Never let your schooling interrupt your education.

Homeschool superpowers

//  by //  17 Comments

 

Homeschool superpowers

The following post is from contributing writer Kris Bales of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

I‘ve got this great shirt that says, “I homeschool. What’s your superpower?”

It’s become pretty worn-out from regular wear as my homeschool mom uniform. It makes me smile when I wear it because I know that being a homeschool parent doesn’t really endow me with superpowers.

I wish it did, though. I could think of some superpowers that would be awesome to have.

Super-patience

Parents who don’t homeschool often think that homeschooling parents actually possess patience in great quantities, but that’s just not true. Just ask my kids.

I think it takes far less patience to homeschool than to do homework at night with a kid who goes to a more traditional school setting.

Homeschool parents don’t have to listen to, “But that’s not how Mrs. So-and-So does it” because, you know, we are Mrs. So-and-So. Well, unless your homeschooled kid goes to co-op or does video or online lessons, but that’s a whole different topic.

Let’s just suffice it to say that this homeschool mom doesn’t have any more patience than the average parent.

Super-speed

Super-speed could come in handy in so many different ways. We could whip dinner up in a flash — before the baby started crying and the toddler decorated the walls with Sharpie markers.

We could get one kid to art class, the other to ballet, and a third to soccer practice and still have time to get the baby down for his nap.

Even better, remember that scene in Superman (the Christopher Reeve version) where Superman flies around the Earth backwards to turn back time? Wouldn’t that be handy?

You could go back in time to before you bought the curriculum that was a flop with your kids.

You could go back in time and relive that really amazing family field trip.

Or, better yet, you could go back and relive some of those years that seemed so long at the time, but, looking back, you’ve realized that they went by entirely too fast.
graduation

Super-stamina

Super-stamina would come in handy for those days when you stayed up way too late the night before writing lesson plans, checking schoolwork, or even just surfing online because you needed some downtime.

It would also be greatly appreciated this time of year when you’re thinking, “Do my kids really need three more weeks of education? Surely we’ve covered enough already and they’ll be just fine if we start summer break early.”

Or, maybe that’s just me.

Super-vision

I’d like super-vision so strong that I could see into the future. That way, I’d know before I purchased curriculum if it would be a good fit. I’d know that one kid would do really well with one math program while another would do much better with something different entirely.

And, I wouldn’t have those nights when I lie awake worrying about things like whether or not I’ve adequately prepared my kids for life after high school or if I’ve given them all the tools they need to pursue their passions.

Invisibility

Finally, there is invisibility. Tell me who wouldn’t want this super-power — especially an introvert who is with her children all day, every day.

I love my kids and I love being with them and, thankfully, mine are old enough that I can actually do things like go to the bathroom — and even the grocery store — alone.

Back in the day, though, when they were all younger, wouldn’t invisibility have been an awesome super-power for a homeschool parent?

Being a homeschool parent doesn’t really come with superpowers, but wouldn’t it be fun if it did? What superpowers would you want to have?

About Kris

Kris Bales is the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest voice behind Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She and her husband of over 25 years are parents to two homeschool grads and one high school student. Kris has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. She also seems intent on becoming the crazy cat lady long before she's old and alone.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christina

    I vote for invisibility. I’m at the early stages of homeschooling my gifted toddler. There are days I long to be invisible for a few moments so I can catch my breath and recharge. Thankfully, my little guy still takes naps so I do get some quiet time in the afternoons to catch up on social media, write blog posts, and prepare school for the next day.

    Reply

  3. Nashie

    Just today my son gave me the ultimatum that if I really expected him to do maths I needed to make more time in the day for him to play. I replied, “Oh Sweetheart! Wish I COULD make more time for all of us!” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to just have all the time you need to play, to sleep, to do the washing…. and even to do maths.
    Nashie’s latest post: What do you do?

    Reply

  7. Stacey

    Invisibility. Oh the joy of being to hide in plain sight!
    I too have now gotten to the stage of homeschooling where the Manlings are all old enough to let me do things by myself….but for some reason, they seem to think I still need their company. It makes me nutty some days when I am sitting at my desk, doing important Mom Things (what do you mean checking my email AND my Farmville aren’t important???), and one or another of them will wander upstairs to “check on me” ’cause it’s too quiet. Apparently they are beginning to suspect I might be having more fun WITHOUT them! LOL
    Best part is, if it’s a weekend and the guys are all gone?? They leave instructions with their father to do the same thing!

    Reply

  8. Anne

    I would want super-endurance–to have energy and strength to get through each day and look forward to the next one. I make it through each day, but I’m wiped out at the end. I do look forward to each new day, but if I think more than an hour or two ahead I start to get terrified and overwhelmed. All I can do is take one moment at a time and keep the very most general vision of what we’re working toward. Every Monday morning I go over the whole week with the kids, and afterward I have to hide for a few moments to catch my breath and stop panicking. The panic always goes away, and we make it through each week one moment at a time, and we live joyful lives, but the idea of it all is too big for me to cope with very often. So I would wish for super-endurance to be able to endure to the end with a grace and style. Or maybe I should try super-optimism instead. Or maybe it’s super-organization . . . or super-scheduling . . . whatever . . . so long as I can just keep putting one foot in front of the other. 🙂
    Anne’s latest post: Music to My Ears

    Reply

  9. Alexandra

    I can relate to worrying sometimes if I am adequately preparing the kids for life after high school. Some weeks just seem more productive than others.

    Reply

  11. Brenda Pluguez

    I would love to be able to teleport. It would making practices, dance, grocery shopping, etc a breeze 😉

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge