Free Yourself from the Burden of Expectations

Thursday 8/13/2015

It happens every year. You are almost done with your summer break and it has been anything but a break. You are exhausted from all the summer travels, family get-togethers, beach days, and your kids bored more often than not.

At this point you are ready for the school year to begin. Finally your children will have a structured time and direction doing something productive! School can be a huge relief for a lot of Homeschool Moms.

It isn’t all roses though. You may be excited about the relief from the busyness of summer, but you are nervous about the challenges and responsibilities of teaching your children. That can feel like a huge burden! There are so many questions to answer and things to do, where do you even begin!? Questions like these need to be answered:

What curriculum will I use?
Will all my kids learn and grow together and still have their needs met?
How much can I spend this year?
Do I have all that my children need to meet state standards?

These are questions that need to be answered, and that isn’t even counting the burden you put on yourself to be “Super Mom” while you homeschool! Super Mom needs to be able to…

Be more organized this year!
Meal plan like everyone else does on Pinterest!
Save the family money wherever possible!
Not make a mistake when I correct my children.
Manage household chores, always smiling!
Get up every morning 30 minutes early to spend time with God
Be more involved at church and in the community!
Teach my high schooler to drive!
Clean out the closets more regularly!

And the list goes on! The anxieties never stop it seems. The burdens we put on ourselves never end.

We cannot answer all these worries and burdens in one article but we would like to speak a word of encouragement to our Moms.

Joy is not found at the end of the journey, but in the path taken.

We too often put the weight of success in our homeschooling upon ourselves. We strive too often for “Pinterest Perfect” and lose focus on what really matters. We all understand homeschooling is not a cookie-cutter endeavor, but we don’t seem to apply that principle to our definition of success. You will not find true joy in seeing your children, or yourself, meet a certain checklist.

True joy is found in growing with your children as they grow. Encouraging them and gently pushing them to learn, stretch themselves, and experience new things. Where are you supposed to end up when all is said and done? Only you know that! Every year this is going to be different for every family, and you are the one that knows your family best.

You will not get everything done that you want to.

Shocking, right? This is not power-positive thinking. No, but it is a reality check that you need. This year you have so many goals for you, your family and your homeschooling. Probably some were mentioned in the lists above. But you need to be ok with the possibility, and even the probability that you will not get it all done.

This is not an indictment against you or your ability to homeschool. This is an encouragement to focus on the things that matter most. The rest will work itself out, and you will not want to have all your “lists checked” at the end of the next school year but miss out on slowing down and journeying with your children. Strive to roll with the punches, manage the potholes, and get support from your family through it all.

You got this Mom. Not because you will get this perfectly, but because your Mom.