What to do when a homeschooling journey comes to an end
We are all about supporting homeschoolers in every way at this site, whether they are just beginning their journey or deciding to end. Homeschooling is a rewarding experience, but it is not for everyone all the time. Many people who homeschool face, at one point or another, the question of when to stop homeschooling.
The reasons for ending one's homeschooling are as varied as the reasons for beginning. It could be an illness, a changing work situation, divorce, educational challenges, or simply burn-out. No matter what the situation is, the decision can be very emotional.
I have known many people who have left homeschooling. One was a mom undergoing an unexpected divorce, with custody issues. Another was a family who suffered a death in their immediate family, and the mother had to return to work. One was a mom who just burned out and needed a break (they later returned to homeschooling). Another was a family who felt it was best for the personalities of their children to return to traditional schooling.
Sometimes the hardest part of leaving homeschooling is telling other homeschoolers. We often fear telling others when we decide to homeschool, but there is also often hesitation to share with others the fact we are leaving the community. After all, homeschoolers tend to be very proud of their homeschooling, champions of alternative education. To embrace all this, then leave, can feel like failure. There are some homeschoolers who scorn those who return to traditional education, or at the least, make the family feel like traitors, those who have given up.
However, sometimes "toughing out" a situation just is not an option, and ending homeschool is the best solution for a family.
How to handle leaving homeschooling -
- Do not feel guilty - There is no shame in ending one's homeschooling journey. A journey is just that - an experience, not a destination in and of itself. Whether your homeschooling experience lasted one year or ten, your family got a lot out of it (even when it does not feel like it!).
- Find a simple way to explain (to anyone who needs to know) why you are no longer homeschooling. It can be as simple as "It is what is right for our family right now".
- Contact your local school to find out what is necessary for getting your children enrolled. This might involve birth certificates, grade records, or placement tests.
- Relax - Life may not be going how you expected, but it will all work out.
- If you do not plan to return, you can always re-sell your homeschooling materials, or give them away to friends.
How to support those who must stop homeschooling -
- Be a sympathetic listener. If sometimes tells you they are leaving homeschooling, offer whatever support you can.
- Try not to be judgemental. Life can bring unexpected changes. We do not always know the real reasons behind someone's decision.
- Do not abandon friendships - Homeschoolers are often know for their generosity. Keep the friendship going, even if the schooling changes.
Homeschooling is a wonderful thing, but there are times when a family must make a decision to stop homeschooling. The reasons are varied, and sometimes private. Whether the family returning to traditional school is you or someone you know, the most important thing to remember is to keep an open mind.
Life is an experience, and that is really what homeschooling is all about!
Have fun!
