid to do a job doesn’t mean that it’s not a job worth doing. Look for ways to volunteer and to help others. It allows you an opportunity to develop your gifts and you’ll be surprised at the doors that will open up for you.

4. Trust God to provide the resources.
After my first marriage ended, I didn’t think that I would be able to continue homeschooling. My initial thought was that I would have to put my kids in school and get a 9-to-5 job. After all, I was now a single mom and I needed to work and provide a living for myself and three kids.

However, since I naturally have an entrepreneurial spirit, I began looking for other ways to make money, and eventually an opportunity presented itself.

A friend of mine, who cleaned offices for a living, was selling his business. I was able to buy all of his equipment and start my own cleaning business. The flexible hours and good pay allowed me to continue to homeschool my kids.

My point is this--if God called you to do something, he will provide a way for you to do it. It's just that simple. It might not be what you expect, so be open to new ideas.

5. Find a community to connect with.
One of the biggest things I learned during my years of homeschooling is how much I didn’t know. In those early days, I had a lot of questions and I needed a lot of help.

Fortunately, the homeschooling community is one of the most nurturing places there is and over the years, I have not only gained a wealth of knowledge, but I have also made some wonderful friendships.

Being a part of a supportive community can make the difference between success and failure. Having someone to share your ideas with or who will come alongside you with an encouraging word is priceless.

Life is full of challenges. Do not try to go it alone. Reach out to others and get the support you need.

6. Completing a God-given task is its own reward.
Now that I have officially retired from homeschooling, I told my husband that he needs to get me an expensive retirement gift. I even went online and looked at some high-end purses that I think would fit the bill very nicely.

But as I think about these last 27 years, the gift that has given me the most satisfaction is knowing that I completed the task that God called me to do.

I know that I did not do everything perfectly, but I was faithful to the call that he gave and, that in itself, is extremely rewarding.

In a culture filled with short-lived ideals and quick fixes, you might be tempted to quit, but don't. If you need to take some time to refresh your spirit about what you're doing, then by all means, go ahead, but stay true to your calling. I guarantee, you won't regret it.