I originally wanted to title this post “I thought I was doing a good job homeschooling until I joined Instagram.”
I joined Instagram last fall but didn’t really understand how to use it until a couple of months ago, when I decided it would be a good place to meet other homeschoolers and also share my blog. Now that I’ve been using Instagram, I love it, but I have noticed a not so pleasant feeling that bubbles up within me occasionally…
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Comparison Trap
When my son was two, we found out he was delayed in many areas. For that reason, I would sometimes find Facebook painful.
People posting all these things of what their kids were doing struck me like a dagger. It reminded me that my kid wasn’t up to par.
Thankfully God’s brought me a long way in this and I am continually growing in seeing my child through the lens of what he CAN do rather than what he can’t.
But these days, especially on Instagram, I struggle with comparisons of a different sort. A lot of what I see posted are ideas that I just love and can’t wait to try with my own kids.
See, I’m an opportunist, and Instagram allows me to see what hundreds of other homeschoolers are doing. So many cool opportunities!
However,
the excited opportunist in me +
my perfectionist tendencies of wanting to find the perfect learning opportunity +
endless opportunities = PARALYSIS.
And I find myself thinking I’m not doing enough in my homeschool and that I need to do things more like so an so (such a lie – not just for homeschool moms but ALL moms).
Also, I know most of the ideas in my feed won’t be enjoyed by my creative child, who tends to enjoy doing her own thing.
This got me thinking… I need to get back to our family basics and remember how we became outside the box learners.
Working your “Mom-Strengths” so you can thrive in your homeschool
As someone who totally believes in following kids’ passions to help them bloom, I’m realizing how much MY OWN passions and interests also matter in our homeschool.
When I’m excited about something, there is at least some interest from the kids. It’s contagious.
A few examples… I love doing crazy fun voices during read-aloud and therefore my kids generally enjoy read-aloud. Music moves me, and therefore if I sit down at the piano, my daughter will join me adding in harmonies in a higher key(that’s a real treat for me!). I’m a nature lover so I have an innate wonder of God’s creation that rubs off on my kids.
Craft extraordinaire I AM NOT. Thank goodness for subscription boxes! Our current box of choice is the Toucan Crate.
If I’m doing a special project or activity (that I’ve seen on Instagram or Pinterest) because I’m thinking my kids SHOULD like it, I often get pushback, and then I feel drained.
However, if I already enjoy something I don’t have to manufacture enthusiasm. I love the idea of hands-on projects but in reality, it’s not my strength. We still do crafty stuff just not every day. And usually, it’s if my kids request it.
Include things your kids love and what’s important to you.
If you’re enthusiastic about something there’s a strong chance that it might ignite interest in your kids.
Obviously, you still need to get the main things done (reading, writing, ‘rithmetic).
But include things you like, too…
Read a book (or two…. or ten!) that was a favorite from your own childhood.
Recognize what lights your fire and infuse some of that into your homeschool.
