How to Overcome Your Fear of Homeschooling

So you think you would like to homeschool your children or maybe even feel called by God to do so. I am assuming since you have found this article that you are feeling some kind of pull in this direction. Maybe your oldest is just now approaching school age and you’re leaning toward this option. Perhaps, for any number of reasons, you are considering pulling your child from a private or public school, but you have this internal fear of homeschooling.

Maybe you have actually already 100% made the decision, but something is bothering you. Despite your research, something is holding you back: FEAR. Fear is a powerful thing, especially when our children are involved! In this post, I want to walk beside you through this very real fear. Hopefully, by the end of this post, you feel equipped to overcome any fear of homeschooling you may have!

Let’s tackle some common fears associated with the decision to homeschool and some effective arguments to combat them.

If you’re short on time, here is a quick overview of the topics I’ll be covering!

#1 Fear of Homeschooling: Fear of Inadequacy

This fear is first on the list because it is perhaps the most debilitating. It’s possible that you may feel that you do not possess the knowledge to teach your children. Let’s address this fear! First, I would tell you that you do not have to have a comprehensive knowledge of everything you will teach! It is perfectly acceptable for you to be able to review the material, learn it first yourself, and then teach it to your children.

I considered myself a fairly good student in school, and this recently happened to me with my fifth grader. Yes, I said fifth grader! *shakes head* I mean, do you remember how to check addition, multiplication, and division problems by casting out nines??? Yeah, neither did I! So, I had to sit myself down and re-learn the concept so that I could then teach my son how to do it properly! No shame there! And bonus, as a life-long learner, I gained something from it as well!

You might say, yes, but things will become increasingly harder, and it just might pass my abilities! I don’t worry too much about this. The time may come when I don’t have the knowledge myself (did I mention I was horrible at geometry and I’m not sure I was much better at chemistry?), but there are other resources available to me as a homeschooler!

Video Curriculum

I could purchase a video curriculum with a master teacher to teach the lessons. There are various curriculums that offer this. One I am familiar with because I was grew up using it is Abeka Academy. Skilled teachers teaching the concepts and doing the experiments. Since you are there as well, you have the opportunity to refresh yourself along with them or maybe learn for the first time!

Homeschool Co-op

An additional resource in this area is a homeschool co-op! Many of these more advanced classes may be covered by another homeschooling mama who DOES have the knowledge to communicate this to your student. You have the social benefit that a co-op offers as well. It is a win-win situation! Highly recommend looking into this option if there is one available in your area.

Tutoring

One final option is the same route you might take if your child was struggling with a subject in a traditional school situation. A tutor! No shame here! Tutors can be so valuable to your struggling student and a relief to you as the overwhelmed teacher!

So, my friend, do not let this first homeschooling fear overcome you and keep you from taking this step your heart is feeling drawn to. You have options, and more than that, we have prayer and a God who can step in and fill in the places where we lack! He may use someone else to do that, and what an answer to prayer that can be!

#2 Fear of Homeschooling: Fear of Impatience

Additionally, you may experience another fear of homeschooling. You may fear that you do not have the patience to homeschool. Oh, my goodness, if you only knew the people that thought that homeschooling mamas possess unending patience! I suppose it is possible that some do, but I am here to tell you, they all do not! Ask me who…I mean how I know!

The fact is that some of us are naturally more patient than others. Some are more gentle and understanding than others. While I am not proud of all the times my frustration and impatience have gotten the better of me, it has happened more often than I would like to admit. I do not have patience with my children when they are not putting in good effort to understand a concept. I have great patience if I can see they are giving it all they have and are struggling to understand.

Patience is not something that comes naturally to me at all! It is a fruit of the Spirit, not of me! Therefore, if I am to be patient, I must seek the Spirit’s help and guidance. I fail to do this too often and when I forget, it is evident that I’ve forgotten to seek the Lord’s help in my weakness.

I tell you this from a vulnerable place to let you know that we are not all overflowing fountains of patience! Some of us are just the opposite and we fail too often! We seek forgiveness and move on from this realizing our need of the Patient Savior to make us who we need to be.

