Advice I wish I had (been) given

Have you ever seen this question, "What piece of advice would you give a new homeschooler?" I have been running into this a lot lately. I've tried coming up with sage words, somehow attempting to cram all of my years of experience into this piece of advice. I don't know if I was trying to be helpful, or impress myself and others with grandiose words. Either way, I realize now that all the advice I have given (even though it was good advice), wasn't the BEST advice I could pass down to a new homeschooler. This is the advice I wish someone had told me.

DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE HYPE!

You’ve made the decision to homeschool. Wonderful! You are now part of a rich and diverse community. As you explore more of this new world, you are going to find ways to do many things.

From learning styles, curriculum choices, where your children do school, to how you dress, what you watch on TV, what you eat, and how you cook, there are A LOT of opinions about each of these. None of them are invalid, but take them ALL with a grain of salt! Don't feel pressured to conform to an "ideal" homeschool lifestyle.

When I first started homeschooling, I dotted all my I's and crossed all my T's. I quickly found a homeschool group, I bought my curriculum, and I set up our space. I was ready and EXCITED! 

I'm a person who needs A LOT of structure! So, naturally I purchased a shiny, new boxed set of curriculum. I was so proud of my choice! And it was working well for my family...until. Until I sat around a park bench, listening to fellow homeschooling moms chit chat during a "park day". That's when I heard it...

"Using a boxed curriculum and student desks isn't HOMEschooling. That's just bringing school to home!"

I'm going to be transparent here...Those words shattered so much of my confidence. I mean, I was listening to "veteran" homeschooling moms who seemed to have everything together. They must be right! So, my thoughts were: WHAT? I'm not doing it right?! My kids will just be drones? I'm killing any chance for them to gain a love of learning ?!?

I came home in a panic, and I threw myself into frenzied research mode. OUT went that <cringe> boxed set. Hands on learning, and books! More books to read, that's the ticket! I will give my kids a LOVE of literature. And desks? BAH. We'll use the floor, our couch, bean bags with lap tables...do you see where this is going?

I felt guilty (and wrong) for not fitting this picturesque homeschooling life. I believed the LIE that there was only ONE right way. And IT ALMOST RUINED US.

After that terrible experiment into a different approach to homeschooling (which my kids couldn't stand), I realized something. Boxed-sets/workbooks work for my family. It's what my kids LIKE, and it's what keeps me sane!

I'm not saying other approaches are wrong. What I'm saying is...no approach is wrong if it fits your family. Whether it is a boxed-set, Charlotte Mason, Unschooling, or an online academy...DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU! And don't ever, ever feel like you have to look like everyone else to be a homeschooler! The freedom to choose what works best for our children is the reason why we’re here in the first place!