“When we examine our educational options with our own personalities and our children’s uniqueness in mind, we allow the fresh wind of possibilities to waft through the room. The best education we can give our children is the one that says: There are unlimited ways to get to where you want to go; I’m here to help you find your way.”

Julie Bogart, The Brave Learner

As a homeschool mom of a high-schooler, I am not merely providing a structure of academics, hoping my kids flail and flop their way into independence. I am also not hovering over every activity as was required in the early elementary years. My work is to find the balance in between; my job is to partner.

Homeschool parents are more like patient, skilled coaches than teachers. We provide the gear. We encourage goal setting and lay out road maps for learning new skills. We enlighten our students on the tips and tricks necessary to get ‘good’ at a thing, then back away and let them succeed independently. Although, a good homeschool mom-coach always shows up with healthy snacks for maximum brain development and giant mom hugs, which everyone needs. 

Sometimes, our coaching shines a light on a hidden talent, and sometimes, a student will realize they don’t love the thing anymore and want to move on. That’s ok, too.

Each school year since we started planning in 2013, we have thrived in the variety of our mission. We studied geography, religion, and art in Europe; we read Verne and Hemingway in the Bahamas and Cervantes in Spain. We carved a unique educational path over the last ten years, and our children have excelled in ways we never imagined.

Our school story has grown along with our meandering learning and insatiable curiosity, and every school year has been different from the last. Locations of travel and learning opportunities have varied, from dining on the Asian side of Istanbul to trekking Yosemite in California. We studied in Denmark’s cool northern rains and swam with sharks in the Bahamas. Flexibility and open-mindedness have been our mantra.

This year will be different again, as Oliver (a senior) has expressed an interest in public high school. At this point, we are working out the details – whether it will happen, and if so, will he go full or part-time? Either way, we don’t take this request lightly or as an invalidation of homeschooling. Rather a distinct and admirable validation of the young man we have raised, one who is unafraid to try new things, meet new people and learn what he can along the way. We are fiercely proud of Oliver and all he has achieved so far in school and life, and we know that he will continue to do great things.

Diversity in learning styles has always served us well. While a public school departure may appear to disrupt our homeschool narrative, it does not. At its core, homeschooling is built on the success of the unique child/student/parent/learning partner framework, and it has to consider both student and parent to succeed. Homeschooling is a collaborative, mindful partnership based on a foundation of trust and, most importantly, relationships. And healthy relationships support one another.

I never in a million years thought I would homeschool our kids for one year, let alone ten. But here we are. We also never wanted our kids to grow up in a straight line, so if public high school is the next adventure, sign me up! While I will deeply miss this upcoming year of reading and learning with our youngest son at home, I am here to encourage and support him however he needs. That’s my job.

©2023 Lynne Rey
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