Let me know if this has ever happened to you … you’ve been homeschooling for a while, finding your groove, maybe you’ve even had a few days with no tears (or maybe that’s just me?).  Then it happens. You hop on social media and see an amazing video of a five-year-old homeschooler playing a song he composed on his homemade guitar and singing the lyrics he wrote … in Italian. 

And you start thinking you should include more music in your homeschool. You should sign up for guitar lessons so you can teach your children to play. You should be teaching a language. Two languages! You should probably include more crafts, or woodworking. Is it too early for Shakespeare? Chemistry? What are you even doing all day!?!?

**Pause**

Take a breath. And maybe drink some ice water. This heat can do things to a person! A simple switch will put everything back in perspective. Replace “I should” with “I am.”

“I am” teaching about dinosaurs because my 9-year-old wants to be a paleontologist.

“I am” teaching my high schooler to cook because she wants to own a restaurant someday.

“I am” spending 3 hours a day in nature to support my budding biologists.

“I am” learning more than I ever wanted to know about tardigrades because Wild Kratts is my go-to for science each Friday. (Yessirree, this was me a few years ago!)

“I am” reading to my children every day because story time recharges us all.

Need I go on? Your own list will be long – and fruitful – and amazing – because it will reflect you and your children, and it will remind you that you have a purpose that is no one else’s. Embrace the skills, talents, and interests you have and use them to support your children’s skills, talents, and interests. Let’s face it, we can’t all be raising crafty, Italian crooners. The world needs tardigrade experts!

If you need more encouragement to follow your own path, read “What to Do When You Feel Like Everyone Else is a Better Homeschool Mom” on the Homeschool Sunshine blog.

Thanks for reading!

Homeschool Happy!

Jessica Leavitt, Homeschool Sunshine Coach

If you need more encouragement, consider signing up for homeschool coaching. Find out how coaching can help, and read how Homeschool Sunshine Coaching has helped other moms gain more confidence and increase the joy in their homeschool!