This may be a universal fear among homeschooling moms: “With all of my shortcomings, how can I prepare my children for further academic and career success?” If this sounds like you, then I can relate! I am a history and geography teacher, and my sons are now in college majoring in engineering. How did this happen?!
Somewhat jokingly, I refer to this as a “homeschool miracle,” although I do acknowledge God’s hand at work in our homeschooling. This leads me to my first suggestion for how to support your kids’ passions when they are not your own.
1. Prayer
First of all, trust in the truth of God’s Word. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “’My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” When God calls you to homeschool, He will equip you for this task. He may guide you to teach something that you never thought you could, or He may lead you to other options for your family. Ask for His wisdom and equipping.
2. Outside resources
You don’t have to do this alone! There are many resources available to assist you in your homeschool journey. Online education, like the classes offered through Excelsior Classes, can give your child access to knowledgeable, gifted teachers who will partner with you in teaching those subjects that you may not feel comfortable teaching yourself. Another option is to find local classes through a co-op, educational “clubs,” or simply sharing teaching responsibilities with another homeschool mom. First Lego League was wonderful for this non-technically-minded mom! If you aren’t sure where to start looking for local classes or co-ops, HSLDA has provided links to support groups around the country.
3. Embrace lifelong learning
One of the beautiful things about homeschooling is that the parent can learn right along with his or her child! You don’t have to be an “expert” in a subject to teach it. Explore an unfamiliar subject with your child. When you run into questions, think about where to go to find the answers. Libraries are wonderful places, and the internet can provide access to many answers. (Of course, always approach online research with caution – not all sites are reputable, accurate, or appropriate.) Watching you continue to learn, even after you are all grown up, is a great example for your children and an encouragement for them to become lifelong learners.
There is no doubt that homeschooling your children is a great responsibility. But it really isn’t that difficult to support your children’s passions, even when you do not share them. Don’t be afraid – you can do this!
Susan Eggers loves learning about the past and the people of our world, and sharing that love with her students. She attended Wake Forest University as a William Louis Poteat scholar, where she earned her B. A. in History, graduating magna cum laude. Continuing her studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she received her M. A. in Russian history and completed additional hours of graduate coursework toward a Ph. D. While in graduate school, Susan received grants to conduct research in the Lenin Library and the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art in Moscow, the National Library and the Russian State Historical Archive in St. Petersburg, the Slavic and East European Library at the University of Illinois, and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. She has presented conference papers across the country and has published several articles on Russian history.
The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the author and should not be taken to represent the views of Excelsior Classes, LLC or the consortium of teachers.
