Expect this to be a lifestyle. Homeschooling isn't just a way to educate your kids. It affects your whole family. Your attitude to learning is bound to be different than the mainstream and so will your lifestyle.
Expect to have a messier house. Let's face it. Families with kids in school have cleaner houses. There are levels of clean, certainly. But, whatever your level of cleanliness is now, it will probably go down with your kids home. However, when I started homeschooling, I read some wonderful hints in Manager's of their Homes about how to stay on top of the chores. More on that later.
Expect to be done A LOT sooner than your kids counterparts in traditional school. When my kids got Chicken Pox in January (just as we were making the decision to homeschool) and missed a week of school, I was astounded by how quickly and easily they got their day's work done. It just doesn't take that long, especially in the early elementary years.
Expect to find an abundance of homeschool programs you never knew exsisted. At least in my city, I continue to find all sorts of programs for homeschoolers. Zoos, museums, symphonies, any place that offers group tours, gymnastic/swim/dance places are just some of the places you'll find have programs during the day for homeschoolers. And many places that don't already have a program for homeschoolers, are happy to accomodate a group if you get one together for a tour or a class.
Expect to have to spend some time on discipline within your school environment. We put up a check-list in the hallway outside the bathroom. It had what each child was expected to do each morning/night. Then, we had a check-list by the school shelves to remind students what supplies they needed. This is because it was very disruptive to have 2, 3 or 4 kids coming to the table and then saying, "I forgot to brush my teeth." "Can I get a drink of water?" "I don't have my pencil." Once at the table, they were expected to sit and quietly work. Whining about work or laying on the table was not tolerated.
Expect to develop a mantra. Mine was, "Come to the table a willing student." I told my kids that Daddy and I were responsible for providing them with the tools to learn, their job was to come to the table a willing student. Whining, exhaling loudly, rolling their eyes, "laying" on the table are not signs of a willing student. Telling me "the book is wrong" is also frowned upon. It has happened a few times over 12 years, but really, the book is seldom wrong.
Expect to have an easier time if you tell them what you want them to do. In reference to what I mentioned above, I didn't like them coming to me and saying, "Mom, this book is wrong. This problem doesn't work." (said in an indignant, life-is-unfair tone of voice) Make sure to tell them what to say instead, "Mom, I'm having trouble with this problem." In other words, don't just tell your kids what not to do, tell them what you want them to do. I'm not saying that once I tell them what is acceptable, they never disappoint. But they will usually respond positively if they know what I want.
Expect to be questioned when you go out with your obviously school-aged kids during a school day. Believe it or not, this was my biggest challenge when I started. I was unprepared. I didn't think people would pay that much attention, but they do. When it's 11:00a.m. on a school day and you show up at the grocery store with your 4th grader, 3rd grader, kindergartener, and 2 year old, the cashier WILL say, "So, why are you kids off today?" And then my little guys would look at me with big eyes and I would sheepishly tell the cashier that we are homeschoolers. I'd almost whisper it...apologetically. I don't know what I was afraid of....an argument, a judgement? It would inevitably be followed with a myriad of questions that would keep me longer than I intended. Then, one day, it happened. We were making a "quick" trip to pick up juice boxes on our way to the zoo and the older boys said, "And, Mom, don't talk to anybody about homeschooling. Just say we have a day off." AND I DID! I lied. Right or wrong, we just didn't have time so I just smiled and said, "Oh some teacher meetings or something." Now, this was not my routine from then on. It just depended on whether I had time for the inquiry. More importantly, I learned to not sound so apologetic or embarrassed about homeschooling. How the parents feel about homeschooling will have a direct affect on how the kids will feel about it. So, at some point I started speaking up, with a smile on my face and declaring, "We homeschool!" You have my permission to fib if needs be and to be proud of your choice to homeschool.
Expect to be discouraged. But take heart; parents who send their kids to school experience this, too. We all get discouraged at times. It's important to reach out, seek support and re-evaluate with your spouse what's working and what isn't. As my kids grew, and certainly when baby #5 came along, the dynamics change and the family is different. What worked one year may need adjustment the next.
And that's my final expectation, expect to have to re-evaluate. I think I thought I would have a formula that worked and be done. I'm never done. Our family is always changing and each child is different. When I reach a point where I feel like things are getting difficult, I know it's time to re-evaluate what we are doing and make some changes.
My next post in this series will be on curriculum. Until then...blessings to you and your family.
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