Although I have been homeschooling five years, this past school year was the first time that I have participated in a local homeschool support group. I’m a little bit shy, and every time I checked into attending a support group meeting, I would eventually back out. Once I realized that I would have to walk into a stranger’s home or another unfamiliar place...alone...and meet people I did not know...well, there was just no way.

    But then my usual excuses flew out the window.  A couple of homeschooling ladies at my church had the nerve to hold an “interest” meeting to see if there was enough interest in our church to start a homeschool support group. And several moms whom I knew very well were going. Uh-oh. My church. My friends. It looked like all my usual ploys and lame excuses were null and void. It was time for me to check out this side of homeschooling.

    I did some internet searching and reading before hand to get a feel for the ins and outs of homeschool support groups (you know...never go anywhere unprepared). I was surprised to find that there was a good deal of negativity surrounding support groups in the homeschooling world. It seems that there are countless cases of misunderstandings, differences of opinions, lack of leadership, etc. Ooohh...I didn’t want to come out of my safe cocoon only to find myself involved in something like that. But then I knew of at least two local groups who had been together successfully for almost 20 years. Obviously it can be done.

    We held that first interest meeting in April 2006. And more than 15 ladies came. Definitely enough to get us started. We decided to hold a new homeschoolers meeting in July and have our kickoff meeting in August of 2006. One of the ladies who had started the meeting agreed to be the leader. Other jobs were identified and quickly filled such as activities coordinator, treasurer, hostess, etc. And then our fearless leader said those fated words, “I really need a co-leader, someone who will help me behind the scenes with organization and records and such.” No volunteers. A few more words of encouragement about this position. Still no volunteers. Later, emails were sent out about the position. And still no takers.

    And this went on until into June. Co-leader? Does it have a bad sound or a bad connotation or something? It sure sounded better to me than “activity coordinator” and we had not one but two ladies jump at that job! Dear fearless leader, what would I have to do if I were to be your co-leader? Well those were more fated words and before I really knew what had happened, I was the co-leader of this fledgling support group. Me...the one who had never stepped foot in a support group meeting before!

    It has been a whirlwind ever since and a very, very rewarding experience. This post is solely to help me remember how my life as a homeschool support group leader began. And it does answer the how. But not the why. That has been answered slowly over the past year. That is for another post...