3. Look to Your Family
Home schoolers recognize the value of the family unit. Let it support you. Enlist the help and support of your children. Grandparents or other relatives may offer support as well.

Your family will need help in knowing how to support you.

 •  You may need to tell your children, "I really love you and love teaching you, but I need a little extra help in keeping up with the chores.  A word of encouragement or a hug would sure come in handy too!"

 •  Be sure you model support and encouragement in the way you interact with your family at all times.

 •  Family members can, and should, be each others' best friends and supporters.  Talk to your children about helping each other in this way.  A focus on the positive can replace problems.

Look for Support from Other People

1.  Look to Good Friends
Just one faithful, sympathetic, and praying friend can offer a tremendous amount of support.  This informal "support group" can meet on the phone whenever the need or opportunity arises or once a week at a specified time.

Caution:  Don't let this good friend take the place of the Lord or your spouse.

When like-minded home-school families spend time together, they provide needed support and encouragement for the whole family.

2.  Consider Mentoring
Veteran home educators should consider what they have to offer beginners.  New home schoolers can look for veteran home educators to mentor them.  A regular time together or an occasional phone call can make a big difference!

A local support group may be able to help you find a mentor.

3.  Look to a Support Group
Support Groups may consist of only two families, or they may be large and offer many functions and activities.

Involvement with your local Christian home-school group can provide encouragement, fellowship, educational opportunities, field trips, academic training and information, solutions to your problems, and answers for your questions.

Cautions

 •  Don't become overwhelmed by trying to participate in all the activities offered by your support group.

 •  Look for a group that will support your family's standards.

4.  Look to Your Local Church
The fellowship and teaching of your local church provides important support for your spiritual life.

An ideal home-school support group might also be formed within your church if fellow members are home schooling. It is an added blessing to have a pastor who encourages you in your home-school efforts.

"And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
(Hebrews 10:24-25)

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