So you’ve done all of your research on homeschooling. You’ve read countless books, articles, blogs, etc and you are finally feeling confident in your choice to homeschool. It can sometimes be a long road to get to that place where you feel ready to take it on. It’s a huge milestone!
Now it’s time to tell your family and friends. You are bursting with excitement as you tell your family and friends only to encounter a huge letdown. Why wouldn’t they understand your choice? Why are they not supporting you? How are you going to find homeschool support when your own family and friends don’t support you?
Let me tell you about my own personal experience. I happily told some people (not to be named) about my decision to homeschool. I was so excited and I just couldn’t wait to them. Little did I know they would not agree with me…. at all. In fact, they totally disagreed with me completely and really shot the idea down. I was crushed! I had done so much research on it and while working on my teaching degree I seen a lot of things about the public school system that I didn’t care for. Homeschooling just seemed right! It was a perfect fit! Why couldn’t they see this too?
I have learned that you will encounter many of these people in your life. It will hurt and it can be hard to understand. So what do you do now? How do you get the support you need?
It’s always a great idea to surround yourself with like-minded individuals. It helps you get the support you need. It’s nice to talk to someone who “gets it”. Here are some great ways to get support:
- Facebook groups: These are amazing for connecting with other homeschoolers. You can ask questions, chat, share ideas and more! You can join our Facebook Homeschooling group here. I’d love to see you there! There is always some great information floating around in there!
- Yahoo Groups: Yes, people still use these. These are similar to Facebook groups, but usually on a smaller scale.
- Local Homeschool groups: You can find many homeschool co-ops and play date groups in or around your area. Try searching Facebook to find some local groups and also check out Meetup.com. If you cannot find a local group ask around or create one.
- Church: I noticed that many homeschooling families find great support with their local church. Ask around and see if a local church in your area has put together a homeschooling group.
Deciding to homeschool your children can be a very happy and exciting time in your life. Surround yourself with people who understand and support you. For those that do not support you, try giving them some time to come around. Sometimes people will not support you simply because they don’t understand the concept of homeschooling. Just don’t let that rain on your parade!
Have you encountered unsupported family and friends along your homeschooling journey? If so I’d love to hear about how you overcame it. Let me know in comments!
