To the Tired-Out Homeschool Momma -

[Today’s post, “To the Tired-Out Homeschool Momma,” is a guest post letter from homeschool graduate Lydia.]

Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.

Dear Tired-Out Homeschool Momma,

It’s been a busy day, hasn’t it?

You’ve helped your oldest with math, cheered on your youngest with their reading, and tried to convince your middle child that Latin was not invented for the sole purpose of tormenting middle schoolers.

Homeschooling takes a lot out of you. It takes so much time and effort, sometimes it gets overwhelming. Sometimes, you might even feel like you’re failing, especially when the kids are having a hard time.

It’d be a whole lot easier to hand your kids’ education off to the professionals.

But Momma, before you throw in the towel and call it quits, I’m going to give you a peek into the future.

You see, I’ve been where you are, just on the opposite side of the kitchen table. Once upon a time, not so long ago, I was the kid sitting at that table, sighing over their Latin.

I really enjoyed being homeschooled. Afternoons spent goofing around with siblings, warm September days spent in the sunshine, and winter mornings spent curled up with piles of books all made for a fabulous experience.

Even so, I have vivid memories of being … well, less than thrilled with my curriculum.

Handwriting practice? Not my favorite.

Latin? Torture.

Math? Oh, dear…

That last one—math—was the bane of my existence. Numbers were an army of mysterious symbols bent on sending me to the dungeons of the Giant Despair. I hated them as much as they hated me.

In fact, I built up such a wall against math until it wasn’t that I wouldn’t do my math work. I couldn’t do it.

My brain could not understand numbers.

Every day, my mom and I would settle down with the abacus and the math book and spend a half hour wrangling numbers and getting nowhere. I distinctly remember sitting on the floor, playing with the carpet and feeling like a man in front of the firing squad. The moment my mom read the first question, my throat tightened, and my mind blanked. I tried to squeak out an answer but instead just ended up sobbing.

That daily, half-hour lesson comprised some of the most heartbreaking moments of my mom’s day. Knowing I was struggling and yet, not knowing how to fix it? That’s hard.

Does this sound familiar, Momma?

Well, don’t despair, because here’s where the story changes.

Pros and Cons of Homeschooling in the Summer

Eventually, my mom decided we had to try something different. She looked at my strengths—reading and writing—and decided to mesh my greatest strength with my greatest weakness. She got me a math program that taught math through story.

I started this new program in third grade, and I started with the very first, most basic book.

I was a third-grader doing kindergarten level math.

Yikes.

But you know what? It worked. I was reading, and that made my brain relax enough for it to finally understand addition. Before long, I could do subtraction, too. Then multiplication and division.

Fast forward to 2023, and I’ve graduated high school with all of the required math credits, no strings attached.

The eight-year-old who could barely add 2 plus 2 became an eighteen-year-old who could (and still can) do algebra and geometry.

Homeschooling gave my mom the chance to step back and reevaluate. She didn’t have to cater to a school board. She didn’t have to rely on strangers to help me along. She could do what was best for me herself with all of a mother’s love and patience.

It was a sacrifice for sure. Throughout those first few years, there were so many moments where she felt lost, blaming herself for my anxiety and wondering if we’d ever find a way out.

But just imagine if I’d been in public school. What if I’d been shoved from math level to math level to meet state requirements, all without having the slightest clue what any of it meant? What if I hadn’t gotten the chance to take things slow? What if I’d been held to the rigid standard of contemporary education?

I would’ve felt pretty stupid.

Homeschooling saved the day, and not just when it comes to math. As an adult and contributing member of society, I can honestly say that every single thing I hated about homeschooling has been a blessing.

The mornings spent copying poems by hand gave me neat handwriting. All my coworkers are jealous.

Draw Write Now is a great set for younger kids to learn to draw and practice handwriting. #drawwritenow #drawing #handwriting

The dreaded Latin textbooks gave me the context for hundreds of English words. Thanks to them, I know what defenestration means!

The hours spent going step by step over basic math principles paid off, too. I do fractions in my head all the time for my small business, Pieces of Forever. I can draft patterns and calculate hem allowances all without shedding a single tear. I can put my time and effort into making the best product possible for my customers. The math comes naturally now.

And it’s all because of a mom who cared enough to do the hard thing and homeschool.

Thank goodness she didn’t give.

So, Momma? I know things are hard right now. I know the kids are struggling and possibly annoyed to boot, but believe me, they won’t always be grumpy.

Someday, it’ll be their turn to wear the gown and toss the cap, and you know what they’re going to say?

Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to work with me. Thank you for being patient. Thank you for staying home and walking life with me.

It’s not always easy, but hang on, Momma! It’ll get better. It’ll pay.

Signed,

Lydia

A Homeschool Graduate

Guest biography: Lydia Smith wanted to create this blog post like a letter to homeschooling moms from a homeschooling graduate, just encouraging them to keep going even when it’s tough. She was homeschooled through all my school years, and she is so, so, so grateful for everything her mom poured into me. She’d just like to offer the moms some encouragement that their kids will be grateful someday, too, and that their hard work and dedication will pay off. Learn more about her entrepreneurship here.