Thank you, thank you, thank you! I've always wanted to homeschool my kids and my husband never agreed with me. But now with the social distancing I've been homeschool the youngest one who is 4 years old because we don't want him having classes in front of a screen . I've been struggling with keeping the house clean, cooking, etc. I don't feel appreciated. So thank you so much!
You are molding your child’s future. The house will be there and don’t be afraid to gently ask your hubby for some encouragement and grace while you adjust to finding your new flow while incorporating such a large and important task into your lifestyle. Maybe ask him to take your little one for a walk or outside to play for a few hours on weekends so you can catch up. Tell him what’s important to him is important to you but you may need a little extra support until you find your grove. Also I found when we started after asking for so long that constantly saying how grateful I was for such an awesome opportunity and how happy it made me even when it was hard played a big part in my hubby softening towards the idea. Ps we’ve been homeschooling for 5 years now 😉 Your little one is so lucky to have a mom who wants to be there to guide their future and spend so much precious time with them 💕 you got this mama
Thank you for this encouraging video! I think you have the gift of encouragement for sure :-) I would say my hardest thing is Tantrums, followed by a close second of burnout😬 I taught in the public school for 13 years before I stayed home with my first baby. I got a late start at motherhood, LOL! I can tell you that homeschooling is even more stressful than teaching was for me because when you homeschool you never get any break or relief from the pressure and responsibilities. As a teacher, I could just send my kids home after 8 hours and their parents took care of all of their basic needs. As a homeschool mom you take care of EVERY need across the board!! And even though you have less children in your class than you would in public school, the intensity is ratcheted up about 150%, LOL! One child can feel like 25 children after being with them 24/7 for months on end😂😭😂😭 I think all homeschooling parents need to give themselves a gold star for effort! And probably some chocolate as well!! My favorite part of homeschooling is including our faith in every aspect of Education. I love seeing my daughter grow as a person academically, emotionally and spiritually💗 it is definitely a privilege to be able to homeschool!
You are spot on about how hectic it can be.i also love that moment when the child grasps something!!! We are learning phonetics with my 3 yr old. So when she remembers the sound of a letter, i feel like jumping!!😂
It's me again my struggle is that we are living in a small country in Europe where to be a homeschooling family is almost like you are doing a crime. It's legal but it's not supported by the government or even the people are not ok with this. I am forced to do most of the materials by myself, because ordering from USA is difficult and expensive, and our books and learning materials are awful. The best thing is that we have TH-cam, pinterest and internet 😂😂 so I can find the stuff that I need. Xoxo 💕
Aw I'm sorry it is not looked at favorably where you live. You are doing an amazing thing though. Good for you staying strong and taking initiative! The internet really can be a blessing in times like those. TH-cam and Pinterest really helped me in my early homeschool days.
Have you looked into Easy Peasy or Ambleside online? I believe both are supposed to be great for people overseas who may not have access to as many resources. I haven't used them, but hopefully you can find something that works!!
Whow I can so relate, we are expats and living on a island in the middle of nowhere. Homeschooling here is illegal for citizens but as expats we are allowed as long as your embassy is aware of you and approves homeschooling. I frequently got ( pre-covid) rude stares and even had people telling my kids that the police will come take them away because they are not going to school. I also understand the frustration with the limited resources we fly everything from SA ( or should I say we used to but the postal service are currently suspended) because I teach mainly in Afrikaans. I love Charlotte Masons philosophy but it is difficult if you do not have access to books so thank goodness for modern technology. A lovely resources I recently found and really enjoy is the Libraries of Hope from the Well Educated Heart . You can also download the app. It has been a game changer, I just wish we had something similar in my home language. Mabey you can have a look into it? Under the home is also a nice option. My biggest struggle is finding friends to relate with me. I hope you meet some lovely moms who homeschool and that you have a wonderful time in Europe. Xxxx
I feel you.. I'm from Italy and here homeschooling is not a thing..and when I mention that I'd like to homeschool my girl nobody knows what I am talking about and think the worse thing..especially for us loving in the countryside with a close mentality.. I haven't found a curriculum yet.. and I'm pretty sure it doesn't even exist an italian curriculum for homeschooling families... I really like tgatb if I.could choose an American curriculum..
When talking with moms who are thinking about homeschooling, I always mention that they, as the mom, are the best teacher for their children! For alll the reasons you mentioned and more ❤
I am a former public school teacher, and I totally agree with you! As much as I loved my students, their parents love them and know them even more. We are so fortunate to live in a time when there are so many excellent curriculums that parents can use. There are both paper pencil and Computer Resources for teaching our kids academics. And it's such a blessing if we can be there to teach them everything else like life skills, spiritual principles and how to be a decent human being😂 I would never discourage a parent from homeschooling if they felt that it was best for their child regardless of the parent's level of Education or training.
Wooooo I needed to see this today. Since the pandemic started last spring I go through good months and bad months of burnout and I’m currently in one of the bad months. SO nice to hear my thoughts validated through another homeschooling mama of two little girls. 🤯❤️ thank you for this!!
I really really enjoyed and appreciated this video! I really relate to the part about burn out and doing the same thing every day. I have a five year old and two year old and i love homeschooling but sometimes everything just feels so repetitive, homeschooling, housework, cooking, attending to my children's needs, my husbands needs, it never ends!! Thank you for sharing:)
I didn't know about burn out until in 2017. With my 2 older kiddos we homeschooled year round. Until one day I just felt drained. It took me 3 months to recover and I felt so guilty for not teaching as heavily as I use to until other homeschool mom's said they experienced the same and took the breaks when needed. Now we take a month or two a year to relax.
You nailed this! This is my first year of doing homeschooling and though I do have self doubt moments at least once a week lol, I could not see doing it any other way. I love that I get to see the moments when something finally clicks for my daughter. It really makes all those doubts float away.
I love being my kids' teacher. We have four kids and the oldest is five. I've been really sick the last three days so hubby did homeschool today with our kindergartner. It was so fun to watch. My husband was homeschooled so I feel like he could do better than I do. It was good to see his approach and tactics.
Thank you for this! There are definitely hard things, but I do agree that things are so worth it. This is our first year of homeschool and it has gone well! I love being able to take school out into nature. Also, we enjoy the freedom in scheduling. We generally finish all things before lunch, only school 4 days a week, and then schedule our school breaks so it has been wonderful! We are in a break week this week and it has been so refreshing!
YES! The scheduling part of it all is amazing. We are always so grateful for the flexibility we have with homeschooling. We are planning a long road trip soon and love that we'll be able to still do lessons on the road, or take the days off we want to.
I am greatful for this video. I have been feeling so off and like I’m failing and not enjoying homeschooling like I did before. I didn’t know how to say how I felt with words but you literally expressed my thoughts in such a thoughtful way. I agree I feel so blessed to have been able to be home with my babies ( 5 and 2) and to homeschool them but there are struggles. The biggest one for me that you listed is SELF DOUBT. I get in my head ALOT. The tantrums 😫😫 and the burn out. I appreciate the information on the curriculum. I need to select one for this fall! There is no greater satisfaction than knowing I’m my child’s biggest influence and that they are being taught in love and safety. Wishing you the best on your journey♥️
First time listener - excellent, I'm loving u already! It's very hard for me to kick the negative self talk & doubt.. thanks so much for so much info re starting homeschool
New subscriber here. Thank you for posting this video. I’m also a second gen homeschooler and boy oh boy is if tough when you are going through a difficult season to find support or encouragement or even just simple validation that these are all normal things that homeschool families go through. Being a single mom with a chronic illness and homeschooling 3 girls 7-15 I feel like every day at least one ball is just left on the floor and not even thrown in the mix to juggle. I’ve had to come to the realization that that’s ok and it’s what works for our family as long as the ball on the floor (task) is a different one each day. 🤪 I really appreciate you opening up the conversation on this topic and helping to remind us that we’re not alone. The struggle is real but without it I think the things we get to experience and that are so wonderful and rewarding about homeschooling wouldn’t be a fantastic. The rewards and that lightbulb moment really is what makes it all worth it. Well that and the time we get to spend together😉 My 9 year old daughter has struggled to read for such a long time and I was really feeling disheartened and then just 2 weeks ago she asked to show me something and was reading so beautifully with no help from a book that was full of facts and things I would never have dreamed of handing to her. Finding their passions really opens up so many doors. If my kids had been in public school or I had given up I would not have been there to see her flourish and grow. That aw ha moment is really what it’s all about and I wouldn’t trade all the struggles in the world to miss them💕 Thanks again 😁🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you for your lovely comment! I am so sorry you have a hard time finding people who understand and can validate your feelings in your situation. It is not an easy path to choose, but it is such a rewarding one. You sound like a strong mama with fierce girls. I wish you all the best!
