Now there are some fabulous homeschool blogs out there where you can get some great ideas and even free curriculum printouts and such, but peeps BEWARE! Some of these blogs cause feelings of inadequacy and awe at what these people are doing with their kids.
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| Thing 1 and Thing 2 working on a biology project |
There are days when I can barely remember my kids name so I really don't need to keep reading these blogs on their "perfect homeschool lives". Latin, geography, math, English, cooking, sewing and science and that's all before morning tea! Their kids are sewing aprons and knitting blankets which they are donating to the next big cause in between speaking multiple languages ... sigh When I start to do stuff like this frankly I end up burned out!
Do they not have days when they want to bash their heads against brick walls because they aren't getting through to their kids, or frankly their kids are being right little buggars? Sometimes I wonder if there is too much pressure for homeschoolers to appear perfect because many people think what we are doing is mad and so it gets hard to share frustrations and bad days. I am not sure why because I can promise you teachers and kids have bad days too.
I find these days I tend to "follow" people who blog who are keeping it real. They share their ups and downs, without being negative Nellies, and they are generous with their knowledge and friendship. These are the blogs I can resonate with. They are not filled with "awards" or advertising or promoting this or that. They are just people going about their business and I love that they take the time to answer each and every comment, even it is simply to say thank you.
So thanks to my bloggy mates who don't make me feel inadequate (cause although I really would love to make my blog look more professional I just don't have the time right now to learn) and often pop over to read what I have been up to, in what I am sure is simply appreciation for me following their blogs cause frankly folks I am not always sure what the heck I am doing or writing about on my own blog!
Blogging gives you a very loving community...:)
ReplyDeleteIt can be very loving indeed and these days it is nothing for me to have formed sweet friendships with people right around the other side of the world which is indeed wonderous and warming. Thanks so much for stopping by.
DeleteDon't let anyone make you feel inadequate. All you can do is your best and no one is perfect. I think those who portray themselves as the perfect family or the perfect homeschoolers are hiding something. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, and don't feel bad about mixing up your kids' names. I used to call my kids by the dog's name (and vice versa). It's all part of being a mom. :)
You are quite right the only people who can make you feel inadequate is yourself!
DeleteThe fact that you mixed your kids names with your dogs names makes you awesome! I really did LOL as they say. ;)
Believe me you are not the only one who feels like that sometimes. You have to remember that it really does take a long time to make a great blog post and people are in various stages of their lives, and sometimes people have varying days of productivity. Thanks for visiting my blog with the A to Z : ) Happy to have found you.
ReplyDelete~Lucy
Kids Math Teacher
I really like that "varying days of productivity". That definitely resonates with me. Thanks for visiting Lucy. I look forward to reading more of your postings too.
DeleteHomeschooler, huh? Good for you. My landlady is a huge homeschooling advocate and resource here in Illinois, and I've learned so much from her and the people I've met in the community. While I met her after I was already an adult, I learned how to learn from the homeschooling community and from her. You stay strong, and don't let anyone make you feel inadequate! Your girls are lucky to have you. :)
ReplyDeleteThose are very kind words - thank you. Yes we are fortunate in our countries that we can homeschool, not that I think there is anything wrong with schools but at this stage of our lives this lifestyle suits and meets all our needs. I feel very lucky to have my girls too.
DeleteI can so relate to this, as I'm sure a bunch of folks can! I do more than my share of blog hopping and browsing the net, especially with blogs of people who are fabulous artists- it's like a kid in a candy store but then I'm left with that inadequate feeling. I admire homeschoolers so very much. You do the most important job there is. Keep it up and thank you for sharing this! :)
ReplyDeleteI am more of a copier/replicator than a free thinker when it comes to art so I think artists are so amazing. I am always inspired by how they can make something magical from basically nothing. Keep following your own bliss and vision, you are so lucky to be doing something you love - best of luck.
DeleteFrom what I've seen so far your blog rocks! :D I do agree that some blogs (not just homeschooling ones) make me feel inadequate too! I just try to use it as a source of inspiration or just stop reading it lol. Blogging is for fun and for sharing our experiences with others so it would be counter productive for me to follow a blog that makes me want to quit blogging. I didn't know for sure if other people felt that way or not, so it's interesting to learn that you do. Great topic for A to Z. :D
ReplyDeleteI started blogging because my whole family loves in Aussie and my mother thought that FB was something akin to the devil ... until she got on there but that's a whole other story! It was a way to keep her up to-date with her grand-daughters lives and somehow it turned into a bit of an outlet for me. I have met the loveliest people so even when I really can't be bothered, I keep going because I really like some of the people that I have met via this blog.
DeleteVisiting you on the 2nd day of the #atozchallenge. Imagine writing to you all the way from North Carolina in the States. I have friends that are home schooling. It is a labor of love. Hope you make lots of new blogging friends this month. If you have time or interest, I am writing about gardening for the challenge. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Stepheny. I just popped over and checked out your blog and pinterest links ... WOW! I will be definitely adding so many of your boards to follow for inspiration. I am not a great gardener but I do so love them.
DeleteI am right there with you! I include pinterest and even facebook in this category. But since we are talking about homeschooling...this is my first semester doing this and I will actually talk about in a future post this month! It's been full of highs and lows, challenges and victories! I really enjoyed your post today. Thanks for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteI think I have an unhealthy obsession with Pinterest and FB and between us I just love those Pinterest fails ... gosh they make me laugh! I have had some complete flops (often recipes!) so I can commiserate with them.
DeleteI should look up those Pinterest fails!
