5 Important Reasons NOT to Homeschool Your Kids

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You’ve probably heard about all the potential benefits that can come from homeschooling, but have you heard the reasons not to homeschool?
Yes, there are reasons that you shouldn’t do it, although it isn’t because homeschooling is inherently wrong or flawed.

These reasons are more to do with the parents than anything else.

If you’re curious why you shouldn’t homeschool…keep reading.

5 Reasons Not To Homeschool

I’m a huge advocate of homeschooling when it is done right.

Homeschooling my children is one of the greatest joys of my life, however there are some things that would make homeschooling fail my children.

They are all things (thankfully) that I can control.

They are intentional choices that as a homeschool parent, you have to make. Sometimes daily.

If homeschooling is not the right choice for your family, that is completely fine. Know that, and proceed confidently.

However, if it is what you feel called to do then start out on the right foot.

You will make mistakes. That is a given. However, avoiding the things listed below will go a long way towards making homeschooling easier in general.

#1 You Aren’t Willing to Put in the Effort

Homeschooling takes a lot of work. It just does.

You can simplify it or add more in but ultimately, it takes time to research homeschool styles, curriculum, and all the other resources.

If you’re not willing to put in that work, then homeschooling likely won’t work for you.

I’ve spent hours researching homeschool resources, understanding our country’s requirements to homeschool, and what will be best for my children.

If you’re a mom, then you’re already likely used to seeking knowledge in order to make informed decisions for your children, but this has to extend to their education as well if you want to make homeschooling work.

Thankfully, there are so many sources of information out there, researching really isn’t difficult to do.

Facebook groups, forums, Youtube videos, blog reviews….you name it…it is there.

#2 You’re Expecting Homeschooling to Fix Everything

Don’t get me wrong, homeschooling is often the answer to many issues your child may be facing, but it is not a fix-all in and of itself.

Homeschooling is an extension of parenting and therefore, if there are issues with your relationship with your child, homeschooling won’t necessarily just magically fix that.

It takes intention and so much more.

Deciding to homeschool your child can take a lot of pressure off many areas and the family as a whole, but the location in which they have their education doesn’t necessarily make everything better.

As a homeschool graduate, I can say that there were many times that I fought with my mom over things relating to school.

The way in which she dealt with that was the way she dealt with all other areas of parenting.

We can’t put homeschool into a box, it has to be integrated into your parenting along with everything else.

#3 You Can’t Be Flexible

Homeschool requires flexibility.

I have a type-A personality. Seeing things checked off a list and productivity is what motivates me.

I do not do well with a last-minute change of plans.

Regardless, over my time spent homeschooling my children I have had to learn to be flexible.

When one thing isn’t working, I’ve had to be willing to try something else.

I’m homeschooling with a toddler which means there are often disruptions and we have to change our routine regularly.

If you aren’t willing to be flexible, homeschooling is going to be a huge struggle for your family. It won’t be the joy-filled experience it is meant to be.

Instead, you’ll be filled with frustration and resentment.

Related: Homeschooling with a Baby

#4 You Aren’t Willing to Learn and Grow

We mostly think of homeschooling as a way to teach our children, but the reality is that you will learn as well.

And I’m not just talking about academically.

Sure, you’ll likely pick up a lot of facts while teaching your kids, but what I’m referring to is your character.

There are no perfect homeschool parents. We each have our flaws.

You need to have the right mindset about that in order to allow yourself to learn and grow during the whole process.

How many times have I heard a mom say, “Oh, I could never homeschool. I don’t have the patience for that!”.

Well, guess what? Neither do I!

If we wait until we’re perfect before we choose to homeschool our children then we will be waiting forever.

Instead, see your flaws for what they are and then be willing to work on them.

What better example could you set for your kids than that?

If you’re looking for some encouraging books for homeschool moms, here are some of my favorite:

#5 You Don’t Have a Firm Reason

I already said that homeschooling is hard.

There will be many days where you question your decision.

It could be out of frustration with your child not paying attention, or simply from being interrupted 5 million times a day because you’re never really alone.

If you don’t have firm reasons for homeschooling, a “why” behind it all, you’re going to fail.

I know that sounds dramatic, but there is so much truth to it.

Soon, all three of my children will be old enough to be in either daycare or school. I could have HOURS to myself every day.

However, our reasons for choosing to homeschool stop me from taking up that choice to enroll them all.

No amount of time to myself would be enough to change my mind.

If you want to homeschool your children and really want to have a proper go at it, then you need to have a firm conviction.

There’s nothing wrong with homeschooling for a season and changing to something else farther along, but have a game plan and stick to it until there’s a good reason to veer away.

Conclusion

Homeschooling has brought joy to my life that I never truly expected.

I was homeschooled, I knew that it was what I wanted to do with my own kids, but I really just didn’t fully grasp how truly good it would be.

It is full of challenges and there will be hard days, but if you are willing to be flexible, to learn, to grow right alongside your children, it is 100% all of it.