Confession of a Homeschool Mom

We are heading into the end of another homeschool year. It has had it ups and downs, as most school years do. Being that Derek has been deployed for most of the school year; I am just thankful to have my sanity (somewhat) and the children are all alive.
I feel though like it is time to clear the air on a few things. I hear often from people "wow I can't believe you do that!" or "Wow, you must have so much patience" or any number of compliments of the sort. When people say things like that, I actually inwardly cringe and think to myself  "if they only knew..."
So I felt it was time to confess a few things. To show that homeschooling is not some sort of magical experience made up of genius children and June Cleaver mothers here is a list of things I am willing to admit:

1. I take sick days....even when I am not sick. I have my days where I feel like teaching is equivalent to torture. So I decide to take a day to myself.
2. I wake up in the middle of the night in a panic afraid my children are not doing well enough in their school work.
3. I wake up in the middle of the night in a panic that I am not doing well enough to teach them.
4. I have a child (ren) who feel that homeschool is awful and would prefer to go to public school.
5. We play board games sometimes instead of doing math worksheets.
6. I have googled "how to use a bong" when studying about drugs.
7. I play dance music in the middle of the school work when I have a song stuck in my head and I want us to dance.
8. We have taken vacation days to play Black OPs.
9. Usually at least one child cries a day while doing school work.
10. I make my kids do extra school work when they give me sass.
11. I have cried many times during school time.
12. I am (sometimes) jealous of the school bus full of children who are leaving their homes for the day.
13. Sometimes I put on a movie in the morning and decide to delay schooling.
14. I am nervous when people ask my kids what they are learning in school.
15. I fear being told one day we can't homeschool.
16. I love teaching my kids.
17. I truly do enjoy spending nearly everyday with my children.
18. I have to keep my computer on while doing school work because the kids usually ask me a question I don't have the answer to, and I have to google it.
19. I get giddy in the school supply section of a store.
20. I am sure I am doing it all wrong a lot of the time.
21. I know God is proud of me and wants me to continue.
22. I have criticized unschooling, now seeing how awesome it is.
23. Everything I did not enjoy in school, I am now doing for the second time.
24. My children call Public School "real school".
25. I love meeting other homeschool families.


Okay, now that you have read through my confessions, please feel free to not judge me.  I am so thankful that I have been given the chance to teach my children; even if it brings so many challenges. The joys far out way the sorrows, and I pray I will be able to continue to teach all my children until they all graduate.