Hi. I’m considering doing homeschool or unschooling with my son. He’ll be in 7th grade next year & has ADHD. I feel in my heart that this could be a much better path for him with learning, if I could somehow pull it together. But I fear that it’s too much. I also have a full time job that soon I’ll be going back to in person, and I have chronic health problems. This is why your comment spoke to me. I worry that with my health, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with it all. But I worry about that with public middle school, as well! We’ve struggled at times with distance learning. I know my son would probably behave better for a teacher than he does for me sometimes. But he’d also struggle with all the things he’s had difficulty with in school- like feeling like he’s not as smart as other kids, can’t do it, etc... We had a terrible teacher last year who really had a lasting effect on his self-worth & his feelings about learning. That’s what really started my desire to do this differently. Watching him lose his love of learning & start hating school, feeling badly about his ability to learn, etc- it breaks my heart & I must find a way to repair & change this! Not sure why I’m commenting but I appreciate you for sharing your experience & letting me know that moms are actually doing this, moms who have some of the same problems I do! I have so much respect for you for all you’re doing for your daughters!
@@silvergirl8581 firstly I commend you for wanting the best for your son and second I know so deeply how you feel! If I could hug you I would! That being said there will be time that it’s a struggle but you know him better than anyone else and that makes you the most qualified person on the planet to help him. When I first brought my oldest home at the end of 6th grade I did some assessments and she showed by state standards a second grade reading and math level of almost 2nd grade. I felt like my grandparents rolled over in their grave and at that point I found the point of no return. If I didn’t step in my daughters future would not be what she deserves nor would it reflect what she is truly capable of. She too struggled with self worth and felt like she was stupid, incapable and never going to change or grow. On that note this is the most important thing in the entire world to work on before going forward with anything else. Your child self worth directly affects their willingness to try and their ability to have grit and stick with it when things get hard. Helping repair that self worth will also build your relationship and trust from him and that is so important for behavior while doing homeschool. The next thing I think is most important (in my experience) is to focus on the basics. Reading, writing and arithmetic. If you’re state requires specific subjects use those subjects based on a topic your son enjoys to better develop and reenforce the basics. Example your son likes cars. Buy books, magazines, games and kits about cars. Read with him (no matter how old a child gets they love and benefit from being read to) have him read them. Just sit them out where he will find them at first and don’t force to much until that worth starts to come back a little. Give him things that are to easy. It builds confidence so fast same with words of encouragement!!! When they’re babies we get so excited over the littlest things they do and as they grow we loose that enthusiasm. Try to remember that. Back to my point. You can show him the history of cars and TH-cam videos are great for stuff too. Show him how they’re made and how they work. Buy him a model and build it. You now how the history and science covered but it’s about something he enjoys so it becomes less of a chore. Then get a piece of paper and ask him to write down what his favorite car is. What’s something he knows about cars that he thinks no one else knows or what he thinks everyone should know about cars. Tell him to write a comic book or story about cars. Now you covered writing and reading, science and history. Talk about how fast they go and how far does the car travel if it’s going miles and hour for x minutes. Now you have s corporates math. Or if you’re traveling 60mph and leave at 10am to go 500miles. What time do you arrive.... this is called a unit study or interest lead learning. If you need a guide for what topics to cover per grade look up I can statements for the grade your in and build around that. If you want a great curriculum for math look up learn math fast. This has worked and we have been through literally every single curriculum on the market including some for over a hundred years ago. My daughter started at the beginning and went through 3 years in less than 6 months. It’s not common core but it works for us and I don’t mind. You may feel differently. Please understand that some of this may apply and some may not be what you are looking for and that’s ok it’s the beauty of homeschooling but it’s what has worked for us so I figured I would throw it in there for you. Take what you need and leave the rest. Because my daughter was so so far behind (mind you when she finished 6th grade she had already been held back twice so this was extenuating circumstance) we had no choice but to focus only on what is the most important thing for her success and she has come so far so fast. We do still have days when she gets down on herself and has doubts but I always do my best to focus on increasing her self worth and telling her that it’s ok to step away and come back tomorrow as long as it doesn’t become an excuse or bad habit but rather a tool to learn how she can be most successful when she is at her peak. Don’t forget the basics, sleep, food, exercise and love. When these struggle so do our kids and it’s the number cause of pushback in our homeschool😉 Last but not least the hard work doesn’t take to much time. The real sit down and read write and math only takes about 2hours and the rest of our time is spent exploring topics we find interesting or with independent reading. You will do fine with work and homeschool. Ps we do school in the evenings a lot because it’s when I feel at my best and most capable with my own health issues. Last but not least. The couch is your best friend. I teach from the couch and I have built a shelf off the back of my couch so days when I really just feel like 💩 I can stay put and have my kids gather around me. Crock pot is my best friend and my kids do house work for life skills school credit and well because let’s face it I’m only one person😉 You are strong and you will figure this out. Remember above all to find your why before you start. Write it down and hang it on the wall where you will see it every day because when you have hard days or hard seasons you are going to need to remember why this was so important to you. Your son is so so lucky to have a mom who cares so much that she’s willing to find a way when it feels so hard to help her son not only grow but thrive in life! You got this mama
@@TinyFitz Thank you SO much for taking the time to respond & offer so much help & encouragement! I truly appreciate all your suggestions & I will use them! The way you laid out using cars as an example for teaching all subjects was extremely helpful. I will look into that math program, too- it sounds like exactly what we need. It helps to hear how you are making this work & the amazing difference it’s making for your girls. Especially how you do it while dealing with health issues. That is so hard & I think only those of us who are dealing with it can really understand the impact it makes on your whole life. I struggle with the guilt of knowing the mom I WOULD be, if I was healthy & strong. But I know I have to get over that & just keep doing the best I can. I have to trust myself that I know what’s best for my son & we will find a way to make it work. Your support really helps a lot with that. Knowing that you’ve done such an amazing thing, it helps me to believe I can do it, too. And however it works for us is ok! I will remember your strategies & words of encouragement. The couch is my “best friend,” lol! Yes!! Thank you so, so much for all of this! It warms my heart to see moms support one another. I’m sure we’ve all experienced the opposite of that from other mothers & teachers- at least I have! Having health problems had made me look like a terrible, lazy mom in the eyes of others many times, which is painful to deal with. Even when I know it’s not the truth & I know they don’t understand how much harder it is to parent when you feel awful all the time! So thank you again for being so supportive & sharing your experience & wisdom. It really means a lot!!! Bless you & your girls. Thank you for helping me trust & believe in myself.
@@silvergirl8581 when you have a chronic illness or health issues you tend to go through a grief period of loosing your health. It can be hard but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You will learn to adapt and find a Rhythm that works for you. Actually I forgot to mention, have a sick day plan. Something like learning from video tutorials or having your son read you a book that you both enjoy. An art day of sketching or even just take a day once in a while. That’s ok because natural learning happens too and if you have a plan laid out ahead of time (even a project your son is working on that he can do on his own) you will be ok and not feel guilty about needing to take care of yourself. Always remember above all else that there is a large difference between self care and laziness. People with no experience with health issues don’t understand that. That’s ok. You have to do what is right for you and your son. Sometimes that means that you have to take it easy and take care of yourself. If you push to hard you can make down time need take longer. Listen to your body and don’t fight it. You have to take care of yourself before you can effectively take care of others. Think of it like being on a plane. When the oxygen drops from the ceiling you put your mask on before helping others because if you pass out your no good to anyone. Side note look up the spoon theory by Christine Miserandino. It’s a short read but will not only help you convey to others what chronic illness is like it will also help remind you that you are not alone and there are many many people who do understand. You are an amazing person and a strong one at that. What people don’t realize is if they walked a mile in your shoes they would probably just give up. Your story is your story and no one has the right to judge you or speak light of what they don’t understand. Be of strong mind because no one has taken that away from you💕
Its amazing how similar those girls are lol. It takes a lot out of mama though. You've got this girl. You're an amazing mom and I definitely look up to you and your parenting skills!
I'm in Michigan too! We are new to homeschooling this year starting at the beginning of the 2020 school year. I'm a mom of 3 (1st grade, pre-k, and 2.5 year old). We looked into TGTB before but decided to use Bookshark. I'm already planning on next year since I don't see things improving next year for us in our district at least. I just purchased TGTB LA K for my middle child who would be starting K this fall. I'm excited to try it out for a change if nothing else and find your videos so inspiring!
