Homeschooling is a Slog

Homeschooling is a slog, is just an honest statement, and I believe that when we accept it for what it is, we can stop trying to make it different than what it is. According to Merriam Websters Online Dictionary, slog as a noun is defined as hard persistent work or a prolonged arduous task or effort.

Now that is the truth of homeschooling. It is something that is difficult and must be followed through with consistency over a long period of time.  It is work and it is hard work. It equates to laundry.  It is something you do all the time.  If it is not done, the results are epic.  However, when it is completed on a regular basis, it becomes a seamless hum to the house.  I don’t know many people that would call laundry fun, or exciting.  We might have a breakthrough on getting those shirts finally white, or that crazy stain out, but most of it is just a slog.  When ten of us lived at home, I did two loads of laundry Monday through Friday, just so that I could have my weekends off from laundry.  Every day – two loads: washed, dried and put away. This was most days.  Other days, a machine broke and we had to figure out a problem, and there were those amazing days when I was ahead of schedule.  Most days were just two loads finished.

Likewise, homeschooling.  Every day we would pursue our schedule.  Every day we did math, reading, science, writing, etc.  Every day we went to the basement took out our schedules and went to work. Some days had some bright spots – a field trip, a special movie, a surprise day off, but not very often.  Bad days came too – attitudes flared; concepts did not make sense to anyone – even the teacher.  Someone was sick.  Most days were just getting the work done.  It was the seamless hum of our days.

When we stop trying to make homeschooling always fun, always exciting or everyday a huge lightbulb going off – we can accept it for what it is – the hard job of providing an education.  For our kids, it is the hard job of getting an education. When we know that and accept that – we can relax and get on with it.  The days then become more enjoyable because we aren’t trying to be flashy. As the seamless hum of our laundry produces great results for our household, even more so, does the seamless hum of working at education.  One day that child begins to read books, because of the time spent working on phonics. One day that child enters Algebra because of the time spent memorizing math facts.  One day, believe it or not, the job will be done.  The child will be ready to graduate and move on to the next phase of their life.  The work of educating will end and there will be more fond memories than you can see now.  You will actually finish this job.  The laundry will still be there.