Now He’s a Senior: Reflecting on 12 years at Simple Homeschool

And now he’s a Senior: Reflecting on 12 years at Simple Homeschool ~
Written by Kari Patterson of Sacred Mundane

He was five when I wrote my first homeschool post. Headed into Kindergarten, reading Bob books. I already felt overwhelmed and we hadn’t even started.

I’d followed Jamie for several years at SteadyMom.com. I’d read her book; I loved her approach. No hype or gimmicks. Just steadiness, simplicity.

A genuine enjoyment of one’s kids. A balance between order and spontaneity. When I read her writing I could feel myself relax.

Yes. I need this.

So I figured it couldn’t hurt to send a request: Would she consider letting me write for her homeschool site? 

I didn’t figure I had a chance. I was a nobody. A beginner. What right did I have to contribute?

To my amazement, she said yes.

She let me in.

So with trembling fingers I decided to draft up the perspective I most wanted to have, and what I thought might encourage other scared moms like me. Be a beginner. The truth is, we’re all just figuring this out as we go.

Twelve years later, Dutch is 17 and entering his Senior Year. I’ve been writing an article for Simple Homeschool every six weeks for 12 years.

It’s such a gift to be able to follow our journey through the years, and Dutch’s Senior year has provided the perfect opportunity for some reflection.

There are a few things I see now…

Now He’s a Senior: Reflecting on 12 years at Simple Homeschool

1. That beginner feeling never goes away.

Of course there are areas where I feel more confident now.  I was so stressed over keeping up with other kids his age. Now that I get “round 2” with my little boys (3 & 6), I’m way more relaxed.

But I certainly don’t feel like an expert!

Each child is different, so each educational experience is different. Sure, I’ve homeschooled two kids almost clear through, but I don’t yet know exactly what homeschooling Justice will be like, or Ben. I get to start again, so I still get the benefits of being a beginner.

2. Homeschool philosophies and strategies shift dramatically with ages and stages.

When my big kids were little, I spent so much time trying to figure out what kind of homeschooling we wanted to do. Charlotte Mason, Unschool, traditional, Waldorf, Thomas Jefferson, etc. Of course I ended up with a hodge-podge of them all, but what I wish I had understood was how much is really just based on their developmental age and stage.

How homeschooling looks in the young years is drastically different from how it looks in high school.  If I get so stuck on adhering to a certain philosophy I won’t have the flexibility to adapt when my children grow up. (Much to my disappointment I learned that nature walks don’t earn high school credit!) *smile*

3. How you homeschool has as much to do with your style as it does your children’s, and that’s okay.

Of course we’d like to believe that everything we do is solely because of our children’s needs or what is objectively best based on research. And yes, that’s a great thing to keep in mind — we shouldn’t be making this thing about us.

But it’s also true that you’re part of this equation and you’re a unique human, so what is going to work for your family unit must be something that works for you. I am the least crafty person alive. The idea of math manipulatives made me break out in hives.

A steady stream of art projects would’ve sent me running for the hills. So for better or worse, we skipped most of those. I sent Heidi to art camp instead! Knowing your own aversions and personality needs is definitely something to consider when crafting your homeschool plans.

We can be brave enough to take a hard look at what might be our weak areas and consider enlisting outside help so that our children don’t bear the brunt of those shortcomings.

4. Homeschooling may not be the best option for everyone in every season.

In my early years I think my own insecurity made me constantly feel like I had to prove that homeschooling was the best option.  And to be fair, I was convinced that it was the best option for us. But 12 years later I truly believe that homeschooling isn’t the best option for every child in every season.

In recent years I’ve recommended many different private and public school options to friends, based on individual children’s needs or specific situations in home and family life.

I’m afraid that some spheres can become so homeschool-heavy that moms feel pressured to take on something that may not actually be best for that child at that time.

This year my Heidi will be starting an Early College program where she’ll take all of her classes through our local community college. It just occurred to me today that that means she’s technically no longer homeschooling. This particular programs fits her well, she’s ready for this next step of freedom, and we believe it’s best for her.

What about you parents who have graduating kiddos? What have you learned from the last dozen years? I’d love to learn more from you. Thanks for reading. 

* Read more of Kari’s encouragement from the last 12 years.

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