Category: Encouragement

I was hit by an iceberg recently and I wanted to warn you of the danger.  I consider myself a veteran homeschool mom and I thought I was immune to the iceberg danger.  I was wrong.

Scrolling through social media one day, I came across a few homeschool-themed accounts with breathlessly beautiful photographs. Visually rich.   Everything posed perfectly.  I stopped to admire the work that went into the various photographs.  They were stunning.  The photos made me smile.

And then I looked up from my screen.   To see crumbs on my table, to see scattered papers and books. And a neglected basket of laundry.  I stopped smiling.

Thud. Direct hit by an iceberg.

Suddenly I was discontent.  Why was my homeschool dark and dingy compared to those?  Our activities no longer seemed exciting.  Boring.  Just blah.

As quickly as it hit me, the iceberg floated away.   Wait a minute!   I know better!

Our homeschool is exactly that.  Ours.   Full of our family, our needs, our hopes and dreams, and the blessings that God has poured out on us.  The crumbs mean we had a fresh homemade breakfast.   The papers and books mean that we were able to find resources at affordable prices.   The basket of laundry meant we would be comfortable in clean clothes.

I had to remind myself.   Those pictures are just that.  Pictures.  Posed and edited.  Nothing wrong with that, nothing at all.   They merely show a curated moment in time. Someone else’s vision captured in a photograph.   Not your vision, theirs.  Not your life, theirs.  Not your blessings, theirs.   Like an iceberg, there is a huge amount in each photograph NOT seen compared to what IS seen.  We don’t know how many years a mother may have prayed to be able to homeschool.  Perhaps the photo is the result of a good day after many, many bad days.      It might even be an attempt to feel equal compared to others.  Good or bad, we don’t know the underwater details of a particular photo,  so don’t let it get to you.

We tend to look at the visible parts of others’ icebergs and compare it to the underwater parts of our own iceberg.  Not a fair comparison!  And there is NO reason for comparison!

May I make an unsolicited suggestion?  If you find that scrolling through social media continually makes you feel inadequate as a homeschooler,  consider dropping a few accounts or reducing your social media time.

Do you ever scroll through social media looking for homeschool inspiration and end up feeling defeated?   Doesn’t it look like everyone else has the best resources, the latest educational technology,  the prettiest homeschool room, and kids that sit properly in chairs and write neatly the first time?  Then there’s you.   You’re doomed before you’ve even begun.  Your homeschool budget is microscopic,  you do school at the kitchen table (after you move the crumbs aside), and you don’t want to post a picture of your kids in their pjs at 1pm.  Ugh.

Deep breath, now.

I have been there.  I’ve fallen into the trap of becoming discontented with my homeschool because I saw something that appeared bigger and better.  I thought I had to change to suit what I saw going on around me.  Everyone else had a fabulous homeschool and mine was just blah.

Stop thinking you have to live another family’s life and homeschool.   Live your own.   Discontent will wear you down.

The biggest gift I’ve ever given myself as a homeschool mom is to accept what my OWN reality is, what my family circumstances are, and work with and appreciate the unique blessings that God has bestowed on my homeschool.  I’ve found contentment in this, and renewed energy to do the best I can for my children.

Please give yourself the same gift.  Work with what God has given you.  A positive attitude and daily connection with God will go farther towards creating a joyful, vibrant learning environment than the latest resources alone could ever accomplish.

Some families have a homeschool like a pair of sleek, custom-fitted Italian leather heels.  Or like a pair of heavy-duty motorcycle boots.  That’s great! My homeschool is more like a pair of plain mary jane style shoes.  Simple, comfortable and serviceable.  Gets us where we need to go.    Sometimes my homeschool gets a little scuffed and worn, so I take some time to polish it up.  Maybe add a new insole.  Then we go happily on our way.  Mary Janes aren’t for everyone, but they are perfect for my family.  Praise God.

We may not feel today the peace and joy which we felt yesterday; but we should by faith grasp the hand of Christ, and trust Him as fully in the darkness as in the light.

God’s Amazing Grace, p 84