Dear Seasoned Homeschool Parents
- rstinson10
- Apr 9
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 13
This article was written for seasoned and veteran homeschoolers. However, anyone can benefit from this list to protect homeschooling to help our community thrive. Whether you have been homeschooling for 1 year, 15 years or 25 years, we hope you are encouraged by this post.
We are in the midst of an education revolution.
Public schools are changing fast. President Donald Trump is cutting down the size of the Department of Education and returning the power over education to the States (which is where the Constitution says it should be). Even so, public schools are still making news daily for R rated content, predator teachers and violence. Students are not meeting literacy and math standards. For these reasons and more, homeschooling has recently become popular. You might have already seen an influx of homeschooling families joining your co-op, activity on social media boards and people in your community inquiring about how to homeschool.
The homeschool community needs our help. There are still stigmas, scrutiny and tyrannical school choice legislation happening. I have also seen social media posts from parents who struggled with homeschooling and ultimately decided to send their child back into the public school system, or they are currently on the fence. As seasoned homeschoolers, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to give back to the homeschooling community in practical ways.
We must band together!
Join us at the Homeschool Gateway to protect homeschooling, raise awareness about school choice laws and help mentor the next generation of homeschoolers!
Bridge the Gap
Between the homeschool community and the non- homeschool world.
Bring awareness about homeschooling and school choice related issues to non- homeschoolers. Share the truth to stop the lies!
Here are some ways that you can take action:
Post about homeschooling on non-homeschool social media sites. I often post on conservative political social media boards about school choice legislation and ways our homeschool allies and supporters can get involved, and you can do the same. Homeschooling also overlaps with Christianity so I also post information about homeschooling on christian social media boards as well.
Make posts about our articles about socialization, benefits of homeschooling, how vouchers harm our community etc. to share the truth about home education.
Talk about your life with people. I have accidentally engaged in conversation about homeschooling with my hair stylist, the cashier at the thrift store and other parents at my child's summer camp before. You might be meeting someone who is considering homeschooling. Such encounters are also an opportunity to dispel any misinformation about home education like socialization.
Join American Heritage Girls, Trail life and Awana. These are all great scout alternatives that are not homeschool specific; however, they are homeschool friendly since they are Christian based. These organizations will benefit from your presence and leadership.
Here's my quick responses when someone repeats the phrase, "I could never homeschool" (or something similar):
"It's easier than people think. It's peaceful. We get to sleep in, there are no bullies, Going to art summer camp counts as school. Cheap off season vacations. I am happy to answer any questions you have about it."
Be prepared to have a good response to this kind of statement or others like it. Such interactions are an opportunity to brag about the great things about homeschooling. Have an "elevator speech” ready.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." -Mattthew 5:14
Mentor the Next Generation of Homeschoolers
As seasoned homeschoolers, we are the experts in home education. We must be the village our community needs.
Think back to when you first began your homeschool journey. Maybe you had a veteran homeschooler point you in the right direction, or maybe you didn't and had to figure things out yourself, learning things the hard way. There are a lot of new home educators joining our communities who may feel lost, excited, and nervous about what to do.
Be welcoming. Don't be cliquey: be their friend. Text people back. Don't be the mean girl! Be mindful of who you ghost and reject, and try to avoid doing so at all! Some new homeschoolers may have been alienated by their friends and family due to their decision to homeschool. Don't alienate them in the homeschool community also.
Share homeschool articles from our site. Homeschoolgateway.org. We have a variety of articles for new homeschoolers about navigating the homeschool world, about socialization, how to buy curriculum, how to get started homeschooling, about HSLDA and the legal aspects of homeschooling and much more.
Share your local resources with them. Point others to the direction of the used curriculum sales, local co-ops, homeschool conventions, proms and other gems in your area!
Host Events
There is a time and place for social media. However, our communities (both homeschooling and non-homeschooling) need in person interaction in real life too. One way to do this is by hosting your own events. And when you host an event, you get to choose the location, guest list, time, and activity.
My husband and I hosted "homeschool open houses" a few years ago when homeschooling first became more popular. We posted an ad on local social media groups inviting parents interested in homeschooling into our home to see our space and chat about socialization, curriculum and how we do it. Maybe that sounds doable for you, maybe not. Either way, here are some other meetups you can host to engage with homeschool families; new and seasoned.
Host a home playdate. This is an opportunity for the new homeschoolers and friends in your life to see your homeschool space, your curriculum, your daily routine posted on the wall and all the things that make your homeschool amazing. You can also host a group playdate if you want and invite a few families over.
Host a Moms' Night Out. Moms' nights are great for having some adult time. Homeschooling is a unique situation and it is important for us moms to meetup, unplug and chat over good food and conversation. It does not have to be at your home. You can have it at a restaurant or coffee shop.
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
Be the "Gold Standard" in Home Education by Being the Best Example to Others
This is an opportunity for us to lead the culture and shift the conversation away from negative stereotypes, by being the "gold standard" of homeschooling.
Homeschooling continues to be scrutinized for many reasons; the bad examples, the ignorance of non-homeschoolers unwilling to do the research, lies in the media, pop-culture and other prejudices. Homeschooling (and families) are under a microscope. We are front and center in the continuing conversation about education and school choice as a whole. Our neighbors are watching us with a mix of discipleship, admiration and continued scrutiny and judgement.
As seasoned homeschoolers, we have in increased responsibility to model and be the example of what homeschooling is supposed to look like. Be social, raise well behaved children and do not engage in the "Bad Mom, Hot Mess" trend. Take care of yourself and love your family by presenting them as an example to others: with integrity and beauty.
Self reflect. How am I representing the homeschool community and its principles? Is my family, home and life the best example of what homeschooling is supposed to look like? Are there any changes I should be making to be a better role model?
Join the Fight to Protect Homeschooling
Homeschooling is under attack. As homeschooling becomes more popular and has gotten the attention of legislators, there has been an increase of laws and regulations that restrict homeschooling, redirect tax dollars or create voucher programs: all of these are intended to restrict or limit our right to homeschool freely.
I wish we all could be informed voters who simply show up at the polls during an election after researching ballot initiatives. Unfortunately, this is not the case. We must all be proactive and diligent in protecting homeschooling.
Our legal representatives often do not give us as option to vote on many important laws, like school choice bills. Instead, they write and vote on sometimes tyrannical laws in a congressional setting behind closed doors or with limited exposure to the public. This makes it so instead of just showing up to vote a few times a year at the polls, American citizens have to contact our representatives, attend congressional hearings and have elaborate social media activist campaigns in order to protect our freedoms. We have to do this, as our freedom is at stake.
If you have a school choice bill out in your state, get involved. There might be groups in your area posting ways to fight the legislation. You could also lead efforts to fight bills. Get non- homeschoolers involved! Share them on social media sites; homeschooling, Conservative, Christian and others.
Help our community thrive
Support homeschooling! Participating in meal trains, voting pro-homeschool, joining HSLDA and supporting businesses that cater to the homeschool community are a few ways to help our community. For more ways to support homeschooling, click here.
This site is not monetized. Please share and follow us on FB.
Comments