I would say a homeschooling parent needs a quiet and gentle spirit, patience, humbleness, a ready smile, and a supportive spouse. The most important thing I've learned to do this year (our first year) is to be proud of MYSELF, instead of letting little hang ups or oops-es get me down. The most important thing I've realized is that I am not a martyr, enduring punishment for my noble decision, as a homeschooling parent. Quite the opposite, I am extremely blessed and should appreciate each day home with my kids as the priceless gift it is. :love:
Um.... the first thing to have for homeschooling... kids? LOL To be able to read and write and do basic arithmetic yourself, and some basic computer skills so you can get here to the Spot and look up information sites... To have an intense desire for the best for your kids (and/or grandkids).
Love! God is the only one that can give you the patience. I'm not there yet, but He's teaching me every day. A thick skin to let comments of others roll off!
Great answers! PLEASE tell me that a love for dead bugs, warms, and the dissection of critters is NOT a prerequisite for homeschooling!!!
As far as a prerequisite law, I wouldn't want there to be any. It would lead to too many different opinions and too many regulations. As far as what a parent should have in order to successfully homeschool, here is my top choices: 1. A willingness to have a paradigm shift in their thoughts about educations and real learning. 2. A willingness to change the total plan and direction in order to actually have an effective and peaceful homeschool. 3. A willingness to see that their relationships with their kids are more important than high scholarly achievement. 4. A willingness to use textbooks OR to NOT use textbooks. In my situation some things are better with a textbook and some things are simply better without one. 5. Forgiveness- for their children and themselves.
I agree these ones! And I think the patient one someone else said, is so important! When I am not patient with my kids they do not learn, they shut off or act out. But the reading and writing is the beginning of all else so the parent must know how to do these things, and basic math because how will you teach anything without them. This is an area I worry about with my one friend who thinks she does not know math well enough to teach her first grader... I figured once we graduated that was a given? but apparently not all adult grads attending college can write or read or do math, even though they have a diploma from a public school. Amazing but true!
