What You DON'T Need to Homeschool

Once upon a time, I was eagerly preparing for my first born child. I had the meager income of a college student, but I was determined to prepare in every way for his arrival. I read all the baby books and magazines to find out what we would need to care for a baby. With the help of generous family members we amassed a collection of baby gadgets and carriers and outfits and pillows and feeding supplies and more that nearly burst our one room apartment. There was barely room in our house for us, but now, I was ready for baby.

Five kids later I have learned that a mountain of baby supplies is handy, but totally unnecessary for raising baby. Give me some diapers, wipes, onesies and receiving blankets and I can raise a healthy happy baby.

I learned a similar lesson the expensive way about homeschool. In my anxiety to prepare to be a successful homeschooler I collected anything “educational” I could get my hands on. I was worried that I would not be a good teacher, but I thought if I had all the right stuff it would make up for my inabilities. Well, I have a LOT of school supplies and they haven’t helped me be a better teacher yet. I have learned how to organize piles of supplies, though...

So what do I use to teach my kids?

Not this. Although I am sort of pinterest proud of it.

And not all of this...

And not all of this school stuff.

Or this, really.

Or this closet full of school stuff.

We use this, beat up cardboard box with a handle.

This little bucket goes to any room we are in. We can snuggle on any couch, go out on the porch, or take it on the road. With this bucket and a library card we are ready to take on the world! So if you are new to homeschooling, save your pennies and don’t be a school supply hoarder like me. You don’t need all that stuff. Less is more! Get yourself a sturdy cardboard box, some sharp pencils, notebooks, a few favorite books, and that's it. You have fully stocked a successful homeschool. The world is yours.

Shifting Paradigms

A paradigm is like any window, it allows you to see whatever its frames will permit. Thus, just like a window, a paradigm is a limited and partial view of what's "outside." The bigger the frame, the more one can see. The more windows in a room, the more one can see of that "outside." Thus, paradigms, by analogy, are mental windows to reality.  They "frame" our understanding of reality and limit that reality to what they show us. Different paradigms will "show" us a different reality.     - unknown

    Unless you are one of the few mothers who has always known that they would homeschool their children, you are likely here testing the waters in an uncharted territory.  You may be caught up in the merciless throws of a shifting paradigm.  Not long ago I found myself neck deep in those same choppy waters and at times I thought I may never come ashore. 

     It took courage for me to put up new windows within my carefully constructed house in my little corner of the universe.  It took humility to imagine that there was more to see when I thought I had been looking out of a picture window.  It took patience to question to learn, to probe, to pray.  It took faith to listen to the whispering of the spirit telling me “yes you can” when doubts would flood my mind like a tidal wave of insecurity.   

     If you are new to the idea of homeschooling, welcome! 

Stay a while.

Embrace the discomfort. 

It won’t last forever!