I can't say that home education is always easy, and I can't say there won't be moments of self doubt and fear. I can't tell you that everyone will understand or trust your journey (even in the home ed world), and I can't tell you it will always be trouble free.
But what I can tell you is that it is worth it all!
Every last moment, is worth any sacrifice (if you want to call it that) you may make in; driving, walking, catching public transport, giving up your time, your energy, your emotions, your finances, your head space, or your own career, to become the 'dream maker-happener' to the hopes and dreams of your children.
If I could offer just one piece of advice for you to take or leave, it would be this;
Take a deep breath. Make a brew, find a good day-dreamy place, and think about what it is you want your children to look like as adults.
I don't mean their physical appearance, and I don't mean their careers. I mean, what kind of people do you want them to be? Or not be? What kind of character traits are important to you? What kind of life skills do you want them to have? What 'tool box' of experience, skill and traits, do you want them to posses when they step out into the world on their own?
Because for the most part, home education for some, if not many of us, has little to do with education as the 'State' sees it, and more about seeing our children develop naturally and wholistically, in a way that enables them to function well in society and contribute to the community around them. It is about them discovering their gifts and talents, and about them developing confidently and securely in a way that enables them to be comfortable in their own skin. It is often more about loving and nurturing who they are first, and then taking care of the 'what they do'.
It is very different for all of us, for some faith and or politics influence that picture, for others it does not. For some culture influences that picture for others it does not. For some curriculum is important, for others it is not. Some want to remove all their own expectations from that picture, and for others they may not.
What ever that picture looks like for you and your family, when you have it in your mind- work back wards. Because the end result of what you would like to achieve, will often affect how you choose to home educate, what philosophy you adopt, and how move forward.
Even in the home education community you will find people with polar ideas, and that is ok. It is not important that we all agree, but it is important that we all allow each other the freedom to choose our own paths, and trust in each others ability to parent (or not) our children according to conscience.
It is also important that early on, that you know (or have some inkling) of what it is that YOU are setting out to do. Sure we can learn from each other, and often do, and sure we change with the ebbs and flows of family life. And while the vehicle (the way we home educate) may change, the destination often doesn't. We still often work towards seeing those original dreams come to pass for our kids.
It can be easy to become swayed by trends or curriculums. Or we may begin to allow others paths to cast doubts upon our own, if we haven't first nailed down who we are, and how we do it. This isn't to suggest that we shouldn't learn and grow, and assimilate new ides. I say it, only to discourage continual self doubt on the days we don't 'look' like other people around us, in how we approach life and learning.
In my experience, when you have something to work towards the rest will often start to fall into place, because the 'who' will determine the 'what'. Your philosophy of life and education, will begin to shape how you move your home education journey forward.
Anyway I have prattled on for long enough, and been far to esoteric, and not at all practical (in terms of things like exams, activities, etc).
But it is how we did it, and thus far it seems to be working. We wanted to equip them to be, and do whatever is in their hearts to be and do- it's as simple as that.
On my bad days, when my own advice fails, I do this:
I search high and low under teenage beds and clothes piles for my favorite book . I then curl up on the lounge (do you call it a sofa/couch here?) with a cuppa and a small child, who I then pretend to read Dr Seuss Oh The Places You'll Go, to. I have to choose a smaller child, because all the bigger ones, have long since worked out that it is 'me' I am really reading to. And they know that the story always ends with mamma's eyes welled up with tears, as she begins to once again reinvent herself with Seuss!
Oh The Places You'll Go, has been a GREAT metaphor for our home education journey. And it does one well to remember that life comes in seasons, and we are not examined on them- we just endeavor to live them well.
Good luck in your new journey, I wish you every blessing.