So, if this particular fear of homeschooling is overcoming you in your decision, put it to rest and give it to Jesus. You will probably fall short in this area, as we all do, and you will rise above it! Your children will thrive in spite of your weakness!

#3 Fear of Homeschooling: Fear of Opinions

This next fear is a tough one! Maybe you have those in your life who have very strong opinions about homeschooling. They can comprise a whole spectrum from “your kids will end up being unprepared for life and uneducated” to “your kids will never know how to hold a conversation in public.” Maybe their opinions involve pointing out your personal inadequacies and failures highlighting some of the other fears we’ve already discussed and how they will certainly mean the failure of your homeschooling journey.

I have a couple pieces of advice here. Firstly, put on your blinders and buy ear plugs. While talking through things can be beneficial, if you someone is continually dragging you down in something you are feeling strongly on your heart, tune them out. Listen to God and His voice alone.

Here’s why: you have been entrusted by God with the raising of YOUR children. They have not been. God has raised you up to bring these little ones up in the fear and knowledge of the Lord, NOT THEM! I’m not saying being unkind. Thank them kindly for their advice and then walk away, seeking the guidance of the only One whose opinion matters.

If He has called you to homeschool, He will be faithful to empower you to fulfill your calling, despite what others may say! Conversely, if this is not the route that you are supposed to take, you will hear His voice behind you showing you the way you should go instead. Do not let this third common fear of homeschooling ruin your journey!

#4 Fear of Homeschooling: Fear of Failure

The next fear we will tackle is a fear of failure. This can be such a big one! Can I alleviate this fear by saying something that might surprise you? You will fail. You absolutely will. Maybe you will pick a curriculum that is not a good fit or it might be that the brilliant schedule you knew would change everything for you just doesn’t. Maybe you just had an off year and your children did not make the progress you had hoped.

You will not succeed in every area, but that is nothing to be afraid of. Take every “failure” as a learning opportunity- a steppingstone along your pathway. Evaluate the “failure,” and decide what you should have done differently and set a new course. Because really, have you actually failed if you learned something from the experience that helped you in the future? Not really! Don’t let this doozy of a homeschooling fear get in your way!

#5 Fear of Homeschooling: Fear of the Future

The final fear of homeschooling that we will discuss is one that can take over any area of our lives really- fear of the future! As human beings, we have this desperate need to be able to plan for the future without the ability to see into it. As it relates to homeschooling, we feel like we need to make a forever decision, when the reality is that we should allow God to guide us from year to year. What if *fill in the blank* happens and we cannot continue to homeschool??? Then what? We panic at the thought! No, the reality is that whatever came to your mind may well happen, but that should not impede your decision today.

Maybe you are supposed to choose this journey for the next few years, and after that, there is another plan for your family. Who knows? You could not possibly know, but you can trust the One who does. You can trust and have peace that He is guiding you today. Don’t ever fear, because He will also guide you in your tomorrows. Since Jesus will always walk with us, even into the future, we don’t need to give place to this debilitating fear of homeschooling.

Concluding Thoughts

I hope that reading through this has given you the assurance and the confidence that you need to take that step forward in faith to the task that you are being called to. I would never pretend that everyone is called to homeschool, but since you are here, reading this article, I have to assume that your heart is being gently pulled in that direction. The fact that you are here is no mistake, and certainly not by chance. God knows exactly what we need, and He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7 CSB)

Let your trust in the leadership of God be greater than any fear of homeschooling you may have. He is faithful and He is leading you on! You can most definitely trust Him!

Want More Homeschooling Content?

Check out this post to hear more of our family’s story and our best reasons to homeschool!

Five of the Best Reasons to Homeschool – Life on Broomsage Hill

Let Me Know Your Thoughts!

Are you considering homeschooling your child? What doubts and fears have you struggled with? Let’s talk about those and how to overcome them. I want you to be able to walk on without fear of this journey! Maybe you are a veteran homeschooler and have some tools to add to our toolbelts! Please feel free to share in the comments!

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