Well we’re new, just started homeschooling in August....but so far the hardest part is switching between mom and teacher. We have older kids, so on top of doing school work, I’m on them about chores and attitudes. My oldest son (12) has a really hard time respecting my role as teacher. There’s just so much to deal with in a day.
I had a similar experience last year which was our first year. I would say that the second year has been much better as far as my daughter seeing my role as not only her mom but also her teacher. It's just a big adjustment for us and for our kiddos. Hang in there mama!! Give yourself Grace, and pat yourself on the back for teaching your kids all the things, both academically and in developing them as people👍
@@ginamcgrew9955 thank you💕 I think it’s hard too because of the whole covid school closure thing. Normalcy was just ripped from them. They still have the mindset (and talk as if) they’re going back next year. My 6yo just asked me today if she’ll have show and tell in her “real” class😔 So, all things considered, it is a rough adjustment. But that doesn’t make me feel any better!!
Same here I’m very grateful to be part of homeschooling my children but it can get hectic as you said lol 😂 i would say the most difficult part in my case is when I have to help two kids that are in different grades and I basically have to split my self lol and on top of that getting breakfast lunch dinner ready and chores 😅 talk about burning out 😆 but when I see how they succeed in their studies and knowing that I was part of it , it’s just so rewarding 💕
your comment resonates with me so much! My girls being in different grades can sometimes wear me thin. Plus all the meals and chores. Sheesh. Its definitely worth it, but your overwhelmed feelings are valid and ok!
Most difficult part for me is that wanting to be alone and child free for a few hours a week is unattainable because I wanted to be a mom and it's a 24 hour job with no breaks but that's what I asked for 😑
Get Hubby (and maybe a relative sometimes) to help you out... A weekly break can be a huge help. Maybe it's just 2 hours but it's the same time the same day every week. Have a conversation see if you can make it happen.
I know what you mean about needing some child free time. as long as we're moms, it's a full time job. But that doesn't mean we can't crave time away from our kids. We love them fiercely but also desire time away. I hope you can find someone close to help you out. Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends and family!
We struggle with focusing on a task. Daydreaming and spacing out with my kindergartener happens often and it’s pretty excessive. Drives me batty 🤦🏻♀️😂
The hardest thing for me is being 100% positive that homeschool (vs private/public) is the best thing for my kids. Yeah I love it and want to do it forever but this is our first year and with covid it’s hard to know what it would be like otherwise. My kids are SO SOCIAL and I just feel bad not having them around a bunch of kids all the time. I know my daughter in particular would love being in a class of peers, but she just hasn’t experienced that yet. So, I just want o be positive it is the best option for her. So much doubting and questioning on my part about what to do next year.
Omg!!! Its like you read my mind of all the things Im thinking about how to start homeschooling, my doubts to myself I feel lost! I wanted my child to go to school but this year doesnt look like it will be okay.
That is how I feel now. I am over schedule. And my kids are in public school. I wander if this will change when I start our homeschool education. But I think that homeschool gives you more opportunity to work with relationships you have at home and that in a time gives you a much more help from your children when it is go to home chores. We are actually find out that family is a team and each player can play their role to make it more smooth and easy for all of you. It is just this understanding. A public education make my older child a bit off from all home chores as she constantly do her homework 😱 or she want to do her stuff and after coming back from school it is not much time left for that 🤷♀️. So in a fact we are all sometimes over scheduled no matter if you homeschool or no. Thanks for sharing and take care, have a little break.
Im a pre school teacher but have doubted if I could teach my kids thruout. We love the good and the beautiful!!! Going to the playground or a hike is PE. My kids help wiv chores and do chores but no1 as a job in the house unless they choose it’s their job and all the chores get done.
You are amazing. Thank you for every single video. I can't go to bed without video from your channel. Some of your videos I watched 3 or four times. I am now starting my journey with both of my boys and I am glad that I found your channel for motivation and guidance. Love ya 🥰
I would say my most hectic is actually gwtting my 5yo to sit down somewhere to get the schoolwork done lol (he always just wants to play) and I agree with that ahha moment, love seeing my son finally enjoy / get excited about a lesson too. This is our first year homeschooling, hopefully next year is a little smooter. Thanks for sharing!
I am planning on homeschooling and I just feel like the hardest part is ALWAYS being around my kids. Not that I don't love them, but that's hard. I have stayed home with them, and I'm like, okay, can I really handle being with my kids all day every day? And I do get breaks, bet still. It's not like parents who's kids go to public school and they go to work away from them. And I'm not saying that is easy or that it doesn't also have it's struggles- I know it does!! But just the thought of, ok me and my kids are going to always be around each other. Can I do that without going crazy?🤪 I love them. But sometimes you need alone time and adult time!! But anyway, I know it is a blessing to be able to homeschool, and that's just the reality of life. Everything always has some kind of challenge attached to it. So, just have to find a good babysitter, find ways to get breaks. But yeah, that can be hard.
Great video 🙂 how much time do you homeschool each kid? When do you know its enough of a particular subject? Or are the lessons of good & beautiful enough to a stop point. What do you do on weekends with the kids. Can you also make a video on what are the other extra curricular activities you do besides school work. Thanks for your time ..
This is actually the first time I’ve ever heard of tantrums being a thing with school age kids. I don’t remember kids throwing tantrums when I was a kid in public school, and my kids never did. My oldest kids are teens now. Could this be due to pressuring kids too much now at too young an age to perform academically? I always used a Waldorf/Charlotte Mason approach with short lessons and lots of free imaginative play. Take the time to fix behavior before working on academics. There’s no hurry.
@@nkechineptune6543 I’m sure that is true, but a couple decades back this personality trait wasn’t a thing, so just wondering what has changed. Ask people who went to public school in the 80s if they were enduring tantrums from their classmates. I bet you won’t find many. We got in trouble for passing notes, talking too much, spitballs, 😆 no body was melting down. But our kindergarten curriculum resembled preschool of today - shapes, colors, the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, music, art, story time, recess...
I think the reason a lot of children don't throw tantrums, or didn't back then in public schools is because children save their most vulnerable moments for the people they're the most comfortable with. A tantrum of a young 3 year old child who is hungry or tired and doesn't have the capacity to express it besides crying is showing their most vulnerable side of themselves and expecting their parent to be the comfortable place. in public schools, young kids aren't being taught by their parents, their most trusted loved one. Imagine you've had the absolute worst day and just need to vent about it. You wouldn't vent to any stranger you feel uncomfortable around, you'd let your emotions out around someone you care for who you know cares for you as well. This is my view on how tantrums happen and why they happen most often with parents than others.
@@BrittanyLynnHomeschool That makes sense. I think a tantrum at three is very different than a tantrum at six though. I would view three as the cut off age for that kind of behavior unless there is a disability at play. If people are talking about working with a three year old on academics, I would advise against. Sometimes young children throw tantrums for good reasons. :)
Wonderful video! Exactly what we are going through in my household with three kiddos 4 yrs old & under plus a newborn! Everyone seems to be on a different schedule & eating all the time! But I'm passionate about homeschooling & will continue. The toughest part is finding the right schedule/ flow to our school day. There isn't enough time in the days to get everything accomplished! I've been considering investing in a curriculum for pre-K & kindergarten, but want something non-religious and requires no computer? Something that will grow with them as well.....Could anyone suggest something out there? Would love to hear from you! Thank you Brittany for your passionate motivational mommy channel! Your a wonder woman!!!!
How do you get your young one to get into the mindset of sitting down to learn? My little girl just wants to run around and do anything but learn . It gets exhausting😅.
Can you make the lesson a game that is active? I don’t have kids but I teach Kindergarten Bible and I find they are least likely to listen if I want them so sit for more than 10min. I try to make my lesson interactive by making the kids part of the story or a physical game if I am trying to get them to memorize. Everyone has a different learning style, maybe your daughter learns kinesthetically and really can’t focus by sitting down
I love this video! Thanks for the honesty! I am going to begin homeschooling in August with kindergarten for my 5 year old. For the difficult parts, is socialization one of them for you at all? My son is in church and rec sports, but I worry that isn’t enough. I like worry so much I lose sleep at night about it! I don’t know anyone else in my area that homeschools. Oh choosing curriculum seems so overwhelming too! 🤯
I don't worry about socialization whatsoever. and my kids aren't in regular activities. especially because nearly everything is closed with the pandemic going on. it sounds like your son being involved in church and rec sports is totally enough! kids can socialize with anyone. Whoever they're around, adults, older kids, younger kids, same aged kids. Don't lose sleep over it! You've got this and you're already doing a great job! All the choices out there for curriculum cam be overwhelming too. Make a list of your priorities in a curriculum. Thats a great place to start!
