Where Do You Get Advice, Homeschooling Mom?
That can be a really tough question to answer, can’t it.
I have spent hours and hours looking for advice as I journeyed through the homeschooling years. Even today I sometimes find myself wishing I had someone I could ask for some specific piece of advice.
Here is a handy list of places and types of people you should keep in your Internet and in-person “rolodex”:
1. Park Groups – this was my mainstay spot for getting advice when my kids were young.
The kids can play, you can keep and eye on them, ask for advice, and pick up all kinds of great tips from veteran homeschooling moms. Plus parks and playgrounds are free. All you need to do is pack your “homeschool mom” folding chair and some water and snacks for the kids and you are set for a great afternoon! Finally, if you cannot find any park days, then get yourself on a city or regional email list and create one! It is easy to do and you and your kids will be so glad you did.
2. Support Groups – there are more support groups, I think across the country than Park Groups.
These are great places to get, well, support and advice. Support groups oftentimes have activities for the whole family, including seminars and mini-conferences, sports events and dances, and even homeschool graduations. These are people who will stay the course with you through homeschooling, usually. And it is a great way to make lifelong friends.
3. Facebook Groups – There are at least a couple Facebook groups for any possible kind of homeschooling in existence.
The great part about Facebook groups, is that you can connect with moms in far-away places. The down side is you probably won’t ever hear them talk or get a reassuring pat on the shoulder when you are frustrated.
4. Homeschool Days at local businesses – Around our neck of the woods, there are homeschool days at trampoline sports centers and ice skating rinks and tons of other spots.
The trick is finding out that these opportunities exist as most of the time, a business is pretty quiet about its homeschool day. Once you find one that your kids like, go regularly. Every time for a number of months. You will discover a mom or two who is outgoing and friendly and lo and behold, you will have an ad hoc advice group! This was one of my favorite places to get advice when the kids were young. At one trampoline spot, a group of us staked out the “eagle nest” area every week, high above all the trampoline action, so we could watch the exits and let our children roam and play with friends in safety and freedom below. Also keep in mind that once you find one of these homeschool days, moms there will tell you about other businesses that offer homeschool days. The combination of great advice and friendships along with discounted activities for the kids during the day when the public schoolers are safely tucked away in classrooms is a fantastic one for any mom!
So get out there homeschool mom!
Go find some people who can help you and provide advice. There are 2.2 million homeschoolers out there in the United States, more and more every day. If you need advice, go make a friend. And if you have advice to give and you see a downtrodden and frustrated homeschooling mom, go introduce yourself and give her a helping hand. We can all use it once in a while, wouldn’t you agree?
Now, please click on through the link below and you can read loads of great posts from other moms of the Homeschool Review Crew as we come together for the 5 Days of . . . Blog Hop!
