Don’t Be a Quitter – 5 Steps to Avoid It!

February 15, 2019
Written by:
Tasha Swearingen
Featured, Homeschool Planning

Are you sick and tired of homeschooling? You really can get to a point in your journey where homeschooling has practically taken over your life and leaves you dreading it every day. As a result, you may wake up one day and immediately start researching your other options such as the local public school and private schools. Deep down, though, you know that isn’t what you want – you just need a way out of this rut. The best advice we have is to take a proactive (rather than reactive) approach and prevent burnout before it creeps up on you!

Avoiding Discouragement While Homeschooling

  1. Don’t over-commit yourself. Over-committing is usually the result of homeschooling parents trying very hard to NOT be a stereotype. Yep, it’s that “what about socialization?” thing creeping in. You want to make sure you socialize our children and you’d probably also like to make/keep friends yourself. So, you find it hard to say “no” to people requesting your help or to opportunities for your children to socialize. This is okay…to an extent. Be sure to keep things balanced and don’t promise to do more than you can handle.
  2. Have FUN! This simple tidbit of advice definitely bears repeating! At times, it’s easy to slip into being too regimented – especially when you have 5-6 kids to homeschool and absolutely need some sense of order in your home. It’s okay to be disciplined (that’s a GREAT thing, actually), but just don’t forget to have those FUN days as well! Take field trips, enjoy unit studies on topics that interest your kids.
  3. Rule out the alternative. Trust us – you HAVE to let go of the idea that you can “always send them to school.” Speaking from experience, it’s much easier to feel the sting of homeschool burnout when public/private school is an option to you. Rule that out COMPLETELY – make it escape your mind. It’s simply….not an option.
  4. Find local (and online) support! Let’s face it – sometimes you just need to rant to someone who will understand. You also need to know you’re not alone with whatever it is you’re going through. Finding a support group is crucial. You don’t have to participate in person all the time, and online might be easier for you anyway. Either way, make sure you have a support system in place.
  5. Put it in writing! Sometimes, just seeing something in writing (perhaps a meme or a paper note) is enough to motivate us. So, it’d be a good idea for you to write down all the reasons you wanted to homeschool in the first place. Then, check off the objectives you’ve already accomplished. 

Whether you’re a new homeschooler or a veteran homeschooler, burnout will teeter on the edge of your sanity at times! To avoid giving up, make sure implementing everything you can to help yourself, such as joining a support group and making public/private school not an option. Whatever you decide, please keep plugging away – don’t give up!

#HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM, #HOMESCHOOL RESOURCES

Tasha Swearingen

Tasha is a homeschooling mom to 5 and has been homeschooling for 14 years. Currently, her children's ages span from toddler to young adult. Tasha has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Social Sciences from Florida State University and is working on her MBA through SNHU/Berklee School of Music.