Most homeschooling parents start with all the enthusiasm in the world, only to burn out and give up after some time. Homeschooling is not all fun and could be tedious at times. It is important to understand when you feel tired and close to burnout to find ways to get back on track. A few tell-tale signs could show that you are probably doing too much in your homeschool.
Not having time for anything else besides schoolwork
If you find that you are doing school work right from breakfast time to dinner time, you are probably in this stage already. Kids need breaks and trying to pump everything into their heads will leave both of your frustrated, tired and easily irritable. Find ways to break lessons and do not spend too much time on a lesson.
The kids have a very short attention span, and you should ensure that they learn at their own pace. Making lessons easy, short and interesting will have a better impact than one long day of school work.
You are always feeling stressed and overwhelmed
Do you feel tired each time morning comes and you know it is the start of another learning day? If you do not look forward to teaching kids when morning comes, you’re probably doing too much. Homeschooling should not be forced because you will spend a lot of time doing this. You need to figure out how others inspire themselves to face the new day with enthusiasm and courage. Your kids will know when you are trying too hard.
Your kids find learning a bother
When your kids start finding ways to skip your class, you probably give them too much to handle. They need to learn at their own pace. I understand that you are under pressure to fulfill the curriculum schedule and meet certain goals but focus more on quality learning than quantity learning. Find ways to make learning fun. Incorporate games, offer them some form of reward when they accomplish something, and allow them to take scheduled breaks.
Having no family time
Many beginner homeschoolers plunge into this 110% and totally forget that they have other duties and obligations to other family members. Teaching does not need to take up all your family time. Schedule important family time such as having dinner together and taking care of your spouse. You also have chores to do around the house, and you need to figure out the time to do them.
Kids do not have their own free time
Kids learn better through playing and exploring things. If you find that the kids do not have time for themselves because they are always engrossed in one class project or another, you are probably doing too much. One innovative way to let them learn and play is to come up with experimental projects covered in your curricula and let them explore the same in their own way.
Do any of these things sound like what’s going on at your house? If so, you may be doing too much in your homeschool. Take some time, stop for a while. It’s okay, momma, this is the beauty of homeschooling. You are on no one’s schedule but your own family. Like I always say, do what is right for you and your family. Let me know how you feel about this? Does it resonate with you?
Check out my post on Self Care for homeschool moms here.