In the Spider-Man® universe, one of the guiding principles is that “with great power comes great responsibility,” something Peter Parker learned the hard way. He had the power—the superpower actually—to stop a criminal, but he didn’t and lost his Uncle Ben as a result.
Homeschool parents relate. With the great power to guide our children’s education comes the great responsibility to do right by them.
My homeschool parent friends are keenly aware of this. Homeschool families flock to homeschool conferences and expos. Stop by any social media group for home educators and you’ll find parents asking about curriculum, following state laws, seeking help to solve this or that problem.
We want to do this right.
However, one of the things I’ve noticed in recent years is, while parents will take responsibility for their children’s education, sometimes there’s a reticence to take full advantage of their power as decision makers.
We hesitate.
I see too many parents wanting someone else—someone “out there”—to assure them it’s okay for their children to take an open book history test, to tell them it’s okay to use a computer science class as a science credit, to give them some sort of cosmos permission to count a cookie baking sesssion filled with fractions as a math lesson.
I regularly find myself encouraging new homeschoolers to seize the day—to seize their power as teacher, the principal, and the school board.
You decide. You make the call. You be the one. You and no one else.
Don’t wait for someone else’s approval or permission or go-ahead. Look to yourself.
Seizing your own power as an educator means taking full advantage of what it means to homeschool.
Depending on where you live, you may have more or fewer government regulations, but regardless of which state you call home, you have options. You have the freedom to decide exactly what your homeschool will look like.
Yes, your homeschool will look vastly different from every other homeschool family’s homeschool.
And. That’s. Okay.
In fact, it’s supposed to be that way.
When your homeschool looks radically different from your best friend’s homeschool, don’t doubt yourself…and don’t doubt your friend. You’re unique homeschool parents, and you’re raising individuals. Why wouldn’t your homeschools look different?
In fact, if your homeschool looks exactly like some other family’s homeschool, I’ll be so bold as to say chances are good either you’re doing it wrong for you…or they’re doing it wrong for them.
As homeschool parents, consider how with great responsibility comes great power.
This year, do yourself a favor: Be Brave. Take advantage of the power you have to direct your children’s learning, then use your superpowers as a homeschool parent for good…create a homeschool experience as unique as your children.