Pet peeve time, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.

I have been at this homeschool coaching thing for over 25 years and as they old saying goes if I had a nickel for every time I heard “blank, blank, blank” then I would be a millionaire.

What is my “blank, blank, blank?”

It is a well-meaning but misleading advice to homeschooling families to begin your journey by choosing your curriculum. After all don’t we need books, lesson plans, and advice on what to teach for each grade our children are in?

Perhaps you began this way and are are just now feeling a bit overwhelmed or feel like things are not working. Do you feel like homeschooling your kids feels like a battle every day?

No more wasting money

Time after time, I see families waste thousands, yes I mean thousands of dollars, on curriculum choices based on what the parent, in many cases the mom, feels drawn to for their homeschool.

It’s not their fault. Just do a simple Google search or peruse any homeschool Facebook group and you will see hundreds of people advise parents to begin by looking at curriculum choices, learning styles, and/or educational philosophies.

Once down this path, it is a slippery slope to overwhelm.

I often make the analogy that to begin with curriculum first is like being asked to make dinner and you’ve never set foot in a kitchen or looked at who you will be making the dinner for. can they eat it, is it good for them?

Many of the choices out there are designed with the mom (and dad) in mind, not the child.

Those that have followed me over the years and the hundreds of families I have coached over these past 25+ years know that our children come first. And get this, each child is a unique, unrepeatable event in time.

So cool right?

The call within the call.

The tug to home educate is real. It is a real calling, a “call within a call.”

There was something about the experience you have had with your children in a traditional school, or the encounter with a family that chose to homeschool, that made you curious. Made you begin to consider to “reimagine” what education could be for your children.

But the world out there still wants to keep you in the “knower’s trap.” What is that? It is where you have to go to experts or do a study of learning styles, and educational philosophies to guide you in homeschooling.  You must go to those who KNOW what and how to homeschool.

However, many of those well meaning folks, want to keep you in the box, the grade by grade box, the designed school model. The too much and doesn’t work for most kids model. The crush your curiosity and joy model.

How do we change this?

Your Family’s BIG WHY

We start with the BIG WHY for our family, and we do so firstly by praying with our spouses.

What is the Big Why?

It is the very core of “Why are we homeschooling this year?” Why this particular child? What are our families’ aspirations, expected outcomes we dream of by homeschooling.

By answering this essential question, then and only then, can you begin to homeschool, and subsequently choose what and how to do so.. And get this you do not need to be any kind of expert in learning styles or educational philosophies. You do not have to spend thousands of dollars of buy tons of textbooks, sign-up for a myriad of online courses or a big box of books.

Nope it is waaaayyyy easier than you think once you get crystal clear on your BIG WHY.

But there is a danger lurking…

Why do we always revert back to the “imposter syndrome.” That self talk that says “Who am I to teach my child?” “How can I possibily do a good job?” “ Am I qualified?” Am I enough?”

The truth is it all boils down to relationship with God, your spouse, and your children.

And that takes time. Perhaps you have not invested that time so far. All the more reason to craft your BIG WHY. The need is urgent.

Time is not renewable, once lost it is lost forever. Our children are with us for a small fraction of time.

How do we spend that limited time? The good news is that homeschooling affords us this time!!! Yay!!

So forget doing a deep dive scouring the internet for the BEST curriculum.

Unless you take the time to really understand and define your BIG WHY you are homeschooling and WHO you are homeschooling, you will end up in just another slightly better version of what you left.

Here’s help for this all important first step. I created a handy prompt sheet to help you through your BIG WHY. (click the form below)

It is part of our Catholic Homeschool Community workshop too. So if you need guidance, we are here to help.

We have a beautiful Catholic homeschool Community that is building Catholic Culture together by reimagining education.

As a Catholic parent it truly boils down to our Catholic faith. I just love this quote…

“One of the most fundamental statements of faith is this: your life is not about you. You’re not in control. This is not your project. Rather, you are part of God’s great design. To believe this in your bones and act accordingly is to have faith. When we operate out of this transformed vision, amazing things can happen, for we have surrendered to “a power already at work in us that can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Even a tiny bit of faith makes an extraordinary difference.”

– Bishop Barron

Want some help for your BIG WHY?

Now it’s your turn…Share with us your BIG WHY in the comments below.

Be on the look-out for the next awesome and easy next step in your homeschool journey!