Let’s Work Together

 

 

Asalaam ‘Alaikum:

 

Insha’Allah you and your family had a wonderful Ramadan filled with blessings. I also hope, insha’Allah that you had a wonderful Eid this year. Alhumdulilah – this year has been full of changes – now I have three kids to homeschool and a new baby. It’s been a time of adjustment, to be sure but I am certain that things will improve in time, insha’Allah. Every year there is something new we have to adjust to – but every year (at some point) things improve and you often forget how difficult things were in the beginning. It’s just a matter of time.

 

This year I actually found myself a little stressed the day or so before school. I’m usually more organized and even start the school year early. However, with the new baby this has been next to impossible. So – it took me a little out of my comfort zone (I guess I’m actually there) – and I’m trying to find out what works best for us and how to approach our day.

 

I’m assuming I’m not the only one going through this transition. Even though we have been homeschooling for 5 years now – we seem to have to get back into “school mode” at the beginning of the year. I remember this time being especially difficult in my first years of homeschooling because I was so afraid I was going to mess up everything – but now I know that if I just relax and ride the storm through – that things will improve. It’s like in the statement in the Qur’an:

 

“So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief” (Surat Ash-Sharh: 5)

 

Anyway – I don’t know if anyone knows exactly why I started this blog – but essentially I decided to go on this homeschooling journey before my children were born – although it wasn’t a natural decision (I, myself, wasn’t homeschooled) but it is just something that I became certain of in my heart way before the time came. So, naturally I decided to join homeschooling groups and search for ideas and advice for homeschooling from the very beginning. There were hardly any serious homeschoolers in my state (at least that I knew of) except perhaps two people – so I didn’t have a lot of people to talk to about it. It sometimes felt like a lonely venture as others around me started to prepare their own children to go to school. Alhumdulilah – though – I felt solace in knowing that at least there were people online that I could talk to – who knew what I was going through. For that – I was very grateful.

 

Alhumdulilah – now there are many people following this same path – homeschooling their children (even in my own community, masha’Allah). It really is wonderful that our numbers are increasing – and we can share so much together – helping each other through trying to educate our children in the best way possible. Anyway – I essentially wanted to share what I had learned on my own journey – I wanted to help others just like there were people who helped me when I first started out. I am hoping, insha’Allah that I have helped someone along the way. Sometimes it can be quite quiet around here – and it is hard to know if I have provided help – but other times I meet someone or hear from someone who has visited my blog (and knew me there first) and it makes me aware that it is making some difference. Alhumdulilah.

 

I want to continue to help you – and grow with you – through this homeschooling experience. Sometimes I can forget what types of questions I had when I first started – or those things that I wondered or worried about in the beginning. Sometimes even now I have questions that I need to find answers to. So – no matter what your experience with homeschooling – if you are already there or starting out – I was wondering –

what questions or concerns do you have?

If I can – when I have time – I will try to address them on my blog. Some things I will have no experience with – but perhaps I can send you in the right direction. Other things I may have some helpful hints for. So, please – take a minute and submit a comment – let me know what questions you have. Insha’Allah – in time – I will try to address them here.

 

We are all on this journey together – so why not work to help each other improve our odds of success?

 

Asalaam ‘Alaikum,

Sumayyah Umm SAAK