Inside Scoop

It’s not easy to quit something that’s been a longstanding habit—homeschooling, for instance.

For many baby boomers, like me, the homeschooling years are drawing to a close as children graduate. Many parents in this stage are not sure what they will do with the void left by the “homeschool habit” they had for 20 or 30 years.

Some never want to think about homeschooling again. They’ve “done their time.” (In fact, most parents have experienced times when they couldn’t wait to finish homeschooling!)

Others are not quite ready to kick the habit, but aren’t sure what to do now that their daily teaching routine has stopped. If you’re one of those who still have a passion for homeschooling and want to stay involved, here are a few ideas for “supporting your habit.”

• Continue to support your local and state homeschool groups through membership or participation.
• Volunteer to serve as a mentor to a new homeschooler. Check with your local group to see if they have a mentoring program.
• If you have a specialty, offer to teach a class to local homeschoolers.
• Become a “Friend of Homeschooling” by making a donation to the Home School Foundation (www.homeschoolfoundation.org). You’ll receive a Court Report subscription and other HSLDA benefits.
• Sign up to be an “Ambassador” of the Home School Foundation. For details go to www.homeschoolfoundation.org and click on “Give Help,” then “Volunteer: Ambassador Program.” This program offers a variety of opportunities to serve your local homeschool community. (See From the Heart on page 14.)

One good thing about clinging to your homeschool habit is that it has a great long-term impact by helping protect and secure the right to homeschool for future generations. When you invest your time and energy into worthwhile causes, such as homeschooling, you are doing as Romans 12:9 says: “Cling to what is good.”

So, as far as HSLDA is concerned, supporting homeschooling is a habit we’ll gladly enable as long as you want us to.