I’m not sure why but the audio is kind of scratchy in this one. Not trying to sound negative just giving a heads up. Love your videos !! Thank you for sharing !
Brittany, Thank you so much for sharing your videos. I watch all your videos and they inspire me. I’m a stay home mom and I have two boys that I’ve been homeschooling. A 22 month old and a 3 year old. They keep me busy. It’s difficult trying to get the two to sit down and do their assignments, but I manage to get some work done during the day. At times I wonder am I doing this right? I’m still lost at times. I don’t follow a curriculum, but after a year of working with them I’m still trying to find my niche. I can say they are learning especially when I hear them recognize words, numbers and letters that I’ve taught them. So I feel good about that, but I still doubt myself. I’m starting to teach my 3 year old how to write his letters which is a mission since he do not like to sit still. How do you manage to get your girls to sit down and do their assignments?? Lol I mainly use flash cards, sensory bins, color/ doodle and I read to them. I’m trying to get into hands on activities. Where I get them to do actual assignments on paper. Where they work on their penmanship. Any suggestions? I’m very impressed as to how you get your girls to sit and do their assignments.
Sounds like homeschooling and working from home full time won’t work, even with a clean-freak husband who likes to clean, cook and do laundry himself… I’m scared… I’ll have to pray on it a little further… I may have to stop working for a handful of yrs… I’d hate to put such pressure on my husband in a world where 2-income households is the expectation from employers…
I can understand. My husband and I had a lot of the same worries before we had our first daughter. We were definitely reliant on both our incomes for a long time. We prayed and eventually decided I should quit to stay home and homeschool and we would make things work. I pray you find an answer that will work for your family!
Homeschooling is not for everyone sadly- as parenthood is not for everyone- not to mention extreme cases from the news... just from my area there is a mother that really struggles Just to play with her child and she gets help from her parents, from social workers , psychology...And she still struggles and feels she needs help ... however - in a more positive side , yes I do believe that the parents (functioning) are the best carers and teachers of their kids. I was an elementary school teacher- and yhe majority of the kids who didn’t grasp the subjects learned at school were the ones whose parents did give extra personal help/tutoring. And the ones who were good /advanced were the ones whose parents took time to tutor and help with school work. Because yes it is a lot 30 kids in. Class in comparison to one child (or some more) and a parent. I enjoy being with my girl, giving her lots of free time to be out in the air/ open space/playground. Which she wouldn’t get if she was in a kindergarten . It is difficult to be alone many times- my husband works . And I don’t drive and live near my parents. It is just this the need for a company next to me , which can motivate me, it gives me energy. But in general I it ok. I do try to keep regular playdates for my daughter with friends she is already familiar on a daily basis if possible. And I also get to be with the friends mom and spent a bit time chatting with her.
@@BrittanyLynnHomeschool it definitely did! Having a child with delays it’s easy to get caught up in what they are struggling with. Hearing I know what’s best for him then teacher that are focusing on a lot of other kids is 110% what I needed to hear. I know it’s true and I tell myself that all the time but sometimes you need to hear someone tell you that you are doing the right thing.
Hey Brittany! Fellow homeschool mama friend from NC! I always look forward to your videos 😘 question about the mix-up option (your number 4 topic)...when you choose to do ELA maybe 3 days a week and math 2 days a week...do you “double-up” on those subject areas on those days? That is as as clear as mud. I hope that makes sense...hahahahaha!
Thats a great question. I don’t double up on lessons when we’ve had weeks like that of mixing it up. We try to focus more on not overwhelming the kids. I’m sure there are some kinds who could double up on lessons, but not mine! Lol
Hi am finding difficult to get my 4.5 year old daughter to learn sight words, phonics. She is finding it overwhelming and not willing to learn even after multiple attempts. Sometimes she is interested and grasps words. How can I make it fun so that she will be enjoying the learning time. I made some flash cards and planning to make some worksheets. I put a star on her hand whenever she reads well. Pls suggest what else can I do. Thanks.
Moms of multiple children that go to public school go thru burnout too. Especially in countries where they have to get their kids from school for lunch, often from multiple schools on different schedules.
oh wow! I can imagine that is very tough. I know moms of all different lifestyles experience burn out. It's the hectic, constantly busy, never catching up type of feeling. That sounds like quite a juggling act.
@@BrittanyLynnHomeschool thank you for your kindness. Yes, it's what you described, the hectic never catching up feeling. And when the come home from school at the end of the day they still have to do homework but I also need to make dinner at that time. Last year when we first got locked down due to Covid it was such a relief! Holding my 2yo without having to look at the clock, living life more organicaly and not constantly pushing myself, forcing myself to hurry and be on time for something. It felt like heaven. My kids loved it too.
Hello from a homeschooling Mom from South Africa. I enjoy homeschooling videos. Please help me out ...How big is that white board? Trying to buy one online but not sure what size but that one looks like the perfect size.
I can totally relate. My 3 year old is very strong willed too. I love watching your videos and I wonder sometimes how does she do it... For example, my daughter is currently doing letter sounds and sometimes she doesn't want to so how do I continue to get her to do it everyday? Like I've seen how much your eldest knows but, I struggle with how much I can get to do with her and I don't want to suck the joy out of it for her and discourage her because it needs to be done. I work from home and I'm trying to get some learning stuff in too. She will tell me no letter sounds mommy... I had this question in my head the other day but now I have no clue how to ask it .........
I can totally relate. I have strong willed 4 year old by. For us, having a Plan B helps tremendously. On days where he fights it, we talk about why and maybe head outside. count river rocks do letter sounds while collecting eggs, leaves, rocks, etc. I have to take a deep breath sometimes and remember there will be a huge review on everything 4K when we start 5K.
Giving options helps a lot! So, if there is a specific letter sound activity she doesn't like, maybe find some other ways to teach the same thing and offer the option. My girls really thrive when they're involved. Even picking which to do first.
I always thought people do homeschool couse they want kids to have more fun and movement and letting kids being more independent and individual. What I see here is nothing else than 1:1 tuition and looks simply boring. You are definitely doing good job, girls are smart and picking up quickly. Its nothing against you. I'm just bit disappointed as I was expecting something more from homeschooling or my concept was totally different:/ I'm about to start homeschooling and looking for ideas.
Homeschooling does give people the opportunity to let kids have more fun and freedom with their days. What I show on social media is a fraction of what goes on in our days. Being a homeschooler means being able to focus on what your children need specifically and not fit into a box that anyone else places on you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I've always wanted to homeschool my kids and my husband never agreed with me. But now with the social distancing I've been homeschool the youngest one who is 4 years old because we don't want him having classes in front of a screen .
I've been struggling with keeping the house clean, cooking, etc. I don't feel appreciated.
So thank you so much!
You are molding your child’s future. The house will be there and don’t be afraid to gently ask your hubby for some encouragement and grace while you adjust to finding your new flow while incorporating such a large and important task into your lifestyle. Maybe ask him to take your little one for a walk or outside to play for a few hours on weekends so you can catch up. Tell him what’s important to him is important to you but you may need a little extra support until you find your grove. Also I found when we started after asking for so long that constantly saying how grateful I was for such an awesome opportunity and how happy it made me even when it was hard played a big part in my hubby softening towards the idea. Ps we’ve been homeschooling for 5 years now 😉
Your little one is so lucky to have a mom who wants to be there to guide their future and spend so much precious time with them 💕 you got this mama
Thank you for this encouraging video! I think you have the gift of encouragement for sure :-) I would say my hardest thing is Tantrums, followed by a close second of burnout😬 I taught in the public school for 13 years before I stayed home with my first baby. I got a late start at motherhood, LOL! I can tell you that homeschooling is even more stressful than teaching was for me because when you homeschool you never get any break or relief from the pressure and responsibilities. As a teacher, I could just send my kids home after 8 hours and their parents took care of all of their basic needs. As a homeschool mom you take care of EVERY need across the board!! And even though you have less children in your class than you would in public school, the intensity is ratcheted up about 150%, LOL! One child can feel like 25 children after being with them 24/7 for months on end😂😭😂😭 I think all homeschooling parents need to give themselves a gold star for effort! And probably some chocolate as well!! My favorite part of homeschooling is including our faith in every aspect of Education. I love seeing my daughter grow as a person academically, emotionally and spiritually💗 it is definitely a privilege to be able to homeschool!