DeleteWe deal with the feelings of inadequacy with our students all the time. They loved to hear that it isn't just them! Thanks for visiting us at Learning at Cedar Ridge Academy
ReplyDeleteCome also see us here at Cedar Ridge Academy.
I so admire that your students are contributing pieces for this challenge - I think that's awesome!
DeleteIt is very sad when young people feel inadequate or lack confidence, I think there is too much pressure for people to "be so much more" these days.
Haha, my boys are NEVER little buggars ;) As for kids names.. I often want a kid and start by calling a name and usually get the correct name on the third or forth try.
ReplyDeleteOne of my nieces complains that my parents call her by my name. I told her she should take it as a compliment as I was a totally awesome kid, so it's kind of an honour. She laughed and scoffed, the cheeky monkey! Pfft .. .she's out of the will. ;)
DeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting topic! I look at blogging as an opportunity to share with other people and make friends. I love it when we can have conversations in the comments box and everyone has their say. The blogs that could make me feel inadequate are the Catholic faith crafty ones. I never seem to get around to organising something wonderful for the feast days etc. I like looking at other people's photos of all the wonderful things they've made, but I just tell myself it's okay to be different. We do other things they don't do. Btw, your blog is one of my favourites. I love visiting. You have a gift for making people feel welcome and valued, and I always come away with a smile!
Thing 1 and Thing 2? New names? I like!
That is how I look at blogging these days too Sue. I do enjoy using it as a way to record our lives a bit but the friendships are what keep me going! Thank you for your sweet words - I am coming to meet you one day you know! I am putting "meet the Elvis's" on my bucket list ... lol
DeleteMy mum gave the girls Thing 1 and Thing 2 stuffed toys years back and they are so darn cute!
Your blog looks quite fine, Multi-tasking Mama. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder
Thank you and thanks for visiting.
DeleteYou are quite right about how some homeschooling blogs can make us homeschooling mamas feel inadequate. I try to remind myself that they probably ONLY post the good stuff. I'm so excited to find another homeschooling mama and will be back often. :)
ReplyDeleteTaMara
AJ's AtoZ wHooligan
Tales of a Pee Dee Mama
Thanks so much for commenting TaMara, we must always remind ourselves that we are doing the best that we possibly can do, at that particular moment I think.
DeleteBe sure to check out Sue Elvis above who commented above, she's a brilliant Aussie unschooler and also IrishMum who homeschools her boys in Aussie too. Rhonda below also homeschools her girls in NZ and around the world.. Awesome group of ladies.
Don't you teach your kids not to compare themselves to others, somehow as mums we forget our own advice. And, more importantly, writing about a perfect life doesn't mean they are really living it.
ReplyDeleteRhonda I never practice what I preach ... I am appalling. I make my kids eat healthy food and smuggle sweeties when they aren't around ... lol
DeleteI get the same way with Pinterest....I look at the projects, desire to make them, then remember I lack the "crafty' gene so to speak! Homeschooling must be a tough challenge. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHomeschooling has it's ups and downs just like all our lives but the time spent with your kids far outweighs the negatives. You must look up pinterest fails, they will be sure to bring a smile to your face.
DeleteI completely agree. It's hard reading about people who seem to be doing so much better than you. Sometimes, I can't even find anything nice to say and just click away. It's not that I don't want them to do well, it's just that their accomplishments make me feel like such a loser...
ReplyDelete(new follower)
Lexa Cain’s Blog
The thing is Lexa, without realising it we make other people feel the same way. A friend commented that she feels bad cause I do so much with my kids compared to her, yet I think she is amazing and my girls want to go live with her!
DeleteOh my, I've never home-schooled but I can certainly see how there are enough overachievers out there to make one feel inadequate. I always tell my husband and boys, learning to deal with boredom and finding ways to amuse yourself is just as important a skill as filling your brain with structured learning.
ReplyDeleteYou are right society places so much importance on structured learning these days that we are forgetting to teach children what is also important in life. I met a lovely old lady recently and asked her if she had any grandkids. She very proudly told me that her grandkids are a doctor, civil engineer and physiotherapist. After chatting further I learnt that sadly they don't visit much as they are far too busy! It made me really sad.
DeleteTotally agree with you about some blogs. I try to keep positive on mine because it is about the journey of our new school in Auckland and we are keen to promote the positives of the new way we are doing things. I think the key is to do less, better. So don't worry about not doing a million 'subjects' with your beautiful daughters. You are teaching them life skills and dispositions that are far more important! This is what we are really focussing on at HPSS. How wonderful that you get to take them away overseas. It is my goal to be able to take my two little ones away for a whole year OE at some point before they get to high school. Thanks for the thought-provoking posts.
ReplyDeleteRos you may be interested in looking up "roadschoolers". They are families who live and learn whilst being on the road travelling from one place to the next. I have been unsuccessfully being trying to talk my other half into doing it for a year or two. But you never know ... maybe if I nag long enough ... lol
DeleteI'm popping in from the a-z challenge. There are billions of blogs out there, and I try to just connect with bloggers who share the same world view I do. Otherwise, I'm kind of wasting time. :-) The advice I hear most often about blogging is to be genuine, and what other bloggers are doing...doesn't matter. I'm following your blog b/c I admire homeschooling moms, and I like finding other believers in the blogsphere as well. And New Zealand sounds so exotic! come visit me, if you'd like: http://adventuresintheballpark.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHi Mare, you are quite right genuine blogs are the best and if you can connect even better! If you ever get to NZ (we aren't that far away) feel free to look me up for a cuppa. :)
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