Are you a member of a local homeschool support group?  I don’t know what I would do without mine.  My tip of the day is to join a local support group if you have not done so already.  If you have not, find out if one is available in your local area.  If there isn’t one available, consider starting one.

            My local homeschool support group was about ten years old when I joined.  For an August kick-off meeting the first year I joined, they had a catered dinner for Moms Night Out.  I had just found out I was pregnant that morning with our third child.  I had already agreed to homeschool my kindergarten age son at his request.  I wondered how I could do it, knowing how tired I got when I was pregnant. 

            That night, I sat at a table full of ladies who were experienced homeschoolers.  They assured me it would not be a problem and gave me tips on how to keep my young son busy while I rested.  If it hadn’t been for their support, I’m sure I wouldn’t be homeschooling today.

            I have been with this group for six years now and they have become my best friends.  While my third son was very young, I did not do all the activities available because I wanted him to have regularly scheduled nap times.  But I missed having a network of friends around me because I had recently moved to the area.  I prayed that my sons and I would be closely knit with the others in the group.  I especially prayed that my children would make good friends and feel as connected with the homeschool group as they would in a regular classroom.  I was amazed at how my prayer was answered.  A group of us began meeting regularly and we all became great friends.  We have laughed about how we believe our children actually get more socialization than school kids because we get together so often.

            There are fifty families in our group.  Our community sees us as a viable entity and has programs for our homeschoolers that would not otherwise be available had we not formed a group.  The local college holds free science classes for our children once a month.  The YMCA has homeschool PE for an hour and a half on Thursday afternoons.  The arts council holds homeschool art classes.  Our homeschool group has a local coop, where our children meet together on Friday mornings and attend classes offered by some of the mothers and other people in our community. 

            A homeschool mom in our local group, who lives in a town nearby, decided to start her own local homeschool group in her town.  Within a year, the membership has grown to over 20 people.  Initially, she ran an ad in the newspaper to inform the community she was starting a new homeschool group in her area.  At the first meeting, twelve people came.  They have become quite an active group.

            One of the activities our homeschool group does is a yearbook.  In the past, it was coordinated by volunteers.  This year, it became a coop class and is being put together by the teenagers.  Their class decided it would be fun to have Spirit days on the first month of coop.  Every Friday for a month, the students had to wear something different, like pajamas one day, mixed up day another week, etc.  Each Friday, the yearbook class was on hand to record the children’s creativity.

            I hope this gives you some ideas for your local homeschool group if you already in one.  If not, maybe you will be encouraged to join one.

            If you have a local homeschool support group, please comment on some of the activities your group does together so we can learn from one another. 

             Let me introduce myself.  I am Cindy Blackwell, homeschool mom for six year of three sons, ages 4, 7, and 11.  Check out my blog site at http:/homeschoolblogger.com/mustardseed/.

Related Tags: Organization, Local homeschool support group, Coop, Community programs, yearbook, Enrollment

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