Does Homeschooling have Benefits for Parents?

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

18 Apr 2007 12:00 PM

People who homeschool, and the people who admire them are well aware of the level of sacrifice it takes to homeschool. Parents postpone careers, live with less income, and have to practice the patience of saints to get through it in tact. Meanwhile, few people point out that homeschooling is beneficial to the parents as well.

Homeschooling has made me change my perspective on life. Where I was once a person who tested limits and pushed boundaries, I have since become someone who does not accept limits and enjoys breaking the mold. I have given up my group status and become an individual. I have to admit to being much happier now. My happiness used to be based on the approval of others, but now it is based on my own approval, tempered by my relationship with God.

Homeschooling has made my family closer. My husband and I never imagined that we would have pre-teens who still hugged us and craved our attention. In the second and fourth grades, when they began homeschooling, our children held us at an arms pace. Having a dinner conversation was like pulling teeth. Now they talk nonstop... to us!

Homeschooling has helped me find my passion. For the years before I began homeschooling, I struggled with my work from home mural business. I was, and am a good painter, but it was just not taking off as I wanted, and I was not happy with it either. However, the process of exploring learning styles, personality traits, and the strengths and weaknesses of my kids, caused me to turn that kind of evaluation on myself as well. Using the same process I learned in order to tailor curriculum to my children's; learning styles, I was also able to use to discover my love for writing, and illustrating.

So you see, while homeschooling has many well documented benefits for children, it also helps the parents as well. These are just a few of the ways homeschooling has benefited me. If you have a story, please tell it.

*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.

*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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