Postscript

Plot twist. Four years ago when we signed off after writing 51 articles about homeschooling, after spending ten years homeschooling, after graduating two kids from Ohm Academy, both of whom are now out on their own – one is an urban planner and works for the government, and the other is in medical school studying out of state, suddenly, after all that flack we took, everyone is homeschooling!

I get it. You didn’t plan on homeschooling. Actually, neither did I, but yours was predicated by a pandemic. You’re scrambling. I’m watching people move through every Stage of Grief described by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance, and even some that are cycling back through the different stages, too. I see you ugly-cry.

Return that empathy. Imagine how it is for me and others that chose the homeschooling path. Nearly every news story, every poll, every debate, every social media post is framing this pursuit as a negative experience that one must endure. If you’re reading this right now, know that I am not singling you out; a whole lot of parents are complaining about homeschooling right now. You do know that some people chose to do this, right?

Calm down. I have to ask this gentle question: is this the first time you tried to teach your kid something? Really?? I’m guessing no. And if they didn’t/don’t learn it, then what? Does the sky come crashing down? All of these kids are going to be in the same boat. Just like all of these nurses I’m teaching online will be graduating without ever touching a patient in a clinical setting. And they will get jobs. And the world will go on. And your kid is resilient.

Love them. Your kid is watching everything you do. You are their hero, and they will respond to challenges the way they see you respond to them. The best thing you can do for them is to give them a positive outlook on learning. My best advice is to abandon all of the mindless worksheets and online drivel, and just follow with what they want to learn. However, if you feel you cannot do that, I would ask yourself why you feel you can’t. What is the imaginary norm that you are striving for?

Take note. For most of you, what you are doing is not really homeschooling – this is online school with parents as behavioral managers. You still have a teacher, a district, a curriculum, and a support system outside the home. Most homeschoolers, including Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Sandra Day O’Connor, Florence Nightingale, and George Washington (there are many more) did not have that level of support.

You can do this.