In homeschooling, as in other areas of life, we seldom meet our goals. We wish we'd read to the kids more, took more field trips, and focused on home economics. They taught themselves more of something that we'd planned to do the leading on. Did we fall short in some areas, ie 'fail' to improve or meet our goals? Sure. But were the kids educated adequately in the key subject areas, staying on grade level? If the answer is Yes to those questions, we haven't failed in homeschooling, but we also didn't meet all of our goals.
That said, there are homeschoolers who are really not getting the basic job of educating accomplished, year after year. These are kind people; people we may be friends with and even admire in a category or two; however, if excuses are accepted and mediocrity or failure is acceptable in the homeschool community, who is truly getting the short end of the stick?
We mothers have already graduated college or high school. Our life plan is set out for us, but our children are just getting started. Is our pride or fear keeping us from making changes that are best for THEM?
So many moms enjoy learning 'alongside' their child, but the brain of a 40 year old is not as quick as that of a younger person. While learning alongside is fun and fulfilling, let us make sure it is not holding our student back from fulfilling their potential in learning. These are THEIR years to shine, and we need to be realistic about what is working and what isn't.
I'm a big homeschooling advocate, but in the last 10 years I've seen more than one home that is failing in their goal to home educate their children. Character is very important--of course, I get that and agree, but if your 11th grade student is not learning disabled and is doing 9th grade work still, you have failed to advance your child and should consider turning over the reigns to online, DVD or a school. Ignorance is not acceptable if we're proud to be homeschoolers.
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