When I first chose to homeschool, I was a mess.
I had no idea what direction to go, what curriculum to use, or where to look to find my answers.
I would have given my eye teeth for access to a homeschooling expert.
Except, there were none, and I’ll go so far as to say there still aren’t any.
No, not one.
By definition, an expert is someone who has comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of, or skill in, a particular area.
Now, consider the endless choices of curriculum and resources many of you keyed into the comments on last week’s post, How to Use Your Homeschooling Wisdom to Help Others.
With over 50 comments, you barely scraped the top of the endless number of choices available to homeschooling families.
That is why I expect anyone who asserts they are a homeschooling expert wants one of these three things:
1. To sell you a product
2. To sell you a service
3. To gain quick respect
So if anyone tries to convince you that they have “comprehensive and authoritative knowledge” about homeschooling as a whole, beware.
They don’t.
That would be impossible.
To be fair, there are many who may have expertise in a particular curriculum or maybe even a specific approach to homeschooling, but no one out there is a homeschooling expert.
Even if they equate years of experience, a degree or a specific certification as their foundation for calling themselves an expert, they can only claim expertise in a specific arena, not the whole homeschooling gamut.
And let’s be honest, within our information age even that expertise is slippery.
What am I saying?
I’m saying that the shocking truth about homeschooling experts is there is no such thing.
I am not a homeschooling expert.
You are not a homeschooling expert.
That organized momma in your homeschooling cooperative who seems to have it completely together is not an expert either.
Although, you don’t have to tell her that because she already knows. She just doesn’t want you to know.
But here’s the thing – you’ll feel peaceful when you comprehend that no one can know it all.
There is comfort and freedom when we understand we are all doing the very best we can.
Does that mean we should stop looking for help when we need it? Absolutely not! It’s important to seek out those with more experience when you’re in a difficult place or need to make a decision.
But keep everything in perspective.
If you reach out and receive an answer that doesn’t resonate with you, keep looking. There will be others who have equal measures of experience, but perhaps come from a different point of view or approach.
Take it all in.
Chew on it.
And finally, trust yourself to make the wisest choices for you, your kids, and your family.
While there may not be any homeschooling experts, you are the expert when it comes to your kids and their needs.
Heather Sanders helps moms pursue their passions and earn an income while staying home with their kids. If you want to raise your children while contributing to your family financially and following your dreams, subscribe to her blog now.