You are spot on about how hectic it can be.i also love that moment when the child grasps something!!! We are learning phonetics with my 3 yr old. So when she remembers the sound of a letter, i feel like jumping!!😂
YES!! isn't that just the best? I love it too!
It's me again my struggle is that we are living in a small country in Europe where to be a homeschooling family is almost like you are doing a crime. It's legal but it's not supported by the government or even the people are not ok with this. I am forced to do most of the materials by myself, because ordering from USA is difficult and expensive, and our books and learning materials are awful. The best thing is that we have TH-cam, pinterest and internet 😂😂 so I can find the stuff that I need. Xoxo 💕
Aw I'm sorry it is not looked at favorably where you live. You are doing an amazing thing though. Good for you staying strong and taking initiative! The internet really can be a blessing in times like those. TH-cam and Pinterest really helped me in my early homeschool days.
Have you looked into Easy Peasy or Ambleside online? I believe both are supposed to be great for people overseas who may not have access to as many resources. I haven't used them, but hopefully you can find something that works!!
You are an amazing mother! Keep doing what you’re doing no matter the opposition. God bless you
Whow I can so relate, we are expats and living on a island in the middle of nowhere. Homeschooling here is illegal for citizens but as expats we are allowed as long as your embassy is aware of you and approves homeschooling. I frequently got ( pre-covid) rude stares and even had people telling my kids that the police will come take them away because they are not going to school.
I also understand the frustration with the limited resources we fly everything from SA ( or should I say we used to but the postal service are currently suspended) because I teach mainly in Afrikaans. I love Charlotte Masons philosophy but it is difficult if you do not have access to books so thank goodness for modern technology.
A lovely resources I recently found and really enjoy is the Libraries of Hope from the Well Educated Heart . You can also download the app. It has been a game changer, I just wish we had something similar in my home language. Mabey you can have a look into it? Under the home is also a nice option.
My biggest struggle is finding friends to relate with me. I hope you meet some lovely moms who homeschool and that you have a wonderful time in Europe.
Xxxx
I feel you.. I'm from Italy and here homeschooling is not a thing..and when I mention that I'd like to homeschool my girl nobody knows what I am talking about and think the worse thing..especially for us loving in the countryside with a close mentality.. I haven't found a curriculum yet.. and I'm pretty sure it doesn't even exist an italian curriculum for homeschooling families... I really like tgatb if I.could choose an American curriculum..
When talking with moms who are thinking about homeschooling, I always mention that they, as the mom, are the best teacher for their children! For alll the reasons you mentioned and more ❤
Good for you! Lifting up others to know their true potential🥰
I am a former public school teacher, and I totally agree with you! As much as I loved my students, their parents love them and know them even more. We are so fortunate to live in a time when there are so many excellent curriculums that parents can use. There are both paper pencil and Computer Resources for teaching our kids academics. And it's such a blessing if we can be there to teach them everything else like life skills, spiritual principles and how to be a decent human being😂 I would never discourage a parent from homeschooling if they felt that it was best for their child regardless of the parent's level of Education or training.
Wooooo I needed to see this today. Since the pandemic started last spring I go through good months and bad months of burnout and I’m currently in one of the bad months. SO nice to hear my thoughts validated through another homeschooling mama of two little girls. 🤯❤️ thank you for this!!
You're so welcome! We've had like 2 bad months. So, I get it! Its full of ups and downs like the rest of life!
This has been a rough month for us too! You are not alone. Hang in there Mama!
I really really enjoyed and appreciated this video! I really relate to the part about burn out and doing the same thing every day. I have a five year old and two year old and i love homeschooling but sometimes everything just feels so repetitive, homeschooling, housework, cooking, attending to my children's needs, my husbands needs, it never ends!! Thank you for sharing:)
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes you're definitely not alone in the burn out. We all feel it and it can be a struggle to get out.
I didn't know about burn out until in 2017. With my 2 older kiddos we homeschooled year round. Until one day I just felt drained. It took me 3 months to recover and I felt so guilty for not teaching as heavily as I use to until other homeschool mom's said they experienced the same and took the breaks when needed. Now we take a month or two a year to relax.
oh wow! I'm glad you had that other mom friend to confide in and realize we all deal with it. It can really be a lot! Breaks are necessary.
You nailed this! This is my first year of doing homeschooling and though I do have self doubt moments at least once a week lol, I could not see doing it any other way. I love that I get to see the moments when something finally clicks for my daughter. It really makes all those doubts float away.
It is really tough. But you're right, the benefits are so worth it!
I love being my kids' teacher. We have four kids and the oldest is five. I've been really sick the last three days so hubby did homeschool today with our kindergartner. It was so fun to watch. My husband was homeschooled so I feel like he could do better than I do. It was good to see his approach and tactics.
Thank you for this! There are definitely hard things, but I do agree that things are so worth it. This is our first year of homeschool and it has gone well! I love being able to take school out into nature. Also, we enjoy the freedom in scheduling. We generally finish all things before lunch, only school 4 days a week, and then schedule our school breaks so it has been wonderful! We are in a break week this week and it has been so refreshing!
YES! The scheduling part of it all is amazing. We are always so grateful for the flexibility we have with homeschooling. We are planning a long road trip soon and love that we'll be able to still do lessons on the road, or take the days off we want to.
I am greatful for this video. I have been feeling so off and like I’m failing and not enjoying homeschooling like I did before. I didn’t know how to say how I felt with words but you literally expressed my thoughts in such a thoughtful way. I agree I feel so blessed to have been able to be home with my babies ( 5 and 2) and to homeschool them but there are struggles. The biggest one for me that you listed is SELF DOUBT. I get in my head ALOT. The tantrums 😫😫 and the burn out. I appreciate the information on the curriculum. I need to select one for this fall! There is no greater satisfaction than knowing I’m my child’s biggest influence and that they are being taught in love and safety. Wishing you the best on your journey♥️
First time listener - excellent, I'm loving u already! It's very hard for me to kick the negative self talk & doubt.. thanks so much for so much info re starting homeschool
Aw I'm so happy to have you here in this space! I know that self talk and doubt is a tough one to overcome too. You've got this!
New subscriber here. Thank you for posting this video. I’m also a second gen homeschooler and boy oh boy is if tough when you are going through a difficult season to find support or encouragement or even just simple validation that these are all normal things that homeschool families go through. Being a single mom with a chronic illness and homeschooling 3 girls 7-15 I feel like every day at least one ball is just left on the floor and not even thrown in the mix to juggle. I’ve had to come to the realization that that’s ok and it’s what works for our family as long as the ball on the floor (task) is a different one each day. 🤪
I really appreciate you opening up the conversation on this topic and helping to remind us that we’re not alone. The struggle is real but without it I think the things we get to experience and that are so wonderful and rewarding about homeschooling wouldn’t be a fantastic. The rewards and that lightbulb moment really is what makes it all worth it. Well that and the time we get to spend together😉
My 9 year old daughter has struggled to read for such a long time and I was really feeling disheartened and then just 2 weeks ago she asked to show me something and was reading so beautifully with no help from a book that was full of facts and things I would never have dreamed of handing to her. Finding their passions really opens up so many doors. If my kids had been in public school or I had given up I would not have been there to see her flourish and grow. That aw ha moment is really what it’s all about and I wouldn’t trade all the struggles in the world to miss them💕
Thanks again 😁🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you for your lovely comment! I am so sorry you have a hard time finding people who understand and can validate your feelings in your situation. It is not an easy path to choose, but it is such a rewarding one. You sound like a strong mama with fierce girls. I wish you all the best!
Hi. I’m considering doing homeschool or unschooling with my son. He’ll be in 7th grade next year & has ADHD. I feel in my heart that this could be a much better path for him with learning, if I could somehow pull it together. But I fear that it’s too much. I also have a full time job that soon I’ll be going back to in person, and I have chronic health problems. This is why your comment spoke to me. I worry that with my health, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with it all. But I worry about that with public middle school, as well! We’ve struggled at times with distance learning. I know my son would probably behave better for a teacher than he does for me sometimes. But he’d also struggle with all the things he’s had difficulty with in school- like feeling like he’s not as smart as other kids, can’t do it, etc... We had a terrible teacher last year who really had a lasting effect on his self-worth & his feelings about learning. That’s what really started my desire to do this differently. Watching him lose his love of learning & start hating school, feeling badly about his ability to learn, etc- it breaks my heart & I must find a way to repair & change this! Not sure why I’m commenting but I appreciate you for sharing your experience & letting me know that moms are actually doing this, moms who have some of the same problems I do! I have so much respect for you for all you’re doing for your daughters!
