Homeschooling is generally thought of in terms of what we’ll teach our kids. We spend lots of time picking out curriculum, searching for the perfect co-op, and visiting conventions. Can you relate?

But, I think the best part of homeschooling is what my kids have taught me.

What My Kids Teach Me

Homeschooling has certainly tested all of the things about my personality that don’t come easy. Things like patience, organization, and following a scope and sequence. I’m a type-B mom with type-A tendencies. At least, I’d love to be a type-A mom. A girl can dream, right?

No worries, my kids have taught me that being a type-B mom is okay. Both types make memories, and it’s okay to relish the picnics, days we set books aside, and flying by the seat of our pants. We got through it-all twelve years of homeschooling.

We did get lessons done. All of my kids write well and have done great with the transition to college. They taught me it’s okay to trust them.

See all our 31 Days of Homeschool is the Best Because series here:

Hard Lessons Learned

My type-B ways did have some consequences. They had to work harder on their own to prep for college. I put the onus of learning on their shoulders. I wasn’t a fan of teaching math, so they had to rely on tutors to get them up to speed when the ACT loomed large. This created some anxiety for them I think we all could’ve done without.

Sometimes my kids felt weird that they were homeschooled, too. What do you do with that? I think as homeschooling mamas, we tend to shrug that off and say, “Stop talking to me about socialization.”

In reality, they need the question answered. For themselves. That was a hard lesson, too.

Joy for the Journey

I don’t think homeschooling is a silver bullet. I do think more parents could educate their own children. But, not everyone is going to. What I might say to a mom on the fence about homeschooling is this-homeschooling can bring you unexpected joy.

My kids taught me the value of seeing things through, working on relationships because we *had* to, and that true joy comes from having a peace with yourself.

I’ve watched them grow into this peacefulness and I’m honored I got to be part of the journey.

Homeschooling is Best Because …

Homeschooling is best because it’s best for us. My kids taught me that, too. Through church and volunteering we learned that there’s a lot going on in other families, and for some school is a respite. That’s a hard thing to learn.

My kids taught me that single moms and working moms have a hard time making homeschooling work. They taught me that our role in our culture is more than just homeschooling, it’s extending a hand to those who need us- homeschoolers or not.

We all learned that homeschooling is counterculture, not just because we learned our lessons at home, but because we were trying to pass on a culture of service, caring, and compassion.

In a World Gone Crazy

Finally, my kids taught me that homeschooling is best because the world has lost its mind and moral compass. We’re strung out on social media, comparisons, and ignoring one another – to the peril of our children.

Homeschooling has certainly become high-tech since the days when I homeschooled mine as littles. But, homeschooling is still about real books, real people, and real life.

In conclusion, I’m glad for the lessons learned in this homeschooling journey. My kids taught me the real meaning of love, family, devotion, and sacrifice. Most parents know these anyway. But, homeschooling gave me a front row seat and I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.

About Gina:

Gina Glenn, homeschool mom of 4,  has her own thriving content creation and strategy business at GinaGlenn.com , and loves supporting bloggers with their long-term writing goals.