Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Feeling overwhelmed by homeschooling? Home School Legal Defense Association Chairman and General Counsel Michael Farris shares how community support can reduce stress, on this edition of Home School Heartbeat.

Michael Farris:
There is no doubt that homeschooling is an undertaking that increases pressure on a family, especially Mom, who is doing the bulk of the teaching. But moms, you're not alone. In order to persevere, homeschool moms have learned to support each other.

Dr. McDowell, in her study on family stress related to homeschooling, cites professional literature that reveals that those who receive support from likeminded people as being positively affected in the individual and family's ability to adjust and cope with stress, crises, and change. Clearly, such support in the homeschooling community through support groups and other activities is fundamentally important.

Advice from a veteran homeschool mom can supply just that needed tip that will get a new homeschooling mom back on the right track. Perhaps all she needs is a little encouragement from someone who's seen how her teaching and mothering duties complement each other, building a strong relationship with her children that will last a lifetime.

If you are finding homeschooling plus the rest of your life overwhelming, get help. Get connected. Find a mentor. Read the current homeschooling literature, or go on the web and visit a homeschool site or a chat room. A threefold cord is hard to break. God, plus you, plus the strength you get from other like-minded friends, gives you the ability to persevere.

I'm Mike Farris.