Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Book Review: Homeschooling for the Rest of Us

Now, THIS is a homeschooling book I can get excited about.  Sonya Haskins wrote Homeschooling for the Rest of Us, subtitled "How Your One-of-a-Kind Family Can Make Homeschooling and Real Life Work."

Incredible book.  Absolutely wonderful.  I'm keeping this one on my shelf and referring to it often.

What I am used to, unfortunately, is homeschooling books that make me feel inadequate.  Beautifully matched children smiling while they sight-read a symphony, with captions about how they all were admitted to Harvard on full-ride scholarships when they were 12.  I stare at that, wondering why I can't even manage to get my children into clean clothing.  Or at least not all of them on the same day.

This book is different.  It doesn't tell me that there is one way to homeschool.  It doesn't paint a perfect picture.  It does talk about dirty houses, miserable days, and just generally reassures me that I don't have to be perfect to homeschool.  It is, in fact, for "the rest of us" -- those of us who sometimes have it together, but sometimes don't.

I've been a homeschooler since my first child was born just over 13 years ago.  In terms of "real" homeschooling, I suppose I've been at it 8 (K-7) or 9 (if you count a year of PreK) years.  This is the first book I've read that really left me feeling like I am doing okay.  And maybe I'm more insecure than most, but I really need a book that affirms me and my not at all perfect homeschool.

I'd recommend this book to anyone.


Disclosure:  Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  No other compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

4 comments:

TaderDoodles (Lisa B) said...

Wow! A homeschooling book for real families :) LOL Awesome!

I, too, usually feel inadequate reading homeschooling books.

Where can I get this one? I'd love a copy!

Debra said...

Oops! Well, just to prove I'm a real person, I totally didn't link the book to anything!

Amazon, Christianbook.com, probably pretty much anywhere... but I *will* link it...

Duh!

Deb said...

That's a great review Debra, and I'm logging into my library right now to see if they carry it.

I know what you mean by some homeschool books - I always end up feeling bad that we don't grow all our own food, make all our own clothes, volunteer to read to the elderly, and know three languages.

I don't even get their hair combed most days....

Tina@ SendChocolateNow said...

I just saw this on my Zemanta...and had to click it. Finally, a book for the rest of us! I have been homeschooling going on 6 years, and some days are good, some not so good, and some are just plain awful. So glad to hear that someone admits it!