@@silvergirl8581 firstly I commend you for wanting the best for your son and second I know so deeply how you feel! If I could hug you I would! That being said there will be time that it’s a struggle but you know him better than anyone else and that makes you the most qualified person on the planet to help him. When I first brought my oldest home at the end of 6th grade I did some assessments and she showed by state standards a second grade reading and math level of almost 2nd grade. I felt like my grandparents rolled over in their grave and at that point I found the point of no return. If I didn’t step in my daughters future would not be what she deserves nor would it reflect what she is truly capable of. She too struggled with self worth and felt like she was stupid, incapable and never going to change or grow. On that note this is the most important thing in the entire world to work on before going forward with anything else.
Your child self worth directly affects their willingness to try and their ability to have grit and stick with it when things get hard. Helping repair that self worth will also build your relationship and trust from him and that is so important for behavior while doing homeschool.
The next thing I think is most important (in my experience) is to focus on the basics. Reading, writing and arithmetic. If you’re state requires specific subjects use those subjects based on a topic your son enjoys to better develop and reenforce the basics. Example your son likes cars. Buy books, magazines, games and kits about cars. Read with him (no matter how old a child gets they love and benefit from being read to) have him read them. Just sit them out where he will find them at first and don’t force to much until that worth starts to come back a little. Give him things that are to easy. It builds confidence so fast same with words of encouragement!!!
When they’re babies we get so excited over the littlest things they do and as they grow we loose that enthusiasm. Try to remember that.
Back to my point. You can show him the history of cars and TH-cam videos are great for stuff too. Show him how they’re made and how they work. Buy him a model and build it. You now how the history and science covered but it’s about something he enjoys so it becomes less of a chore. Then get a piece of paper and ask him to write down what his favorite car is. What’s something he knows about cars that he thinks no one else knows or what he thinks everyone should know about cars. Tell him to write a comic book or story about cars. Now you covered writing and reading, science and history. Talk about how fast they go and how far does the car travel if it’s going miles and hour for x minutes. Now you have s corporates math. Or if you’re traveling 60mph and leave at 10am to go 500miles. What time do you arrive.... this is called a unit study or interest lead learning. If you need a guide for what topics to cover per grade look up I can statements for the grade your in and build around that. If you want a great curriculum for math look up learn math fast. This has worked and we have been through literally every single curriculum on the market including some for over a hundred years ago. My daughter started at the beginning and went through 3 years in less than 6 months. It’s not common core but it works for us and I don’t mind. You may feel differently.
Please understand that some of this may apply and some may not be what you are looking for and that’s ok it’s the beauty of homeschooling but it’s what has worked for us so I figured I would throw it in there for you. Take what you need and leave the rest. Because my daughter was so so far behind (mind you when she finished 6th grade she had already been held back twice so this was extenuating circumstance) we had no choice but to focus only on what is the most important thing for her success and she has come so far so fast. We do still have days when she gets down on herself and has doubts but I always do my best to focus on increasing her self worth and telling her that it’s ok to step away and come back tomorrow as long as it doesn’t become an excuse or bad habit but rather a tool to learn how she can be most successful when she is at her peak.
Don’t forget the basics, sleep, food, exercise and love. When these struggle so do our kids and it’s the number cause of pushback in our homeschool😉
Last but not least the hard work doesn’t take to much time. The real sit down and read write and math only takes about 2hours and the rest of our time is spent exploring topics we find interesting or with independent reading. You will do fine with work and homeschool. Ps we do school in the evenings a lot because it’s when I feel at my best and most capable with my own health issues.
Last but not least. The couch is your best friend. I teach from the couch and I have built a shelf off the back of my couch so days when I really just feel like 💩 I can stay put and have my kids gather around me. Crock pot is my best friend and my kids do house work for life skills school credit and well because let’s face it I’m only one person😉
You are strong and you will figure this out. Remember above all to find your why before you start. Write it down and hang it on the wall where you will see it every day because when you have hard days or hard seasons you are going to need to remember why this was so important to you.
Your son is so so lucky to have a mom who cares so much that she’s willing to find a way when it feels so hard to help her son not only grow but thrive in life!
You got this mama
@@TinyFitz Thank you SO much for taking the time to respond & offer so much help & encouragement! I truly appreciate all your suggestions & I will use them! The way you laid out using cars as an example for teaching all subjects was extremely helpful. I will look into that math program, too- it sounds like exactly what we need. It helps to hear how you are making this work & the amazing difference it’s making for your girls. Especially how you do it while dealing with health issues. That is so hard & I think only those of us who are dealing with it can really understand the impact it makes on your whole life. I struggle with the guilt of knowing the mom I WOULD be, if I was healthy & strong. But I know I have to get over that & just keep doing the best I can. I have to trust myself that I know what’s best for my son & we will find a way to make it work. Your support really helps a lot with that. Knowing that you’ve done such an amazing thing, it helps me to believe I can do it, too. And however it works for us is ok! I will remember your strategies & words of encouragement. The couch is my “best friend,” lol! Yes!! Thank you so, so much for all of this! It warms my heart to see moms support one another. I’m sure we’ve all experienced the opposite of that from other mothers & teachers- at least I have! Having health problems had made me look like a terrible, lazy mom in the eyes of others many times, which is painful to deal with. Even when I know it’s not the truth & I know they don’t understand how much harder it is to parent when you feel awful all the time! So thank you again for being so supportive & sharing your experience & wisdom. It really means a lot!!! Bless you & your girls. Thank you for helping me trust & believe in myself.
@@silvergirl8581 when you have a chronic illness or health issues you tend to go through a grief period of loosing your health. It can be hard but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You will learn to adapt and find a Rhythm that works for you. Actually I forgot to mention, have a sick day plan. Something like learning from video tutorials or having your son read you a book that you both enjoy. An art day of sketching or even just take a day once in a while. That’s ok because natural learning happens too and if you have a plan laid out ahead of time (even a project your son is working on that he can do on his own) you will be ok and not feel guilty about needing to take care of yourself. Always remember above all else that there is a large difference between self care and laziness. People with no experience with health issues don’t understand that. That’s ok. You have to do what is right for you and your son. Sometimes that means that you have to take it easy and take care of yourself. If you push to hard you can make down time need take longer. Listen to your body and don’t fight it. You have to take care of yourself before you can effectively take care of others. Think of it like being on a plane. When the oxygen drops from the ceiling you put your mask on before helping others because if you pass out your no good to anyone.
Side note look up the spoon theory by Christine Miserandino. It’s a short read but will not only help you convey to others what chronic illness is like it will also help remind you that you are not alone and there are many many people who do understand. You are an amazing person and a strong one at that. What people don’t realize is if they walked a mile in your shoes they would probably just give up. Your story is your story and no one has the right to judge you or speak light of what they don’t understand. Be of strong mind because no one has taken that away from you💕
This is great friend! These are all things we all struggle with. Thanks for sharing your wisdom! ❤
You're so sweet! I think its so important to realize that we all have struggles. No one has it all figured out all the time!
I really like this video! Saved in my homeschool playlist to look back on and reflect, thanks Brittany! 💙💙
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!
BURNOUT! That’s why I’m watching TH-cam at 12:30 in the afternoon when I should be homeschooling 😒
haha girl I feel that!
I needed these tips today Bianca is like Leilah, she can definitely throw a fake tantrum and I need to stay strong! Thank you for that reminder!
Its amazing how similar those girls are lol. It takes a lot out of mama though. You've got this girl. You're an amazing mom and I definitely look up to you and your parenting skills!
I'm in Michigan too! We are new to homeschooling this year starting at the beginning of the 2020 school year. I'm a mom of 3 (1st grade, pre-k, and 2.5 year old). We looked into TGTB before but decided to use Bookshark. I'm already planning on next year since I don't see things improving next year for us in our district at least. I just purchased TGTB LA K for my middle child who would be starting K this fall. I'm excited to try it out for a change if nothing else and find your videos so inspiring!
Well we’re new, just started homeschooling in August....but so far the hardest part is switching between mom and teacher. We have older kids, so on top of doing school work, I’m on them about chores and attitudes. My oldest son (12) has a really hard time respecting my role as teacher. There’s just so much to deal with in a day.
