Am I going to be able

[heart_changed99]

I really want to homeschool my child, but there is a problem. I'm really not that smart. I barely got by in school on certain subjects. I am a hands-on learner. I feel so unqualified. My goal from the beginning was to homeschool my boy, but I am afraid that I won't have the intelligence to do so.

Maybe I just don't have enough confidence in myself, but I can definitely feel the discouraging comments from friends and family coming around the corner. They tried to discourage my breastfeeding, so this won't surprise me a bit. I am afraid there will be little support in this area. What can I say? I'm a rebel mom!

My son is going to be turning 2 very soon. Any information and encouragement you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Rebekah]

Don't let your family discourage you! I don't have any practical advice, since I don't have children. But you are good to look into this early! Whatever challenges you may face, you can work through now so that you are ready when the time comes.

[lisaann]

The curriculum's are so good that you don't need to worry if your not so great in certain subjects. The important thing to ask yourself is "is this what God is calling me to do?" If the answer is "yes" then who cares what others think, God will provide and your ds will get the best education possible. :hug

I've never been good at math but my kids are both doing great at it with me as their teacher. I'm finding that it wasn't so much that I was terrible at it..........it was more like I had such a terrible foundation laid in elementary school that it's no wonder I did badly in it. Homeschooling math has actually boosted my self esteem toward my abilities allot because I see it wasn't that I wasn't smart, I just wasn't taught in a way I could comprehend it. That's one of the beauties about homeschooling, you bring the material across in a way your child understands it. :thumb

[heart_changed99]

The curriculum's are so good that you don't need to worry if your not so great in certain subjects. The important thing to ask yourself is "is this what God is calling me to do?" If the answer is "yes" then who cares what others think, God will provide and your ds will get the best education possible. :hug

I've never been good at math but my kids are both doing great at it with me as their teacher. I'm finding that it wasn't so much that I was terrible at it..........it was more like I had such a terrible foundation laid in elementary school that it's no wonder I did badly in it. Homeschooling math has actually boosted my self esteem toward my abilities allot because I see it wasn't that I wasn't smart, I just wasn't taught in a way I could comprehend it. That's one of the beauties about homeschooling, you bring the material across in a way your child understands it. :thumb

Thank you so much for that! It gives me hope. :hug

[His Bride]

You have plenty of time. Check out the homeschoolers in your community, go to the cirriculum conventions to see what is available, even look into joining some established groups so you don't feel so alone. It's not as hard as you think. And nothing says that you have to go all the way. Pray about it and let the Lord lead you. I only homeschooled for three years in the middle. Best thing I ever did! Taught our kids to be thinkers and to be okay with not always following the crowd. They both stand out today, and they are in college.

[Snow White]

I agree with the suggestion to plug in with other homeschoolers in your area. Even though your child is not formally schooling yet, most homeschool moms will welcome you and be a HUGE source of encouragement and support. And, many of them may have younger kids that aren't schooling yet either so your little one may find some playmates!

I'm homeschooling my kids and have had mixed reactions from people. Beside the obvious "socialization" question, many times people ask if I feel qualified to teach the kids since I don't have a teaching degree/certification. But teaching and certification programs don't instruct teachers in the curriculum they are going to teach. They teach them how to manage a classroom and work with 20-30 kids of different learning styles and personalities. Colleges don't teach prospective teachers how to do 2nd grade math. Throw out your ideas of what your skillset is. You can do all things through Christ who will strengthen you for this task if he has called you to it. And you've got years before you need to worry about the material.

Don't try to figure out how you're going to teach high school chemistry right now. I hated high school chemistry (as well as college chemistry!). My kids are still in the elementary grades though so I'm not going to worry about it. I also know that there are many resources such as other homeschooling parents who teach the more difficult classes at the higher levels or online/dvd courses. But realistically, all I need to do is concern myself with the work we're doing now. Each year builds confidence for the next. When you see how you kids are not only growing in their education but also building a foundation of faith because Jesus is the center of all their studies you'll be reminded why you are doing it.

And there's the hope that the Rapture occurs before the work gets more challenging anyhow :thumb

There's a book called The Little Book of Big Reasons to Homeschool. Its short, sweet and relatively inexpensive. You might want to pick it up and read through it. It might help you answer some of your questions.

May God bless you in your quest! :hug

[bookworm1711]

Now that your child is two years old, I would highly recommend that you spend time reading to your child every day. What you read is your choice. I read nursery rhymes, nursery tales, and Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, like Little House on the Prairie. I eventually bought the entire set of those books. My children enjoyed them.

If you start reading to your child early enough, it may put your child ahead when it comes to understanding stories, and will likely make your child eager to learn to read for himself.

As for the subjects being too hard for the parent to teach, we as parents have an advantage over our children: usually we can learn faster, so we can, when necessary, learn right along with them when the subject is unfamiliar to us.

[Lucy]

As a veteran hs mom:preach ,w/ 5 children and about 15 years of hs experience, I would like to encourage you to relax and enjoy this time with your child. Now especially, there are many different avenues to find whatever it is that you would like to learn. By the time your very young child gets old enough for you to really get serious about formal education, who knows what will be available. Find yourself a strong support group that will encourage you and your family to persevere. Be realistic in your expectations as even the government schools take breaks...:fear
I consider myself a facilitator. I facilitate their learning experiences. I supply the professionals or the tools or the experience...THEY (not me) do the work of learning!:idunno (Each one of my 5 children are VERY different from each other (and sometimes me). They all had very different needs and interests. Homeschooling allowed us to find out what their strenghts and weaknesses are and work in the proper direction. We learned a lot together.
God is good and he is always merciful to us fragile humans when we seek His face. I have spent a lot of time in prayer!:hug

[heart_changed99]

Now that your child is two years old, I would highly recommend that you spend time reading to your child every day. What you read is your choice. I read nursery rhymes, nursery tales, and Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, like Little House on the Prairie. I eventually bought the entire set of those books. My children enjoyed them.

If you start reading to your child early enough, it may put your child ahead when it comes to understanding stories, and will likely make your child eager to learn to read for himself.

As for the subjects being too hard for the parent to teach, we as parents have an advantage over our children: usually we can learn faster, so we can, when necessary, learn right along with them when the subject is unfamiliar to us.


One thing is for sure, he definitely knows what the Bible is. When it is bedtime, that is what he hollars for. We read him a story from it every night and Daddy is reading a book to him, as well. :thumb:thumb

[heart_changed99]

Thank you wonderful ladies for your encouragement and advice. I am really getting excited about it. I will continue to pray about this. God bless!