Homeschool Mom Guilt: Encouragement and Support
Mom guilt is everywhere! If you’re homeschooling your children, you’ve probably experienced homeschool mom guilt too. It’s that sinking feeling that you’ve somehow failed at homeschooling.
Fortunately, there’s hope for overcoming homeschool mom guilt. With a supportive community of homeschooling moms, helpful resources, and tips for getting back on track, you can defeat those guilty feelings and get back to learning and growing with your family.
Keep reading to find encouragement, veteran homeschool mom tips, and resources for the journey. Remember, you’re not alone and it’s okay to take a break and push the reset button whenever you need it.
Feeling Guilty In My Homeschool
We’re all familiar with mom guilt and those of us who homeschool also battle feelings of guilt in our homeschool. Sometimes I find myself wondering if I’m doing enough. Am I holding her back?
Did I let her down by working instead of schooling today? Should we do more hands-on activities or read more books? The list goes on and on in my brain.
There’s no end to the questions and guilty thoughts I can cycle through when I’m feeling uncertain about our homeschooling. When we have a truly bad day, it’s easy to start feeling guilty.
Feeling guilty usually stems from my genuine desire to do a great job teaching and encouraging learning in our homeschool. I feel guilty when my expectations for myself and our homeschool are unrealistic.
Homeschool Mom Guilt: Encouragement and Support
Sometimes all we need to get through a season of homeschool mom guilt is encouragement and support. We won’t get it right 100% of the time, but that’s okay. It doesn’t mean we’re completely failing at homeschooling our children.
A bad homeschool day (or week) isn’t a sign that you should pile guilt on your shoulders. We’re human and our kids are human. We’re going to make mistakes. Here’s some encouragement to help you overcome the tough days when homeschool mom guilt rears its ugly head.
You Are Not Alone
Every homeschool mom feels alone sometimes. We all put on a brave face, but the reality of choosing to homeschool is that you may feel alone sometimes. Just know it’s a lie.
You are not alone. There’s a community of moms on the same journey. Talking with other moms about our feelings of guilt can help us to think clearly and avoid condemning ourselves with false mom guilt.
Mom guilt doesn’t help us move forward or learn from our mistakes. It won’t make us better homeschool moms or get us where we want to be, but the support of others on the same journey can certainly help. Connecting with like-minded moms in the Waldock Way Community can help combat feelings of isolation.
Make A List
If you’re questioning your methods or curriculum, it can be helpful to make a list. List out all the ways your child is learning during everyday life. You might be surprised by all the amazing things your kids are learning without textbooks and without attending a brick and mortar school.
Even in seasons when we aren’t “doing school” our children are learning. In our homeschool, we’ve discovered that math is everywhere in our daily lives. Learning math in everyday life is practical and helps eliminate some of the homeschool mom guilt.
Take A Break
Sometimes what you really need is to take a break. Homeschool mom burnout is real. Most of us experience it at some stage in the journey. Sometimes we just need to step away and give ourselves time to reset.
There are lots of ways to take a break from your regular homeschool without quitting. In the past, we’ve taken seasonal breaks to enjoy warm summer weather, relax over the holidays, and reset after a particularly difficult season of homeschooling. Check out some of our ideas for keeping kids learning while taking a break:
- Incorporate Brain Breaks & Movement for the days when you just need to get up and move around.
- Discover Christmas Fun with Books, Movies, and Games to enjoy the holiday season while learning.
- Enjoy this list of Games to Play Through the Holidays when you just want to have fun and put the books away.
- Homeschooling When Mom Is Sick has tips for getting through seasons when you just can’t teach a traditional lesson.
- Try these Easy Ways to Sneak in Homeschool Learning when everybody needs to take a break from homeschooling.
Relationship First
The best tip for overcoming homeschool mom guilt I’ve found is to keep our relationship first. No matter what, we prioritize connection. The biggest advantage of homeschooling is that we have the time and ability to put our relationship with Emily first.
Establishing strong relationships begins in early childhood and it’s a critical part of ensuring that our children grow up healthy and happy. Our kids crave a deep connection with us. It’s essential for developing attachments with others too.
Sometimes keeping our relationship first means putting down our schoolwork for the day and spending quality time together. Sometimes it means abandoning our lessons for a heartfelt chat. Ultimately, it’s always better to meet our emotional needs first.
Additional Resources For Homeschool Mom Support
We’ve all heard the adage about putting on your own oxygen mask first. For many of us, me included, putting ourselves first can be a real challenge. Taking care of ourselves is an essential part of showing up for our kids and being the best homeschool moms we can be.
Here are some additional resources for homeschool mom support:
- The Best Books for the Homeschool Mom
- The Ultimate Guide to Realistic Self-Care for Homeschool Moms
- Finding Time for Yourself When Homeschooling an Only Child
- Homeschool Mom Wellness and Self Care: Simple and Restorative
Remember, you’re not alone. We are all on this homeschooling journey together. Share your thoughts with the Waldock Way community in the comments. We’re here to help!