More parents are homeschooling.

I am seeing many new members in homeschool groups and forums.

And I?m feeling their excitement and anxiousness through their posts.

I remember that feeling.

As a brand new mom twenty years or so ago, I wanted the best for my babies. I bought the latest marketed item that was certain to make my baby the happiest, the smartest, the most well-adjusted kid in the whole world! Toys, clothing, sensory items, food?

Yes, that?s hyperbole, but you know what I mean. I was new to the whole mom thing, and I wanted to do everything I could to make sure I did it ?right.?

Of course, I learned that just taking one day at a time as a mom was sufficient. Learning how my kids absorbed new information was eye-opening. And working with their strengths while encouraging them through their weaknesses helped all of us thrive.

Time for school, or not?

When it came time to send them to preschool, I was all over the interwebs seeking information. I wanted to do what was best for them to help them become the well-adjusted kids I knew they could be.

I think we lasted in two-day-a-week preschool for a total of three-and-a-half weeks or about five whole days. It was not what I had in mind, or even wanted for my kids.

While researching other options, I stumbled across Oak Meadow and was introduced to the world of homeschooling. I do believe the sky opened, light shone down, and the angels sang.

I dove into homeschool research, and I?ve never once looked back.

Naturally, I wanted the best for my kids. I researched the latest marketed item that was certain to make my homeschooled kids the happiest, smartest, most well-adjusted children in the whole world! Curriculum, manipulatives, workbooks, audio and video lessons?

No, that?s not hyperbole, I really did have my sights set on perfection. I was new to the whole homeschool mom thing, and I wanted to do everything I could to make sure I did it ?right.?

Exceptionally right.

I read, I researched, I fretted, I questioned ?veterans?, I went to conventions, I begged anyone who?d listen to ?Just tell me what to do!? A lot of times, I?d hear the words, ?Just relax.?

Being a perfectionist didn?t let me just relax. But I did finally hit on a combination of scheduling, curriculum, and exciting learning opportunities that worked for us those early years.

As my kids grew, my confidence grew. I made adjustments as necessary, changing up our home education process as my kids changed and grew.

What occurred to me was this: I?d done just fine getting them to preschool age. I taught them how to dress themselves, feed themselves, tie their shoes and manage the bathroom, all by themselves. And I didn?t run around asking everyone one to ?Just tell me what to do!?

I researched and applied the information I learned to my kids as I understood them.

I played with them, and through play, they learned letters and numbers, how to identify famous people from history, how to measure liquids and solids when helping me cook, and how to be helpful around the house. I learned how they learned.

We?d already been ?homeschooling? for years before I considered preschool. And instead of sending them to preschool, I opted to keep them home.

I learned that just taking one day at a time was sufficient. Watching my kids absorb new information was thrilling. And working with their strengths while encouraging them through their weaknesses helped all of us enjoy the homeschool process.

The most important lesson I learned was that homeschool is simply an extension of the parenting I?d already been doing for years.

I didn?t need to plan out the next 12 years for them. I didn?t even need to know ahead of time what the entire school year would encompass outside of generalities. (I know not all states offer this freedom, but I was happy ours did.)

Knowing what the average child knew by a certain age or grade didn?t apply to us. One of my kids learned to walk early, the other late. One of my kids figured out the whole potty-training thing early, the other, not so quickly.

But it didn?t matter, because they learned when they were ready.

And I learned the same applies to home education. The freedom offered by homeschool allows parents and kids to work together in tandem, playing on strengths and encouraging weaknesses, no matter the lesson.

Reading or raking the yard. Writing or washing the dog. Math or making muffins. It doesn?t matter the lesson, the process is the same. Tell, show, do together. Parenting.

Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but the experience and wisdom I gained from twenty-plus years of parenting and homeschooling give me comfort. I could tell new homeschoolers to relax, but I won?t, because it doesn?t really help.

There is a note of empathy in the word relax, but no real substance.

My advice is to remember the early years when you were a new parent.

That excitement, joy, and yes, a little bit of fear you felt then is the same you feel now when making the life decision to keep your child at home or take them out of school if they?ve already been going a while.

Gather information.

Listen to advice.

Then do what is best for your child, because, in the end, you know them better than anyone else.

You know how they take in information. Use that knowledge and introduce them to the whole wide world of amazing new ideas, one idea at a time.

And realize that if something arises you don?t know or understand, there is a wealth of information and expert assistance to be had just for the asking, just like when they were babies.

You got this. Homeschooling is a continuation of the parenting you?ve already done.