We are six weeks into our seventh year of homeschooling. Back when we started, we had three children: a five year old, a three year old, and a one year old. Today, with baby number seven on the way and children from ages two to eleven years, our homeschooling days and routines look dramatically different than they did when we first began. The other day, however, I realized something amazing and wonderful: It’s not getting any tougher!
Don’t get me wrong. Homeschooling is not easy, per se. It requires commitment, effort, and discipline. When I say that it’s not getting tougher, I mean that although our family and homeschool have grown, and although the scope of their school work has expanded, I’ve found that each year’s new demands and challenges are balanced out by new benefits and blessings. Homeschooling has not become much more difficult, and I’ve never been tempted to view it as an impossible task. Want to see why? Here is our experience thus far:
Homeschooling a 4-6 year old with a few younger ones in the home
The Challenges
- Homeschooling is a new and unfamiliar territory
- The school child is too young to do assignments alone; Mom is needed for one-on-one teaching for every subject
- Mom has little assistance and a lot of work in addition to homeschooling: housekeeping, meals, caring for babies, keeping toddlers from hurting themselves, etc.
- Mom could be pregnant (We’ve had a baby every 1 1/2 – 2 years, all the way up through the present!)
The Blessings:
- School does not require much time at this stage
- Younger siblings are still young enough to take naps – an adequate amount of time to complete most schoolwork
- Most lessons are relatively easy, gentle and fun
- Much of school time is also quality, relationship-building time
- The 4-6 year old can and should begin learning to do a few household chores (folding and putting away own laundry, etc)
Adding in a second child
The Challenges
- Learning to juggle multiple levels
- The older child’s schoolwork now requires longer than a naptime
- There are still babies or toddlers to care for
- Mom could be pregnant – along with accompanying morning sickness and/or fatigue
The Blessings:
- Mom has taught Kindergarten before and knows what to expect
- Mom has a year or two under her belt and has developed confidence in her ability to do this
- Mom sees some fruits of her labor in the older child, and is motivated to stick with it
- While some school subjects still require Mom’s one-on-one attention, the older child can do other schoolwork independently; Mom’s actual tutoring time doesn’t change
- The older child is taking on a few more chores, helping Mom even further
- The second child is learning to do some helpful chores, which gives Mom two good helpers!
Adding in a third child
The Challenges
- Taking time management to a whole new level
- Older children begin to develop their gifts; This is actually a blessing, but it does require more time, attention, and finances (perhaps music lessons, sports, art or drama classes, etc.)
- Older children’s schoolwork becomes greater in scope, and more advanced
- There may still be babies and toddlers to care for
- Mom could be pregnant – and not 29 anymore ;-)
The Blessings:
- Enter the concept of multi-level teaching: My Father’s World (our choice), Konos, Tapestry of Grace, etc.
- Enter the concept of rotating children among different “school stations;” Example: at 10:00, one child babysits (in eye & earshot of Mom), one child does “Mom School,” one does “Computer School” and one does “Independent School.” At 10:30, everyone switches to the next school station.
- Older children have become independent learners and are mature enough to do most work on their own. They only require Mom’s one-on-one tutoring for their most difficult subjects (Composition or Math, perhaps). Other subjects require regular assessment, but not a great deal of explaining and teaching.
- Seeing more growth and fruit in older children
- Most people have stopped asking the “socialization” question, because they can see the fruit too. (Either that, or they just think that you’re stubborn and there’s no use in bringing it up ~grin~)
- Confidence and strength in the conviction that the family is doing as the Lord has called
Adding in a fourth child
The Challenges
- Much the same as the “third child” list, only with more children!
The Blessings
- Mom is an old pro at homeschooling
- Mom is an old pro at multi-level teaching
- Older children require even less one-on-one instruction
- Mom has learned a wealth of household management skills and routines that keep the home running smoothly with little stress
- Mom now has four great helpers who have been trained to know where they should be and what they should be doing during the critical school and chore hours of the day
This is as far as we’ve come so far. My oldest child is in 6th grade, so we’ve yet to experience junior high/high school. I am sure that there will be new challenges and demands as we move into those stages, but they don’t frighten me. I am excited to see how the Lord is going to work in our lives and equip us to meet the task. He has called me to homeschool, and has never forsaken me. I have not viewed any of the demands as “burdens.” Yes, it is work, and yes, it is a challenge. But is it enjoyable? Is it a blessing? Is it worth it? Yes, yes, and a thousand times yes! I have complete trust that in the years we’ve yet to experience, He will provide for every challenge that we face, and we will always want to give Him thanks for the years to come.
very encouraging to a mom who hasn’t begun to homeschool, but has it in the plans with a second child on the way. Thank you!
