Chapter 18 of Educating the WholeHearted Child is all about finding support. Here are some places that you can find support as a homeschooler whether you're a veteran homeschooler or just figuring how to homeschool:
- Local support group
- Books
- Online
I'm not a very outgoing person, so #2 and #3 are my preferred ways of finding support. I'm a researcher and I love reading, so books and websites are usually my first choice when learning about a topic or looking for help with something. There are a lot of good local support groups ranging from co-op class groups to field trip groups to moms groups. These just don't seem to fit where I am and the ages of my kids right now.
The best form of support for me has been blogs and social media. I've met some wonderful moms online. I thought about listing some here, but there are so many that I would feel bad if I left one out, especially of those who have become personal friends. When you're first jumping into and learning how to homeschool, blogs are great because you can see how every family puts homeschool into action in a different way.
I've been a part of several online book clubs recently that have been very encouraging. One was on Seasons of a Mother's Heart. I took about 12 weeks and blogged through the book with other homeschooling moms. First, it is a book that all homeschooling moms should read and second, it was a great way to get to know other moms. I loved it so much that I have a book club starting in January to go through How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids.
Another way of getting support is a retreat or conference. Apologia Live hosts several retreats around the country each year. I'm excited about going to Atlanta in the spring for one of these retreats. I'll even get to meet and hang out in real life with some of the moms I've become friends with online. {Stick around…. I'll be giving away a ticket during the HEART Book Club!}
How do you find support for homeschooling?