We’ve been homeschooling again for about a month-and-a-half now. And it’s been an interesting experience this time around. Just like everything else in life, it’s had its ups and downs. And some days we don’t actually get to any actual homeschool. Today I’m sharing what homeschool looks like for us and how we feel about it.
The perfect homeschool mom
I will be the first to admit that I am not a “perfect homeschool mom” – or, at least, I’m not what I picture a typical “perfect homeschool mom” to be. Which is, a mom who makes detailed lesson plans and takes her kids on field trips weekly and plans intricate art projects in which her children make exact replicas of the Mona Lisa. Yeah, that’s not me. And chances are that kind of homeschool mom doesn’t exist. And yet, I’ve sometimes put pressure on myself to live up to this mythical person.
But what if there isn’t such thing as the “perfect homeschool mom?” Heck, what if there isn’t even such thing as a “homeschool mom?” What if I don’t have to label myself – or others – as that and I was just a MOM and they were just a MOM? Can I just be a mom who loves her kids dearly and sometimes loses her temper and also happens to teach them the things they would normally be learning in school? Sure, I can do that. And that feels a heck-of-a-lot less frustrating than trying to live up to some impossible standard of “perfect homeschool mom.”
And so that’s what I’ve been leaning into as of late. Just being a mom. And just enjoying being a mom. I haven’t always succeeded. There have been so many moments when I’ve wanted to rip out my own hair. And there have been moments when I’ve wondered if pulling my kids out of school was the “right” choice. When, in reality, it was the right choice – because that’s the choice I made and I’m owning that. And so, no, leaning into motherhood hasn’t been easy or pretty. It’s been messy and difficult and oh-so-rewarding at the same time.
What homeschooling looks like in the Whitten house
I wanted to share a little bit about what a “normal” day looks like for us. And keep in mind that with five kids (two of them toddlers), we rarely get to follow our “normal” schedule. There’s almost always some kind of adjustment that needs to be made – and sometimes that adjustment is bagging school altogether and spending time as a family instead. And that’s okay. I’ve slowly been learning not to beat myself up over that.
On a typical day we start with math. We have been putting a big emphasis on math and reading – with everything else kind of coming as a bonus. And so math is first. We don’t have a set time that we start on math, but I LIKE to have us started before 10 in the morning. Of course, that doesn’t always happen and so we have to be flexible. But, thankfully, between my role as a mom and role as an Army wife, I’ve gotten pretty good at being flexible.
After math we take a break, have lunch, clean up, lay H down for a nap, and I’ll usually listen to a podcast or something while I do dishes. It’s my chance to unwind and it gives my kids the opportunity to rest their brains and lean into being kids. Sometime after math and before we start the rest of our school day, C and E will go read independently and I’ll work with L on her reading lesson.
And then, if we are feeling really ambitious and we’re all in good spirits, we move on to our curriculum with Gather ‘Round Homeschool. Our current lessons are all about space and the kids have loved learning about each of the planets and I’ve learned a lot too. This is NOT a sponsored post, but I do want to give a brief review on Gather ‘Round for anyone who might be looking into homeschool.
Gather ‘Round was created to help families with multiple kids homeschool. And it has been a huge blessing to me. In the past we used the Good and the Beautiful and I just DIDN’T love it. I know many people who DO love it, but it just wasn’t for us. When I was introduced to Gather ‘Round, I was so relieved to see that they had large families in mind. To put it plainly: Gather ‘Round provides all subjects that you need EXCEPT FOR MATH all in one easy curriculum. I read passages to my kids (all of the kids hear the same passage) and then they have worksheets that they work on at varying levels depending on their age/grade. There are other optional activities for kids who want more or parents who enjoy that kind of thing, but so far we’ve stuck to the basics. So far, the kids have enjoyed it. And I’ve enjoyed the ease of it all.
Usually by the time we are done with Gather ‘Round, it’s time for the kids to get ready for their Brazilian Jiujitsu class that they go to 3-4 times a week. We are lucky to live only about a 7-minute drive from the class, and the kids are all old enough to go up on their own (which is great because street parking can be a huge ordeal sometimes). I drop the kids off and then I park and read/study my scriptures/listen to a podcast while M and H scream at each other/play with toys if I remembered to bring them/watch something on my phone. The first couple weeks of BJJ it felt overwhelming to have to sit in the car for 90 minutes 3-4 times a week. But it’s actually turned into a great opportunity for me to sit back, unwind, and have nothing to do.
We’re doing the best we can
At the end of the day, there is a lot that I could beat myself up about when it comes to homeschooling my kids. But realistically, we’re doing the absolute best that we can – and, for now, that’s enough. We aren’t perfect at really anything, but the relationship between me and my children has been strengthened through homeschooling them. I’ve come to a better understanding of what my kids like and dislike, and I’ve been able to see how they learn. I’m not saying that everyone should homeschool. But I can’t bring myself to regret pulling my kids out, even on the days when homeschool doesn’t look “picture perfect.”
’til next time…
Ash
