After making your decision to homeschool and letting your family and friends know, the next step is to procure some support for this crazy ride on which you are about to embark.

Spiritual Support:
Hopefully, once you have shared your homeschooling decision with loved ones there will be at least a few people that you can ask to be praying for your family.  My mom and Chris’s mom were both supportive of our decision when we started homeschooling.  I know they both prayed for our children and us as we began the journey.

Relational Support:
Chris and I had been friends with a long time homeschooling family so we did know at least one other family who homeschooled.  However, their children were much older than ours.  It is important to have other homeschooling parents with which to discuss questions, curriculum choices, concerns, etc. Try to reach out to another homeschooling family, they will probably be more than happy to take you under their wing as you get started.

Educational Support:
There are many umbrella schools and online academies that offer educational guidance and support for those just getting started.  If you are concerned about being able to pick the right curriculum or what grade level work your child might need, these types of programs might be worth some research on your part. 

Try to find a local homeschool support group.  We are blessed to have a thriving local support group.  BHEA offers many things to its members with the largest being our “Monday Fun” co-op.  Moms, dads, or other members of the community come together once a week to offer a wide variety of classes for members ages 3 yrs. to adult.  My children have taken many different classes from cooking to World History.

When you first start researching and planning how to get started homeschooling you will have times where you feel overwhelmed.  We all have! Just try to take the time to establish support so that when you do feel overwhelmed you’ll have a few people from which you can draw strength and encouragement.  Many times I would (still do) pray and ask God to reassure me that what I was doing was the right thing! And He’s always faithful.  He will be your strongest supporter.