“I work long hours everyday, and even though my children are homeschooled, I feel like I have no clue how they are doing. I just always assumed that by making the choice for our family to homeschool I would be much more involved in their lives…”
Raising children is one of the most difficult experiences a person will ever face. I find myself regularly telling clients that being a parent is the most challenging relationship we will ever have, second only to marriage. The busyness of our society only magnifies the complexity of child rearing.
Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular as parents try to provide the best for their children. Unfortunately though, even the most dedicated parents can feel a sense of inadequacy, that they’ve somehow missed the mark, particularly when trying to balance the demands on their time.
The concept of a Daily Report can be extremely effective in including the working parent into the homeschool process. Taking a few minutes when you get home from work to listen to your spouse and children about the events of their day can be extremely effective. Have your spouse give a brief description of your child’s work throughout the day, and in turn give your child a few moments to respond.
This brief report helps in a number of ways.
- Communicating a general interest in your children’s academic achievements
- Showing a genuine concern of how each other’s day went
- Addressing areas that may need more attention
- Contributing ideas that may be helpful
- Opportunities for praises and encouragements for both your child & your spouse
- Establishing an overall connectedness within your family
Nick Hersey, LAMFT, LAPC
nhersey@ GROWcounseling.com