Homeschooling Mistakes Everyone Makes

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Did you start out on this homeschooling journey with the thought you were going to nail it every single day, then quickly realized you were wrong?

When we started out on our homeschooling journey 5 years ago I was filled with doubts. Even now, several years later, I still find myself making mistakes as a homeschool mom.

This is normal! You cannot go into anything in life with the notion that you will not make mistakes. The most important thing you can do is learn from these obstacles and homeschooling mistakes and figure out what works best for you and your family.

Every homeschooling family makes mistakes. Even veterans.

Maybe you have been a part of this homeschooling gig for lightyears, then you are probably shaking your head and saying yes! we all make mistakes.

If you are a newbie you will make mistakes while homeschooling your children. If you are a veteran you will make mistakes while homeschooling your children. Sometimes the best thing you can do is roll with the punches.

Mistakes can be a learning tool, even when it comes to homeschooling.

Related Read: Top 6 Reasons We Chose to Homeschool

When my daughter first started school in preschool and kindergarten we used a curriculum that she just wasn’t vibing with. But I LOVED the curriculum. The phonics part was not clicking for her. My first mistake was not paying attention to her learning style and sticking with this curriculum simply because I loved it for WAY too long.

But then if you take an honest look at the mistakes you make during your journey as a homeschool mom, you can see that they aren’t just mistakes, they can be tools that help you learn to teach your children better, engage more, and get to know these beautiful little souls that God has entrusted to your care.

Don’t let a homeschooling mistake deter you from what God has intended for your family.

Many times I have thought about throwing in the towel. Especially when I find myself feeling frustrated or making mistakes as a homeschool mom.

But I know deep in my heart that God has called me to homeschool my children.

I want to instill in them a love for God and a love for learning that I know they will not get going to public school for 8 hours a day.

When the tough days come, and they will! remind yourself of the purpose God has placed in your life, remind yourself of your family goals and the reason you chose to homeschool in the first place. (This can be different for every family!)

Trying to be a perfect homeschool mom will lead to burn out and resentment.

The truth is: you aren’t perfect. Neither are your kids.

Trying to be the perfect homeschool mom will quickly lead you to burn out and resentment.

Instead, learn to go with the flow, and recognize your children are learning all the time not just during school hours. They just may surprise you. Today at lunch my 5-year-old and 8-year-old told me all about a desert animal called a thorny devil. I have never heard of this interesting little creature who can drink water from its thorns. I didn’t teach them this, and they didn’t learn it from their school work. No, they learned it from watching Wild Kratts. Did they watch it during school hours? No. So relax momma, your child is learning all the time.

You will not accomplish everything you think you should every single day. Guess what? Neither do public schools.

17 Common Homeschooling Mistakes and How to Fix Them.

Trying to recreate the classroom.

Some families thrive on having a classroom for their homeschool.

We didn’t. Early on I tried to recreate the classroom, not just in how it looked but also in what subjects we focused on and hours we spent on those subjects. But the truth is my children learn better when they are learning wherever they are comfortable.

I was once asked how my one child got done in 2-3 hours what public school takes 8 to do. If you listen to that question though it’s a little silly right? Public school teachers have to teach 20 something children, there is a ton of transition times and breaks and lunch. But I have one child. We get finished when we get finished. Sometimes it takes 2 hours. Other times it takes 5 hours. (not often) I no longer worry about trying to recreate what the classroom looks like in public school.

Not paying attention to your child’s specific learning style.

Each person learns in different ways.

Some learn by seeing, some by hearing and others by doing.

Take some time to figure out what your child’s learning style is. Doing so will help them thrive while they are learning and in the meantime learn to love learning!

Buying the lie that your child needs to be at a certain level with all his/her peers.

No child is on the same learning level. The wonderful news? Your child doesn’t need to be at the “same” level as their peers.

Some children are higher and some are lower. The levels were created by public schools as a way to gauge the average, but pushing a child to be at “their” level can be detrimental to their love of learning. Pushing a child to learn too much too soon before they are ready for the sake of them being “ahead” is a recipe for disaster.

Sometimes a child can be higher in a level for a certain subject and lower in a level for a different one. Embrace it, and allow your child to learn on those levels.

Here’s an example: My oldest daughter just turned 9. She is currently in the third grade level for math. (she loves math!) But she just recently learned how to read fluently over the past 6 months. Does that mean she’s behind? No, it means she’s learning at her own pace and that is okay.

Comparing your child to other children.

No two children are the same.

When you start homeschooling your children don’t compare them to other people. This can be a good thing to remember just in general.

Comparing a child to another person, whether it’s a sibling, a cousin or the kid down the street, can tear at a child’s self-esteem.

Each child has their own strengths and areas of improvement. Praise your child’s strengths and encourage them in the areas they need improvement in.

