Hmm, gardening is not my “thing.” Oh, I can keep a plant alive, but I’m not that much of an outdoorsy person and definitely not one to go mucking about in dirt. I’ve found that you don't have to go down very far and you get some really yucky looking grubs and bugs. I’m more into indoor plants that all I have to do is water once a week or less, pull off dead leaves, and just “let be.” If I do anything outside, I am determined to only use perennials. I have no desire to go digging up bulbs and storing them for the winter. Or having to replant things each season, no matter how much color I’m missing out on because I only use perennials. We’re rebuilding our porch at present and I have some definite ideas on what I want, what colors, height of plants, and so forth, but I figure I’ll have to call upon a friend to walk me thru the process when it comes to buying plants.

Even though gardening isn’t “my thing,” as a home owner, I’m still going to have to deal with outside plants. Even though I know nothing about most plants—what needs full sun/shade or what kind of soil is needed—there are resources out there for me. I have a friend who is most definitely a gardener. The scientific names come trippingly off her tongue and she can tell you what each plant needs, which ones like to be planted with which ones, and their watering and sunshine needs. Even though it’s my yard and my responsibility, I can turn to her (or even hire a professional gardener) to hold my hand and guide me through whatever processes I need to go through.

The same goes for my child’s education. There have been some subjects that just aren’t my thing:  mathematics, for example. Am I left to my own devices? By no means! There are resources for all of us, even in the smallest hamlet. There are friends, associates, and even tutors to be found who can step in and either completely do it all for my child in that subject, or who can hold my hand and help me learn the subject itself so I may teach my own child. They might even just give me some tips or give me ideas about certain curriculum that I’ve never heard about. Several math curricula have video teachers who either will teach the child directly or who will teach the teacher so they have better understanding to teach the child. Strangely, those outside the homeschooling ring don’t seem to understand this concept. They think as homeschool teachers, the parents must know every high school subject forward and backwards to be able to teach our child at home. Such a fallacy! Even if we don’t know the subject that well, we can go thru the material a week or two ahead of the child, teaching ourselves what we have to teach them. We can seek out outside help.

Just like gardening, we can hire someone to take care of certain aspects of our child’s education. (This might include a video curriculum, a co-op, or a university-model homeschool-friendly organization that I pay for only certain classes, or even just an old fashioned tutor.) Don’t feel like you have to “know it all” or even enjoy it all. Take heart that you can direct the education of your child in any way that works for you—including bringing someone else into the picture.