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I remember how I felt when I first started considering homeschooling my children several years ago. I had so many questions and so many doubts. I wondered how people did it. I wondered how parents could be a parent and a teacher at the same time. I wondered how mothers could possibly get all of their other household responsibilities done. I wondered if my children and I would feel isolated and if my children would feel like they were missing out. I wondered if I was qualified to teach my children. I wondered what others would think about our homeschooling and how I would answer their questions. I worried that I would get burnt out or tired of being with my children.

Lately I have been talking with several people who are considering homeschooling or who are just starting out, so I made a list of things we "veteran home schoolers" can do to help others thinking about homeschooling and to help new home schoolers feel comfortable and supported in their homeschooling.

1. Invite them over to your house to see what homeschooling looks like and how one family does it. Show them your materials and how you store them. Explain to them how you get the schooling and all of the other responsibilities done. Describe a typical day of homeschooling in your family. Every family does things differently. Be sure to tell them that they will find the way that works best for them.
2. Give as much support as possible. Be available to answer questions and talk about the process. Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling. Sure, we want to be positive about the whole experience, but we also need to be honest about how challenging, frustrating, and isolating homeschooling can be.So many moms who do not home school say to me "I don't know how you do it. You must be so patient and organized. I could never do that.Yes we do way beyond what the average stay-at-home mom does, but we aren't perfect, we are not as patient and organized as they might think or as we would like to be.
3. Encourage them to find other supports, such as another homeschooling family, a co-op, and other outside activities. Point them to the many on-line supports, and statewide groups.
4. Lend them some of your materials or curriculum to try on their child or children in helping them figure out their style of teaching, the child's style of learning, and what type of curricula they may want to purchase. This really helps in the decision making process and to cut down on spending on something you may find

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