Homeschooling: 9 Myths Busted

Homeschooling: The once crazy option that is now looking more and more attractive.

With the current craziness and disturbing political agenda marching their way boldly and proudly into our public school classrooms, parents are rethinking their options. I think many people would rather keep their kids home than send them into this insanity.

If you’re wondering if I really have anything to offer on the topic, let me say that, while I’m just beginning my experience on the teaching end, I was homeschooled myself from Kindergarten-12th grade and I figure it might be helpful to hear from the homeschooled as well as the homeschooler. See, back in the late 90’s homeschooling was much less popular than it is now a days. My parents were told every reason under the sun why this wasn’t a good idea, so making this list came freakishly easy for me. I hope this is helpful in debunking the fake news regarding homeschooling and maybe it’ll help you make the final decision as we end the current school year and look to the next.

So here are a few myths that need continual busting when choosing whether or not to homeschool:

Myth #1: I’m Not Qualified

This one. I’ve heard it so many times. If you don’t have a teaching degree, you aren’t qualified to homeschool. I know this one will be controversial, but it’s simply not true. I know from my own personal experience that my mom was not a certified teacher and she crushed it! Here are some things to think about:

1. If you learned what you should have in school, then, with a little refresher, passing it onto your children should be a doable thing.

2. If there’s a subject that is REALLY not your forte, there are ALL sorts of online options where someone else can teach your child science (Oh, um…I mean…whatever subject YOU might struggle with).

3. Seeing as the homeschooling resurgence began in the 80s, we now have a generation of homeschoolers who have killed it in the universities, made incredible employees, started their own businesses, served in our military, pursued all kinds of trades, started families, and have been all around helpful members of society.

So, we see in practice that children can be taught by their “uncertified” mother and, as a general rule, do just fine. (Go ahead and mention those homeschoolers you know that came out uneducated and I’ll match it with a kid from public school that did the same.) I’m not saying it’s fool proof, I’m just saying it can definitely work.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9

Myth #2. I Can’t Afford To Homeschool!

This is a hard one. I’m sure there are people that may be in over their head financially and don’t know how to make it on one income. So, I’d follow this with two questions:

1.) How much are you figuring it will cost to homeschool? There are so many affordable curriculums, you don’t have to set up a ridiculously expensive “Pinterest worthy” schoolroom, and if you are really in dyer straights, there are NUMEROUS ways to make money from home these days (a silver lining to the cloud that is COVID).

2.) How much is it worth to you? If it’s really important to you to have your kids at home (for whatever reason), are there things you could sacrifice to make this work? Do you really have to have all the things? Even if it meant giving up something difficult… is it worth it to give your children the one on one attention they may be needing? What is it worth to you to be able to teach your children real and abiding truth? Does that career, extra vehicle, nicer house, and material comfortability mean more than you having a strong hand in what your children are learning hour upon hour, day upon day, week upon week, month upon month… year upon year. Because IT WILL MATTER. I know there are many things to work through, but even if it takes time, more often than not an affordable route can be found! Maybe this year, maybe not, but make it a goal for the future and crush it!

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Myth #3. But My Kids Need To Be “A Light”

Oh, oh, oh! I’m sorry, but this one kills me. I mean, I get it, I do. And I appreciate the thought of your children being a light to those in their classroom. But let’s be real and honest here. Your child, especially a young child, is MUCH more likely to be influenced by the majority, than to be an influence as a minority. And truth be told, they can’t BE a light until they BECOME a light. Young children, even into the teen years, are SO easily influenced. Good gracious, we as adults are easily influenced. If you are choosing to send your children into an atmosphere where they are NOT taught the truths about who God is, and worse yet, are taught things that are in direct violation to his word, you can hardly expect your child to stand up for truth they are still trying to understand, not only to their peers but also to their teachers.

Now, take some years to give that child a firm foundation, to teach him not only academic truths, but Biblical, spiritual truths… take some time to teach your child what it is to truly love another person, encourage them to befriend kids who are different than they are (but in a more limited atmosphere)… then, by God’s grace, they’ll be well prepared to be sent out as a force for the gospel into the great darkness that plagues our world.

Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Myth #4. My Kids Will Fall Behind

True. If you don’t take responsibility to teach them. But if you give it all you’ve got… rather than fall behind, I truly believe your children will THRIVE! What child would NOT thrive if they had more one on one attention? If a million distractions were removed? What if your children were learning in the atmosphere they were most comfortable? If they could take as much or as little time as needed according to where they struggle or flourish? What would happen if they weren’t pushed faster than they can keep up, or kept back when they could have gone farther? What kid wouldn’t do well when their curriculum fits their learning needs, rather than saying “one size fits all”?

