I like homeschooling a lot more than I like exercising. That’s probably obvious to you based on my blog posts. After all, this is a homeschool blog.
But I’ve discovered that homeschooling is like exercising in many ways.
1. Small, repeated investments have a big pay off in the long term.
Going to the gym doesn’t instantly give you the figure you’re longing for. (I wish!) But a commitment to exercise will show dramatic results if you stick with it — even if it is only 20 minutes a day, three times a week. Homeschool is like that. Short, daily lessons like Charlotte Mason recommended seem to be insignificant. But they build a foundation of learning which reaps huge dividends.
Some days we jump from ten minutes of artist study to ten minutes of poetry to fifteen minutes of grammar. Are we really accomplishing anything? Yes, we are. There is power in a little done often. And with short lessons there is no time to get burned out or bored.
2. If you don’t do it right, you are just wasting your time.
With exercise, if you do it wrong, you can actually hurt yourself instead of contribute to your wellness. I certainly don’t want to perpetuate any fear on the part of homeschool moms that they are teaching their children in the “wrong” ways. But every mom should carefully evaluate how she makes her educational decisions.
Are the methods you use in line with the educational goals you have? Are you spinning your wheels with methods that don’t work or that sap the love of learning from your child? Are you in a rut? Just like you ask the advice of a trainer when you’ve reached a plateau in your fitness efforts, sometimes a homeschool mom needs to seek the advice of a mentor or read a how to homeschool book.
3. Although you can spend a fortune, the necessities are very inexpensive.
I am amazed at how much you can spend on exercise — fancy clothes, gym memberships, exercise equipment, dietary supplements, and pedometers. But to get fit, all you need are a pair of tennis shoes and a place to walk. It’s really that simple.
Homeschool is exactly the same. You can easily spend a thousand dollars on a child for a year’s worth of homeschool curriculum. But homeschool can also be accomplished with Internet access, a library card, and a much more modest budget. Flashy doesn’t necessarily mean better. It’s just flashier. And expensive.
And let’s be honest. It’s a lot more fun to shop for cute workout clothes than it is to actually exercise. Right? How many of you love researching and shopping for curriculum more than the actual teaching of the lessons? Don’t let a lack of frills keep you from making your homeschool experience great. Start with what you have and keep it simple.
4. There is a high that comes—if you keep going.
I always read about endorphins that come when you exercise. But not until the last couple of years have I experienced the high that you can get from exercise. The reason I never believed in them is that I would get sweaty and stop long before the endorphins had a chance to be released. To get the good feelings, you have to press through the pain.
Homeschool is like that too. Some days it feels dull and lifeless. Some days you fight with your kids. But if you keep pressing on, those endorphins will kick in. In homeschool, the endorphins are a love of learning and a close relationship with your children. When they kick in, you know you’ve made the right decision to educate your children at home.
Do you see any more parallels between exercise and homeschool? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
What a great analogy .. never actually thought of it that way before.
I especially like point no. 4, as there are often days when we just keeping pushing on waiting for those endorphins to engage.
I find exercise is easier when it comes as a by product of some other activity- gardening, playing with the kids, etc. Education is also like that. It is easier when it takes place in the context of ordinary life. (Would that FALL under point #1 or #3?)
and this is why I love you… great analogy 😉 It’s also a bonus if you have your kiddos read aloud to you when you run on the treadmill! I tend to focus on their reading and not the exhaustion and it has helped me keep my mouth shut and let them correct themselves – bonus!
Love this comparison! 🙂 I also went back and read the “Hot Pants” post – LOL!
P.S. I would Zumba 7x a week if I could.
Great analogy, Jimmie! I’m realizing the benefits I’d simplicity in our homeschool. Just as in exercising, if it’s complicated, I’m not likely to stick with it.
Jimmie
After home educating nine children for 14 yrs I’d have to totally 100% agree with points 1 & 2. (well 3 & 4 too). I spent alot of years fluffing around before I got that, but I suppose my middles and littles are reaping the benefit of hard one wisdom.
Love the analogy, something I can really relate to. I shared this with my friends on Facebook and my blog as well.
Hey – what a hot post! I love the comparisons!
May I add a few more analogies ~
As with exercise, some folks work out better on their own, others prefer a class. Finding a co-op or group may keep you motivated in your homeschooling.
Finding the type of exercise that you love and enjoy is similar to finding the perfect curriculum to “fit” your teaching style and your children’s learning styles.
Mentors are also like personal trainers and keep your working on and accountable for your weak areas (which, like in exercise, we try avoid) and help keep the balance.
Using a complete program is like doing interval training. A person who only does weight-training may develop strong muscles, but if they add a stretch + cardio class they will become trully fit. When you teach the full program of educational disciplines (3Rs + fine art + humanities + sciences etc.) it provides a well-rounded education.
Thanks for this fun mental exercise! 🙂
What an encouraging post! A friend – a NEW friend from our h/s group and a co-op – shared it. And it is especially relevant as I struggle with weight/exercise issues yet want to be a better example for my children. I guess DISCIPLINE would fit under your #2, above. Both exercising and h/s require that we be disciplined to follow through as our children learn from our examples: when I fail to act consistently on my belief that exercise is good for my physical body, it is the same as when I begin to let things go, require less and appear to place less of a value on learning. The same amount of DISCIPLINE (struggle??) is required of each. Thank you for your post!
Glad I came back to read the comments. Great additions here! Obviously you’ve hit on two areas that homeschool mom’s can relate to. 🙂
Love this!!! Love it! It felt so good to read it, I was shaking my head yes the whole way through!
So happy to find your blog!!! This was my first visit and I can see that there is a lot to read here that I will enjoy!
Carissa
Love it!!!
Jimmie, wonderfully written, and so true. I needed to read #1, especially, though all of them have hit me and stepped on my toes at one time or another.
Another analogy: if you fall out of step with either (homeschooling or exercise), no one says that you must stop altogether. You can pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and start all over again!
Blessings!
I absolutely agree! Another connection between homeschooling and exercise is that if you keep at it, slowly but surely, progress WILL happen. It’s not a matter of “if” results will happen, but “when.”
Great post.
Okay, good points, but the analogy breaks down for me because I actually enjoy homeschooling! LOL
Tammy, I love HSing too! (Exercise, not so much! Wish I did.)
How about plateaus? Sometimes you reach a point where you feel like you aren’t making anymore progress and are stuck at one level. To keep from burning out, it’s important to mix it up, add some variety to your workout, try something new. In homeschooling, we can also plateau, become bored in our routine and need to do something new to refocus us. (Usually happens in February for me!) That’s when I’m glad we have the freedom to just pick up and leave, go to the park or museum, just do something different.
Great analogy!
Peace and Laughter,
Cristina
A friend sent me this link, even though we don’t use the same method, I can really appreciate what you are saying here! It is so true, it is that long term gain that we are in search of. I look at my five children that range from 10 months to 15 years and I think about the long haul, the fun we’ve had, the education they have gained and the enjoyment we get from it all each day.
Like exercise… we have to stick with it in order to get any benefit.
Blessings to you!
What a wonderfully encouraging post – exactly what I needed to hear today. My daughter is in seventh grade also and I’ve been floundering about, trying to figure out this whole homeschooling middle school thing. Reading several of your posts has me inspired already!