The following is a post from Tabitha

At times in the past (and present) when talking to other homeschoolers, reading their blogs, or seeing their experiences, a little voice in the back of my mind says, “Oh, wow, I wish we could do that!”  This is my homeschool envy voice that pops up from time to time. It can make me miserable. It can give me ideas. It can drive me nuts. (Am I the only one?)

For example, one family takes nature walks daily. One family goes to museums in New York City. One family travels and homeschools in their motor home. One family travels all over where their dad works and gets to spend time in different locations learning about the area as well as all the normal homeschooling stuff.

One family buys all the latest curriculum or gets totally customized computer lessons for each topic. One family has a strict schedule with a set time for each meal, chores, school subject, and everyone follows it! One has seemingly unlimited funds for their schooling needs.

One family signs each child up for multiple classes, activities, and sports. One family has a great co-op that is perfect for them and that they are very involved with. One family has a beautiful schoolroom where there are desks, chalk boards, and every educational tool imaginable.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...

This is just the start of the topics that might catch the attention of my little ‘voice.’ There are many appropriate responses (other than smacking my head and telling the voice to be quiet.) If I am not alone in this, maybe some of these ideas can help you, too.

1. Ignore it. Some of these things are just not possible for our family at this time. Either because of our family size, location, or financial situation. Dwelling on what you cannot do is damaging to your spirit and attitude. A higher power has said, “Thou shalt not covet.” Do what you can with what you have, and don’t worry about the rest.

Some things you can save for, like a big trip, and some things just aren’t a possibility at all.  At this time in our lives I am not going to be able to take my family to big Broadway productions or visit museums out of our local area. However, we will enjoy our local zoo and possibly some museums when it is appropriate.

We purchase used curriculum and use free resources, and we buy new items as needed or as they fit our budget. When we do have a chance to travel, we make sure we have fun as well as look for great educational experiences available to us at our destination and along the way. Even if it isn’t Europe!

2. Listen to it. Maybe your little voice is reflecting a subconscious idea about something lacking in your homeschooling experiences. In this case, you may want to take a closer look at what you like about what your friend is doing and see if it is something you could use with your family.

Maybe you aren’t doing enough with science, and that nature walk might add just the right amount of physical activity and nature study that you were lacking. Maybe you are short on fine arts, and visiting the art museum you think the kids will destroy will provide some great inspiration and open new doors for your family.

Maybe that new curriculum you are jealously eying would be just the right fit for one of your kids, and you can find it on ebay (or even borrow it for a test drive!). This little nudge might be the voice of reason saying that what you are seeing in others might help you reach your goals for your family.

 3. Look at your family. Is this thing that you are jealous of even the right fit for you? Would that schedule even work for your free spirits? Would that school room fit in your house (or would your kids even use it, like the ones who like to do their schoolwork upside down on the couch?)

Would traveling be something you could stand, never being in the same town twice? (I hate laundromats!) How many kids would I lose on a nature walk? (Just kidding. Mostly.) Do I want to spend that much money on a curriculum when I know what we have works for our family? Does our busy schedule need any more activities, or is our nightly family dinner together worth not having fencing, karate, or art?

Questions like that can be a reality check for me when my imagination runs away with me. It helps me to realize what we are doing right, how we came to that decision, and the specific needs of each of our children. In most cases, the homeschool envy vanishes as I realize what we are doing is the right fit for us right now.

4. Plan ahead. If there is something you really want to do, and it is something everyone in your family would love and benefit from, make it work! Set a goal and make a plan to reach it! Save the money, do the research, and make it happen.

5. Take a closer look. Spend more time with those friends and see what is REALLY happening. Sometimes the perfect family situation isn’t that perfect, and being with that family might help you realize that having your own situation is worth more than trying to live someone else’s life.

Overall, I really enjoy reading other people’s experiences with their families and all the different ways to homeschool. After all, every family is different and everyone finds a different fit to meet their goals. My temporary insanity envy can help me refocus on what we’re doing in our family.

I like where we are at.