The Importance of Finding Your Tribe

I know homeschooling can be an isolating and lonely journey if you don't have a group of people around you to support. So, this is your reminder to get out there! Connect with other homeschoolers and build a strong team of people around you who are going to encourage you and your children and keep you on the path to your educational goals.

WHO SHOULD YOU INCLUDE?

Find your tribe. Love them hard (as the saying goes). Let me add: Be smart and choose wisely. Bring people into your circle who are likeminded. Homeschooling is no walk in the park. You need people who are going to cheer you on, not bring you constant news about so-and-so who's kid didn't turn out well even though they were homeschooled.

First off - family. If you are married, you and your spouse need to be on the same page as to the educational needs and solutions for your children. The last thing you want is a divided home, so agree to a strategy and stick with it. Once a good amount of time has been spent working that strategy, reflect on it and decide how and where to implement changes.

Secondly - friends. These are the people you go to for encouragement on those off days, or support when you are facing challenges. Friends often have golden nuggets of advice that come in handy when you find yourself in a difficult spot. Having friends who are in your corner, rather than treating you like some crunchy, over-protective parent, is crucial. Why? Because after awhile negativity, even in a playful tone, will start to get to you and make you wonder about your decisions.

Thirdly - tutors and educators. There are some subjects that you come across that will just be plain hard. Trustworthy online resources, tutors and other educators can help you break down a curriculum or lesson plan and blend fun into the learning process. Having that person (or people!) in your circle with an educational background is such a great addition, because they will have the ins on insightful resources and new teaching strategies.

MODEL TEAMWORK

It is important that you model teamwork in how you educate your child. This applies even if your child is in the traditional school system. The child in your care needs to see collaborative problem solving, mutual agreement and solution implementation, discussion, trial and error, and support.

By modeling teamwork for your child, you set them up to learn fundamental communication strategies that are imperative for doing any business with humans. Your child will learn that problems can be solved. They will learn that people's opinions should be respected, even when they are not the same as your own.

Teamwork will also teach your child resilience. When a group is working as a team and a problem arises, they don't just give up. Moving together as a team means that everyone is putting in the extra effort to come up with a successful solution. For you, this means that everyone in your support team is doing their best for the educational success of your child.

LOVE THEM HARD

Be appropriate with this and be intentional. Make sure your team feels appreciated. They are supporting you and you are supporting them. Do and say the thoughtful things that make people feel that they are valued, and their effort is noticed.

Be genuine with your praise, because your child is watching, and one day they will have to surround themselves with a tribe too.

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