Not taking breaks during the day.

If you are like me, you want to get everything done first thing in the morning.

Sometimes my kids are attentive and ready to work and we can knock everything out. Other times my children are dragging and I know they need a break.

Pay attention to your child’s cues and learn to notice when they need to take a break. It’s okay!

Trying to make a curriculum work that doesn’t fit your child or family.

I’m guilty of this! If a curriculum doesn’t work for your child or your family, there is nothing wrong with saying we are switching gears. You can sell your old curriculum if you are worried about wasting money.

If you want to keep peace in your homeschool, don’t force a curriculum that doesn’t work. On the other side of the spectrum, if something isn’t broke, and it’s working for your child, don’t change gears simply because you want to try something new. I almost did this, this year! Then I remembered the old saying, if it’s not broke don’t fix it.

Believing you need to do it all.

You do not have to do everything and be everything!

Moms, even homeschool moms, cannot be everything to everyone at all times. You cannot balance everything!

Don’t give in to the lie that you need to do it all when you are homeschooling your children. Teaching your child from a peaceful rest is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family.

Feeling judged by other people’s opinions.

Not everyone is going to understand your decision to homeschool your children. You cannot let their opinions weigh you down. Chances are they aren’t “judging” you because are doing something wrong (because you aren’t.) They are expressing their opinions because 1. It’s what everyone does these days and they believe they have a right to. and 2. They truly do not understand homeschooling and believe it’s not what’s best for children. There could be other reasons as well, but honestly, the only opinion that matters is God’s, your spouse, and you. That’s it. Let those judgments roll off your shoulders because they aren’t important.

Not asking your child for their input.

Letting your child have a say in what subjects they learn, what they start with, etc. can be one simple act that helps your child engage during their homeschool day. When a child is more excited about what they are learning, then they will learn to love learning!

Skipping de-schooling if your child came out of public school.

Have you heard of the term de-schooling? I have not specifically done this because I have always homeschooled. However, many mommas in the homeschool community believe that de-schooling your child who comes out of public school can make or break your homeschool journey. If you want to read more about what de-schooling is here is a great description.

Giving up when the days get tough.

You will have tough days as a homeschool mom and family. When you do, take a break. There is nothing wrong with turning on an educational show and taking a break from your normal schedule for school. Don’t believe me? Think back to your days in school if you went to public school. Do you remember ever watching a movie during class or while having a sub? I do. It’s okay to take a break. Just don’t give up. Remember tomorrow is a new day.

Not allowing mistakes from yourself or your child.

You will make mistakes as a homeschool mom. That’s a given because you are human. Do you know who else will make mistakes? Your child. Allow your child to mess up and figure out how to correct those mistakes. It’s all a part of living. One of the best things about homeschooling is getting to experience life with your children. They need to learn that mistakes happen. Where better to learn this than in the safety of their home?

Isolating your children.

One of the most asked questions homeschooled families get asked is “what about socialization?” I don’t worry about my children being socialized because we are around people all the time. But one of the worst things you can do is isolating your child and not allowing them to participate in activities or in the community. Being a homeschooled child doesn’t mean your child can’t be around other people. They just get their socialization elsewhere with different age groups. (which is exactly what many homeschool families prefer.)

Having unrealistic expectations of yourself and your children.

Sometimes we just need to take a step back and realize our expectations are too high and unrealistic. Take a good look at what your child and you are capable of. Set a goal and in 3-6 months examine that goal. Is your child learning? Is your child thriving? Even if they aren’t meeting these expectations you had at the beginning, if your child is growing and thriving from where they once were, then you are doing great momma.

Allowing distraction during the homeschool day.

This isn’t just for your kids. This is for yourself. My days go so much smoother when I put my phone away and focus on the tasks at hand.

Not connecting with other homeschool families.

Everyone needs a connection. When you connect with other homeschool families you are adding support to your life, family, and journey. This comes in handy when you are having a difficult time. You can also be a support to another homeschool family that needs it.

Not making room for fun in your day.

You need fun! So do your children. Make room for something fun each day, whether it’s a craft, game, or movie. Maybe even get outside and do your work there. This will break up the mundane of everyday homeschooling.

Homeschooling your children is an amazing adventure that God may have called you to.

If you feel the call of God to homeschool your family take the chance! You are about to embark on an amazing adventure where you watch your children thrive and learn.

When you set out on this journey remember you will make mistakes. But that is okay! Mistakes are actually good and can be a great learning tool in your homeschool!

If you are new to the Peaceful Nest Blog, welcome!

Be sure to read my top posts on parenting:

• Why Consistent Parenting Matters
• 12 Habits of Immensely Peaceful Moms
• 63 Mom Hacks That Are Pure Genius
• Connect With Your Child and Build Up Their Heart

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