I had a similar experience last year which was our first year. I would say that the second year has been much better as far as my daughter seeing my role as not only her mom but also her teacher. It's just a big adjustment for us and for our kiddos. Hang in there mama!! Give yourself Grace, and pat yourself on the back for teaching your kids all the things, both academically and in developing them as people👍
@@ginamcgrew9955 thank you💕
I think it’s hard too because of the whole covid school closure thing. Normalcy was just ripped from them. They still have the mindset (and talk as if) they’re going back next year. My 6yo just asked me today if she’ll have show and tell in her “real” class😔
So, all things considered, it is a rough adjustment. But that doesn’t make me feel any better!!
Same here I’m very grateful to be part of homeschooling my children but it can get hectic as you said lol 😂 i would say the most difficult part in my case is when I have to help two kids that are in different grades and I basically have to split my self lol and on top of that getting breakfast lunch dinner ready and chores 😅 talk about burning out 😆 but when I see how they succeed in their studies and knowing that I was part of it , it’s just so rewarding 💕
your comment resonates with me so much! My girls being in different grades can sometimes wear me thin. Plus all the meals and chores. Sheesh. Its definitely worth it, but your overwhelmed feelings are valid and ok!
Most difficult part for me is that wanting to be alone and child free for a few hours a week is unattainable because I wanted to be a mom and it's a 24 hour job with no breaks but that's what I asked for 😑
Get Hubby (and maybe a relative sometimes) to help you out... A weekly break can be a huge help. Maybe it's just 2 hours but it's the same time the same day every week. Have a conversation see if you can make it happen.
I know what you mean about needing some child free time. as long as we're moms, it's a full time job. But that doesn't mean we can't crave time away from our kids. We love them fiercely but also desire time away. I hope you can find someone close to help you out. Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends and family!
Yesss same here
We struggle with focusing on a task. Daydreaming and spacing out with my kindergartener happens often and it’s pretty excessive. Drives me batty 🤦🏻♀️😂
haha girl I know what you mean! My girls both day dream and wander with their minds. thats kids though!
The hardest thing for me is being 100% positive that homeschool (vs private/public) is the best thing for my kids. Yeah I love it and want to do it forever but this is our first year and with covid it’s hard to know what it would be like otherwise. My kids are SO SOCIAL and I just feel bad not having them around a bunch of kids all the time. I know my daughter in particular would love being in a class of peers, but she just hasn’t experienced that yet. So, I just want o be positive it is the best option for her. So much doubting and questioning on my part about what to do next year.
Omg!!! Its like you read my mind of all the things Im thinking about how to start homeschooling, my doubts to myself I feel lost! I wanted my child to go to school but this year doesnt look like it will be okay.
That is how I feel now. I am over schedule. And my kids are in public school. I wander if this will change when I start our homeschool education. But I think that homeschool gives you more opportunity to work with relationships you have at home and that in a time gives you a much more help from your children when it is go to home chores. We are actually find out that family is a team and each player can play their role to make it more smooth and easy for all of you. It is just this understanding. A public education make my older child a bit off from all home chores as she constantly do her homework 😱 or she want to do her stuff and after coming back from school it is not much time left for that 🤷♀️. So in a fact we are all sometimes over scheduled no matter if you homeschool or no. Thanks for sharing and take care, have a little break.
I love your videos so much! #reallife #momlife #thebestlife. Everything you said is so true and helps me feel better about my struggles ❤
Aw you're not alone!
The burnout is sooo real
so true!!!
I think it’s an oldest child thing? I struggle with similar homeschool tantrums with my oldest.
That could be it! She's very strong willed.
Im a pre school teacher but have doubted if I could teach my kids thruout. We love the good and the beautiful!!! Going to the playground or a hike is PE. My kids help wiv chores and do chores but no1 as a job in the house unless they choose it’s their job and all the chores get done.
You can definitely do it! Take it year by year, day by day. You're doing an amazing job!
You are amazing. Thank you for every single video. I can't go to bed without video from your channel. Some of your videos I watched 3 or four times. I am now starting my journey with both of my boys and I am glad that I found your channel for motivation and guidance. Love ya 🥰
I'm so happy for you! You are the sweetest!
I would say my most hectic is actually gwtting my 5yo to sit down somewhere to get the schoolwork done lol (he always just wants to play) and I agree with that ahha moment, love seeing my son finally enjoy / get excited about a lesson too. This is our first year homeschooling, hopefully next year is a little smooter. Thanks for sharing!
Loving your videos!! Thanks for being real!!
You're so welcome! Thank you for watching!
I am planning on homeschooling and I just feel like the hardest part is ALWAYS being around my kids. Not that I don't love them, but that's hard. I have stayed home with them, and I'm like, okay, can I really handle being with my kids all day every day? And I do get breaks, bet still. It's not like parents who's kids go to public school and they go to work away from them. And I'm not saying that is easy or that it doesn't also have it's struggles- I know it does!! But just the thought of, ok me and my kids are going to always be around each other. Can I do that without going crazy?🤪 I love them. But sometimes you need alone time and adult time!! But anyway, I know it is a blessing to be able
to homeschool, and that's just the reality of life. Everything always has some kind of challenge attached to it. So, just have to find a good babysitter, find ways to get breaks. But yeah, that can be hard.
I would LOVE to see that chores video for SURE!!
Coming soon! Be on the look out. Make sure you have notifications turned on for my channel so you dontmiss it!
Great video 🙂 how much time do you homeschool each kid? When do you know its enough of a particular subject? Or are the lessons of good & beautiful enough to a stop point. What do you do on weekends with the kids. Can you also make a video on what are the other extra curricular activities you do besides school work. Thanks for your time ..
Could you do a video on how dad helps out with your work load? When the kids are little like 1st k and pre k.
That is a great idea!
Yes please !
Thank you so much for your help ❤i love watching all your videos they are very helpful.
Very well put!! Much needed....Love all your videos...Thank you...
You are so welcome
This is actually the first time I’ve ever heard of tantrums being a thing with school age kids. I don’t remember kids throwing tantrums when I was a kid in public school, and my kids never did. My oldest kids are teens now. Could this be due to pressuring kids too much now at too young an age to perform academically? I always used a Waldorf/Charlotte Mason approach with short lessons and lots of free imaginative play. Take the time to fix behavior before working on academics. There’s no hurry.
Or maybe every child personality is differ
@@nkechineptune6543 I’m sure that is true, but a couple decades back this personality trait wasn’t a thing, so just wondering what has changed. Ask people who went to public school in the 80s if they were enduring tantrums from their classmates. I bet you won’t find many. We got in trouble for passing notes, talking too much, spitballs, 😆 no body was melting down. But our kindergarten curriculum resembled preschool of today - shapes, colors, the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, music, art, story time, recess...
I think the reason a lot of children don't throw tantrums, or didn't back then in public schools is because children save their most vulnerable moments for the people they're the most comfortable with. A tantrum of a young 3 year old child who is hungry or tired and doesn't have the capacity to express it besides crying is showing their most vulnerable side of themselves and expecting their parent to be the comfortable place. in public schools, young kids aren't being taught by their parents, their most trusted loved one. Imagine you've had the absolute worst day and just need to vent about it. You wouldn't vent to any stranger you feel uncomfortable around, you'd let your emotions out around someone you care for who you know cares for you as well. This is my view on how tantrums happen and why they happen most often with parents than others.
@@BrittanyLynnHomeschool That makes sense. I think a tantrum at three is very different than a tantrum at six though. I would view three as the cut off age for that kind of behavior unless there is a disability at play. If people are talking about working with a three year old on academics, I would advise against. Sometimes young children throw tantrums for good reasons. :)
Wonderful video! Exactly what we are going through in my household with three kiddos 4 yrs old & under plus a newborn! Everyone seems to be on a different schedule & eating all the time! But I'm passionate about homeschooling & will continue. The toughest part is finding the right schedule/ flow to our school day. There isn't enough time in the days to get everything accomplished! I've been considering investing in a curriculum for pre-K & kindergarten, but want something non-religious and requires no computer? Something that will grow with them as well.....Could anyone suggest something out there? Would love to hear from you! Thank you Brittany for your passionate motivational mommy channel! Your a wonder woman!!!!
How do you get your young one to get into the mindset of sitting down to learn? My little girl just wants to run around and do anything but learn . It gets exhausting😅.
