Tips on Homeschooling Without Support

So, you have decided that you want to homeschool your child. More than likely you have researched the options, curricula and your states laws. If you have not accomplished all this, you probably still have some researching to do. It is extremely important to research everything ahead of time, so there aren't any surprises later.

But what if the last thing that stands in your way is the lack of support. Sometimes this can be your parents, in laws, friends, other relatives, teachers and administrators and sometimes even your spouse. So what do you do when you feel like you have nobody to support you in your quest to better your child's education through homeschooling?

As I mentioned above, research is the first step in the whole process. If someone does not approve of homeschooling it is usually because they are uneducated on the subject of homeschooling or they have preconceived ideas due to negative media attention.

Most homeschooling parents have their child's best interest at heart. In fact, most parents regard homeschooling as a chance to bond with their child and move the child beyond the normal classroom teachings. However, even with the best intentions, things can and will go wrong. If you are prepared you will do just fine.

The best advice I have, is that if you have done your research, even if there is no support, it is ultimately up to you and the decision to homeschool lies with your family. You can busy yourself with dispelling the myths after you have your child at home with you. Besides often well-meaning friends and relatives will see for themselves when they see the great activities that you do, the support you will get from homeschooling groups in the area, which I highly recommend you join, and just in general the child will seem less stressed and happier, especially if the school experience was unpleasant for the child to begin with.

But what if the person who is against homeschooling happens to be the one you live with, your spouse? That is a challenge, however it isn't impossible to get through to them. First, you will need to be patient, and try to be understanding. Here are a few things you can try, and see where they lead you.

Listen to your spouse. Take the time to hear why they don't feel it is appropriate or a good idea. Don't interrupt them, let them completely explain why they are against it. After they have spoken all they need to say, it's time for the next step.

Dispel the Myths, because you are sure to hear a few. Your spouse will probably express concerns regarding socialization, missing out on school activities, how experienced you are to be the one to teach your child, and perhaps concerns about college attendance. There are many myths floating around out there about homeschooling, and dispelling them and backing them up with concrete evidence is your best bet to be heard.

Show your spouse the research you have done. Perhaps if you have chosen a type of curriculum or if you have chosen a path you will take, showing him or her that will help tremendously. Finding out what the requirements in your school district are for the child's age and then showing your spouse the educational resources and tools you plan to utilize to apply those concepts. Sometimes concrete proof is all the spouse needs.

Join a homeschool group as soon as possible. Many will allow you to visit a few times to see what they do and what they have to offer. Invite your spouse to attend with you, so they can see that the children in the group are completely normal, just like your own child.

Give it time. Now you will just need to be patient for awhile. Do not harass or badger your spouse, let them think about it for a little bit. Discuss a length of time, perhaps two weeks for them to consider all the options, the pro's and con's, and just run it all through their mind. You will then need to meet again and discuss it. Meanwhile, during these two weeks you can suggest books to read, websites to visit and other resources where perhaps they can learn more.

If your spouse is still against the whole idea, you might need to recruit some family or friends to help support you. If not, you might be able to supplement their school education with some work at home, provided it is kept light and fun, and not weigh them down when they are already attending school thirty hours a week.