Are You Afraid of the Worst-Case Scenario in Your Homeschool?
Are You Afraid of the Worst-Case Scenario in Your Homeschool?
Six months before I first started homeschooling, I was stricken with severe dizziness and the doctors did tests to see if I had a brain tumor or multiple sclerosis. As I lay on my spinning-yet-stationary couch, I wondered how I would be able to homeschool in my condition. But knowing the situation in the public school, I was aware that SICK OR NOT, I could still do a better job. My son's own public school teacher was on medical leave at that time, too! Although my condition turned out to be nothing serious, I thought a lot about these issues before we even began homeschooling and became determined to stick it out, whatever came our way.
Many homeschoolers worry about what may happen in the future. I have never been faced with a truly disastrous situation while homeschooling and I hope you haven't, either. But just in case, I hope you will remember that you can homeschool, even in not-quite-perfect conditions.
Do you think there would be a market for a book called "The Worst-Case Scenario Homeschool Survival Handbook"? Maybe not, but I do have a short article that may help, called "What If? Homeschool High School Without Fear."
Are you worried about the worst-case scenario happening? Have you had it happen to your family? Please share your story!
Please note: This post was originally published in January 2010 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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Comments 14
Lee,
I think it would be a very good idea for you to publish a worst-case
scenario homeschool survival handbook. Perhaps some of the above comments
and advice could be included -- they are really great!
Perhaps it could also include specific encouragement for specific trials/challenges -- such as appropriate scriptures, stories, etc.
Blessings, Char
I think one of the best things about homeschooling is that your child is learning real life. There are times when our best laid plans change and our priorities have to change based on those new realities. Man plans, God laughs! And the school system doesn't seem to flex for God or man.
Lee, this is a great subject- much needed. I felt so alone at times, trying to homeschool through tough times.
If you are reading this, remember that kids learn in all things. When I was bed-ridden multiple times my kids learned so many things that I hear other kids never learned until college age- how to do laundry, cook, clean, and care for the sick. Having tons of books and audio stories-- even some educational videos can make a huge difference. My children read a lot and explored. They know how to entertain themselves. They love each other and are best friends.
Be at peace that you cannot perhaps go to park days or on field trips. There is a time for everything.
One child is now a college honor student and a published writer, another is going to his college of choice next year and the last two are doing just fine.
All shall be well. What I always remind moms is that there is no perfect education- no matter what school or homeschool a person attends, so do not worry about perfection. Love of life-long learning is key and that can be achieved through hardships and intense trials.
Even multiple tragedies in my kids lives have made them amazing people. As a parent, I wish I could have spared them such sadness, but they have seen God's love through it all.
Of course you will wish there was a substitute teacher handy, but all shall be well in the long run.
Dear Diane,
What a lovely encouragement! I wish I could go back and tell my younger-self that things would all work out. Those years we just "didn't get enough done" and when life was "messy". I wish I could tell that younger me that the Lord has things to teach our children that can't be gleaned from books.
Blessings,
Robin
Assistant to The HomeScholar
That is exactly one of the reasons we still love homeschooling, after 15 years! After going through much traveling and standing by a hospital bed, while my dad suffered through his last 5 months, my 13 year old learned what it meant to be with family in good times and bad. He got a first hand look at the medical field and compassion for sick patients. I can't imagine being tied down to a school, when I need to be 5 hours away, several days a week.
That's also the reason that I have taken my kids to the point of self-learning. I don't buy curriculum that they can't do on their own, but instead, try to equip them with tools that they can use, whether they have me or not.
Just food for thought
Our very first day of homeschool was late August of last year. I was pretty intimidated to be taking on homeschooling my daughter, who was then a junior in high school. High school! Scary!
But my 'worst case scenario' was that on this, our first day of home study, our house was hit by lightning and set on fire. Completely destroyed our kitchen and most of the downstairs.
Well, homeschooling last year then involved learning about insurance policies, dealing with homeowner's claims, restoration of a house, deductibles, what to do in an emergency....nothing I had planned for, certainly. But we survived, and we're now on her Senior year and have learned ALOT.
God has been so faithful...Romans 8:28.
In our homeschooling journey over the last 20 years we have have multiple "worse case scenarios". When our youngest was 2 weeks old she had to have emergency surgery. The healing process of this type of surgery is very painful. She screamed for 6 months, sleeping only 4 hours total a day. The rest of the day and night she screamed. Then my husband's aunt had bone cancer and needed care. Since she had no children and other relatives in the area would not help, her care rested with me for quite sometime, until we were finally able to find others outside the family who were willing to help.
Our third daughter came down with diabetes in 8th grade having to take to 5 shots a day and still not being able to keep her glucose level steady. For weeks at a time she would bounce from the 30-40 range to 300+ repeatedly within a day. On days when her levels were steady she often could not stay a wake as the insulin she was on made her sleepy to the degree that she once fell asleep while on the treadmill. She fell so far behind in her homeschooling we were not sure if it was even possible for her to graduate. Though we did not think she was academically ready we decided we had to try and enrolled her in the local community college. By doing so she was able to graduate from high school only 3 semesters later than usual and got a head stare on college.
Now we are still homeschooling and caring for my mom who had a severe stroke. She lost the use of her right side and her speech. We just found out that we have been doing therapy with her for the last 5 months on a broken leg and a broken arm. Seems these were broken during her short nursing home stay. Since she can not speak we had no way of knowing she was in pain. When we finally realize there might be a problem it took nearly 3 months to get a dr. to order an x-ray. We have found that as much time can be spent fighting the medical establishment as spent caring for a loved one.
It often seems like our family goes from one crisis to another. From job loss to medical problems with our kids, to taking in other kids whose parents could not homeschool them for awhile, to care-giving of relatives, to putting on a wedding 5 days after a graduation open house with only 5 weeks notice of the wedding date due to a crisis in the young man's family..... All while homeschooling and running a homeschooling business helping other homeschoolers.
Dealing with these have made us stronger as a family and taught our kids the value of helping others and dealing with crisises but keeping them in perspective. They have learned that our strength comes from the Lord at the time it is needed. That all we can do is take one day, one moment at a time and not borrow worry for tomorrow.
As we are going down the homestretch, our last one is in 9th grade, it has all been worth it. My advice to others is, the Lord would not call you to homeschooling then leave you when trials come. He is there everyday. Look to Him. He will get you through.
Dear Lee,
Thank you so much for this! My husband is constantly telling me this same thing but homeschooling has been very difficult over the past few years. I have chronic Lyme disease and two of my daughters have it. I'm thankful that they are home and can rest when they need and that I can meet their needs but I always feel guilty about my healthy high schooler who basically schooled herself last year. I have difficulty with cognition so many days I don't feel like I can have intelligent discussions with her. This year is better and I'm glad I didn't give up but I do still feel guilty at times because I want her to have the best opportunities and be challenged. Thank you again for the encouragement.
Thank you.
For the past 18 months my mother has been battling leukemia...she lives 2 hours away from me. There have been times that I thought about putting the kids in school because it can get overwhelming at times...but I realized that would add a whole new sort of stress into my life. :-) My mom is now in hospice, and it is so nice to be able to take my kids up to visit with her during the week and spend time with her before she dies.
Not to mention, being with my kids all day has actually helped, they are such a lovely and fun distraction.
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