Can you make the lesson a game that is active? I don’t have kids but I teach Kindergarten Bible and I find they are least likely to listen if I want them so sit for more than 10min. I try to make my lesson interactive by making the kids part of the story or a physical game if I am trying to get them to memorize. Everyone has a different learning style, maybe your daughter learns kinesthetically and really can’t focus by sitting down
I love this video! Thanks for the honesty! I am going to begin homeschooling in August with kindergarten for my 5 year old. For the difficult parts, is socialization one of them for you at all? My son is in church and rec sports, but I worry that isn’t enough. I like worry so much I lose sleep at night about it! I don’t know anyone else in my area that homeschools. Oh choosing curriculum seems so overwhelming too! 🤯
I don't worry about socialization whatsoever. and my kids aren't in regular activities. especially because nearly everything is closed with the pandemic going on. it sounds like your son being involved in church and rec sports is totally enough! kids can socialize with anyone. Whoever they're around, adults, older kids, younger kids, same aged kids. Don't lose sleep over it! You've got this and you're already doing a great job! All the choices out there for curriculum cam be overwhelming too. Make a list of your priorities in a curriculum. Thats a great place to start!
I’m not sure why but the audio is kind of scratchy in this one. Not trying to sound negative just giving a heads up. Love your videos !! Thank you for sharing !
I appreciate you letting me know! I was having some issues editing this one.
Brittany,
Thank you so much for sharing your videos. I watch all your videos and they inspire me. I’m a stay home mom and I have two boys that I’ve been homeschooling. A 22 month old and a 3 year old. They keep me busy. It’s difficult trying to get the two to sit down and do their assignments, but I manage to get some work done during the day. At times I wonder am I doing this right? I’m still lost at times. I don’t follow a curriculum, but after a year of working with them I’m still trying to find my niche. I can say they are learning especially when I hear them recognize words, numbers and letters that I’ve taught them. So I feel good about that, but I still doubt myself. I’m starting to teach my 3 year old how to write his letters which is a mission since he do not like to sit still. How do you manage to get your girls to sit down and do their assignments?? Lol I mainly use flash cards, sensory bins, color/ doodle and I read to them. I’m trying to get into hands on activities. Where I get them to do actual assignments on paper. Where they work on their penmanship. Any suggestions? I’m very impressed as to how you get your girls to sit and do their assignments.
Sounds like homeschooling and working from home full time won’t work, even with a clean-freak husband who likes to clean, cook and do laundry himself…
I’m scared… I’ll have to pray on it a little further… I may have to stop working for a handful of yrs… I’d hate to put such pressure on my husband in a world where 2-income households is the expectation from employers…
I can understand. My husband and I had a lot of the same worries before we had our first daughter. We were definitely reliant on both our incomes for a long time. We prayed and eventually decided I should quit to stay home and homeschool and we would make things work. I pray you find an answer that will work for your family!
Homeschooling is not for everyone sadly- as parenthood is not for everyone- not to mention extreme cases from the news... just from my area there is a mother that really struggles Just to play with her child and she gets help from her parents, from social workers , psychology...And she still struggles and feels she needs help ...
however - in a more positive side , yes I do believe that the parents (functioning) are the best carers and teachers of their kids. I was an elementary school teacher- and yhe majority of the kids who didn’t grasp the subjects learned at school were the ones whose parents did give extra personal help/tutoring. And the ones who were good /advanced were the ones whose parents took time to tutor and help with school work. Because yes it is a lot 30 kids in. Class in comparison to one child (or some more) and a parent.
I enjoy being with my girl, giving her lots of free time to be out in the air/ open space/playground. Which she wouldn’t get if she was in a kindergarten .
It is difficult to be alone many times- my husband works . And I don’t drive and live near my parents. It is just this the need for a company next to me , which can motivate me, it gives me energy. But in general I it ok. I do try to keep regular playdates for my daughter with friends she is already familiar on a daily basis if possible. And I also get to be with the friends mom and spent a bit time chatting with her.
Totally burnt out. Unfortunately for us homeschooling isn’t working out like i hoped and my children will be going back to private school come fall.
Homeschooling isn't for everyone! Things change and families all have different dynamics. I hope the changes work out for everyone!
I really appreciated this video.
I needed the talk on self doubt today.
I know what you mean! I hope it helped!!
@@BrittanyLynnHomeschool it definitely did! Having a child with delays it’s easy to get caught up in what they are struggling with. Hearing I know what’s best for him then teacher that are focusing on a lot of other kids is 110% what I needed to hear. I know it’s true and I tell myself that all the time but sometimes you need to hear someone tell you that you are doing the right thing.
Hey Brittany! Fellow homeschool mama friend from NC! I always look forward to your videos 😘 question about the mix-up option (your number 4 topic)...when you choose to do ELA maybe 3 days a week and math 2 days a week...do you “double-up” on those subject areas on those days? That is as as clear as mud. I hope that makes sense...hahahahaha!
Thats a great question. I don’t double up on lessons when we’ve had weeks like that of mixing it up. We try to focus more on not overwhelming the kids. I’m sure there are some kinds who could double up on lessons, but not mine! Lol
Hi am finding difficult to get my 4.5 year old daughter to learn sight words, phonics. She is finding it overwhelming and not willing to learn even after multiple attempts. Sometimes she is interested and grasps words. How can I make it fun so that she will be enjoying the learning time. I made some flash cards and planning to make some worksheets. I put a star on her hand whenever she reads well. Pls suggest what else can I do. Thanks.
Moms of multiple children that go to public school go thru burnout too. Especially in countries where they have to get their kids from school for lunch, often from multiple schools on different schedules.
oh wow! I can imagine that is very tough. I know moms of all different lifestyles experience burn out. It's the hectic, constantly busy, never catching up type of feeling. That sounds like quite a juggling act.
@@BrittanyLynnHomeschool thank you for your kindness. Yes, it's what you described, the hectic never catching up feeling. And when the come home from school at the end of the day they still have to do homework but I also need to make dinner at that time. Last year when we first got locked down due to Covid it was such a relief! Holding my 2yo without having to look at the clock, living life more organicaly and not constantly pushing myself, forcing myself to hurry and be on time for something. It felt like heaven. My kids loved it too.
You need to read burnout by Emily Nagoski!
Thank you! I am going to check it out!
Hello from a homeschooling Mom from South Africa. I enjoy homeschooling videos. Please help me out ...How big is that white board? Trying to buy one online but not sure what size but that one looks like the perfect size.
You can find it linked in my store under "homeschool room": www.amazon.com/shop/brittanylynn
Your such a strong woman when you handle tantrums
Can you please suggest a homeschooling group? I am interested to connect
New to homeschooling only been doing it a couple months new
Congrats!
I can totally relate. My 3 year old is very strong willed too. I love watching your videos and I wonder sometimes how does she do it... For example, my daughter is currently doing letter sounds and sometimes she doesn't want to so how do I continue to get her to do it everyday? Like I've seen how much your eldest knows but, I struggle with how much I can get to do with her and I don't want to suck the joy out of it for her and discourage her because it needs to be done. I work from home and I'm trying to get some learning stuff in too. She will tell me no letter sounds mommy... I had this question in my head the other day but now I have no clue how to ask it .........
I can totally relate. I have strong willed 4 year old by. For us, having a Plan B helps tremendously. On days where he fights it, we talk about why and maybe head outside. count river rocks do letter sounds while collecting eggs, leaves, rocks, etc. I have to take a deep breath sometimes and remember there will be a huge review on everything 4K when we start 5K.
Giving options helps a lot! So, if there is a specific letter sound activity she doesn't like, maybe find some other ways to teach the same thing and offer the option. My girls really thrive when they're involved. Even picking which to do first.
@@BrittanyLynnHomeschool will try that❤️thank you
Thank you. Good advice.
Glad it was helpful!
can you do a video on girls hair care routine please
I always thought people do homeschool couse they want kids to have more fun and movement and letting kids being more independent and individual.
What I see here is nothing else than 1:1 tuition and looks simply boring.
You are definitely doing good job, girls are smart and picking up quickly. Its nothing against you.
I'm just bit disappointed as I was expecting something more from homeschooling or my concept was totally different:/
I'm about to start homeschooling and looking for ideas.
Homeschooling does give people the opportunity to let kids have more fun and freedom with their days. What I show on social media is a fraction of what goes on in our days. Being a homeschooler means being able to focus on what your children need specifically and not fit into a box that anyone else places on you.
Omg thank you so much for this video. I just pulled my kindergartner out of public school mid year and I’m freaking out!
you've got this!! you can do it.