Myth #5. My Kids Need To Be In A Classroom

I don’t know who in the world decided that being stuck behind a desk for 8 hours a day was the best way for kids to learn. I’m not saying it’s a bad way to learn, but it certainly isn’t the only way. I tell ya, I did school on my bed, on the couch, at the coffee table, kitchen table, back stoop, trampoline, in the car, and anywhere else you could imagine. And I did JUST fine. Being able to go to a quiet room away from the noise or sit outside and hear the birds and breathe the fresh air, was definitely helpful rather than harmful to my attention span. My mom never had the perfect little Pinterest-worthy schoolroom set up (Not that there’s anything wrong with that… but don’t be crazy till you know what you really need), and we did just fine. So don’t sweat it.

Myth #6. My Kid’s Won’t Be Properly Socialized

This is the one I probably heard more than anything else and let me tell you… it’s SO false. Now, if you choose to hide your children away from the world, keep them from the other kids at church, never get them into extracurricular activities (Yes, homeschoolers can do that too), and teach them that anyone different from them is to be avoided, then no, your kids will not be properly socialized.

BUT, if you’ll remind your children that they’re siblings are the only friends that will certainly be there through adulthood and thusly encourage that friendship… If you’ll encourage your kids to make friendships elsewhere and enable them to socialize through music, sports, art, or wherever their interests lie… If you’ll teach them that not everyone does life just like we do, but we still need to love and respect them and learn about them… then you might be amazed at just how social your child can be!

I could list COUNTLESS scriptures that will give your children sure footing in how they ought to treat those around them…

And let’s also keep in mind that some of the interaction or “socializing” that takes place in school (bullying, flirting, name calling, and inappropriate conversations of all kinds) might be better left out of your child’s academic experience all together. And as a plus, you’ll also find that since homeschooled children are around siblings both older and younger and are often out in public during the day, interacting with adults… they might actually have a foot up on learning how to interact with people of all ages, not just their peers.

Myth #7. I Don’t Have The Patience

Girl, GIRL! Me neither. I really don’t! So technically, this isn’t necessarily a myth. I love how people assume you have all the patience for it if you say you’re planning to homeschool. Ain’t nobody got the unending patience it takes to school multiple children, in multiple grades, in multiple subjects without at least ALMOST, if not fully, losing it now and then. But I’ll say this: It’s not a good enough reason not to homeschool. I have sooooo many “moments”. But it gives me the opportunity to apologize to my children and bring them along on my journey of sanctification. It also lets your children know that you’re doing something really hard because it means so much to spend your every day teaching and walking along beside them.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

So ask yourself this: Is it better to be there for every moment, even if some moments are messy… or to choose to miss so many moments out of fear that you’ll mess up?

Myth #8. I Can’t Be Their Mom AND Their Teacher

Um…you already are. If you are a mom that has never taught your child anything… there is a PROBLEM! Do you know for how many centuries a mother was her child’s main educator? We’ve bought into the idea that there’s only one way to school a child, when there are so many!

Now, to be fair, I’m not saying it might not be a difficult transition if you are bringing an older child home. I’d imagine it would be different and maybe a little strange for them to now see you as their teacher, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Who could be better to teach your child than the one who loves them most? Who better than the one who cares more than anyone on the planet that they learn, and thrive, and grow??? And remember, homeschooling doesn’t mean that you have to be the one teaching the classes. If it’s not working for you to sit with them and teach them, get them into online courses with a teacher who isn’t you or take advantage of all the co-op classes out there!

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Myth #9. It All Falls On Me

Sort of… yes, it’ll be you waking them each morning and pushing them to succeed. That falls to you. It’s a responsibility and not one to be taken lightly. But remember you don’t have to go it alone.

There are countless resources for the homeschooling mom these days. There is hardly a thing you can’t find online, but more than that, there are a million moms doing the same daily grind that you will be. Especially these days.

Whether you know them through social media, church, a moms group, or just friends you’ve made along the way. There are mamas who have been on this journey for quite a while or may have completed it and they have so much to share with us if we’ll only ask! Also, look up homeschool co-ops in your area to find some fellowship with other moms who understand what you’re going through and can be an encouragement! You are not alone on this journey.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Summing It All Up

This is not meant to be a legalistic venting session.

The salvation of our children and who they become is ALL by God’s grace, not how they were schooled. But let’s be encouraged to be doing ALL we can to point our children in that direction… toward truth… toward grace… toward solid Gospel truths. A fellow mom friend recently summed it up quite well when she said, “It’s not a sin to send your children into the current public school system, but it IS a calculated risk.”

So, this is just a conversation for the parents on the fence. This is an encouragement that most of the excuses you hear or maybe even tell yourself, generally don’t hold up. If you don’t want to send your kids into this craziness, then don’t.

Be flexible, be diligent, make it work.

It might be hard, but not impossible

It’ll take sacrifice, but it’ll be so worth it.

It’ll be messy, but it’ll be beautiful.