Michelle. I think you are amazing! I would have gone craqzy along time ago. God Bless You!! I am proud to say I know you:)
I understand this post too well. This is my first year schooling five children and mornig sickness with baby number 8 has been a little challenging. This time around mommy has been really sick and is learning some new tricks. I do agree the lord gets us through this and I will be a better person on the other side of this time.
Leslie, Thank you for letting me know this encouraged you. That is *exactly* why I posted this! I want to encourage anyone who is considering homeschooling, just getting started, or is feeling overwhelmed at the thought of how they’ll manage as the children grow or when they need to add more children into their school routine.
Missy, Thanks so much for your sweet comment. By the way – I don’t think you’d have gone crazy ;-) You’ve had so many trials and challenges in your life, that I know you are quite a strong gal with a lot of faith!
Susan, I didn’t know that you were expecting! Congratulations! I’m sorry that you’ve been so sick. I’d love to hear your tips and tricks for getting through it – when you’re feeling better and up to sharing, that is!
God bless you all.
I think the biggest challenge when your kids enter highschool is that they no longer can be the helpers that they were when younger. They can still help, but at this point, they are working, schooling, and developing their talents. It’s wonderful to see them go off and do well, but it’s sad to see them go. :)
Blessings,
Lisa in Jax
Just 2 cents here, but in my experience this year, for the first time, homeschooling got dramatically more challenging.
We now have 7 school age children and with our oldest just turning 13 and entering into a new stage of homeschooling (can you say logic?) I think that life has gotten harder this year.
Until now I have always been able to work with the children together as one unit for many subjects. This year I clearly have two groups of students, my older four (ages 12, 11, 10, and 9) and my younger ones (a delayed 7, average 6 and bright 4 year old). While I still cover the same topics with all of the children (Eastern Hemisphere history this year) I need to have different approaches and different books for my two different groups
So while it is true that for a long time it did not get any harder as we added school age children, I think that as your big kids enter those upper grades and you still have younger children it does get to be more challenging and requiring more of my time.
Also, as Lisa mentioned, my oldest child spends more time with school work now (think research papers, and more in depth reading and study) in addition to helping other young mothers in our church and she is able to help around the house less.
I love how you listed the challenges and blessings, very true.
Blessings,
Kimberly
That is interesting, Lisa and Kimberly. It is good to have an idea of what is coming up! I have heard from others too that they begin transitioning the kids out of some chores when they enter the Logic stage.
I am rather looking forward to the Logic stage, even with the extra challenges. As Lisa mentioned, it will be exciting to see them developing their talents and doing well.
My Father’s World Curriculum actually has a supplement available for 7th and 8th graders so that they can continue with the family cycle, and I suspect that will help us through the transition period from the Knowledge level to Logic/Rhetoric.
Thanks for the feedback, Ladies! :-)
Thank you so much for this post. My husband forwarded to me your post on discipline (Child Training: Some Questions and Answers) and then my sister forwarded to me this post on the phases of homeschooling. I’m in my first year homeschooling, starting the year out with a 5, 4, 2 and newborn. It was one of my toughest years that I liken to the first year after having my first baby. So many new things to learn and a whole new level of tiredness. My friend tells me it will get easier as the younger ones grow and I’m hoping in that because I feel discouraged often with how tired I feel and how challenged I am managing the now 2 1/2 year old and school. It’s great to see your challenges and blessings because they are true for me. I do love how laid back and short the schooling is at this age and with the younger ones taking naps I can fit some school in then. The 2 1/2 year old is kicking my but though. She gets into a lot of mischief while we are schooling but I’m catching some tips to have the other kids play with her if they want to go to the park later (rewards or is that bribing?! Ha.) while I tend to another child.
It is challenging but truly the most rewarding work to be doing what God has called me to even though it is not in my gifting. His grace is sufficient for me and His power is made perfect in my weakness. I’m just learning in my personal tutoring time with God that I should dwell on the positives not the challenges; to live and walk in thankfulness.
Thanks so much for your comment, Rebecca! I think you have a great attitude. :-)
Having the other kids play with your 2 year old is a wonderful idea. We have a “busy” 2 year old boy, and engage the help of the older kids too. I’d call the time at the park a logical consequence… if they help you, then you have more time (and energy) to do more fun things with them. It makes perfect sense.
Enjoy this busy, exhausting, but beautiful season of life. It goes by quickly!
God bless,
Michelle