You may be homeschooling your children, but the process will put you, the home school mom, dad, or other caretaker, through a process of self development.  You will find ways to grow personally in order to be able to better do your job as a home school parent.

When it comes to self development, you start with changing the way you think.  You can make some big improvements in your life, including character and lifestyle changes, by using some of the simple tips in the article below.

Stay around like-minded individuals.  In this case, it will mean joining a local home school association.  Not only will this strengthen your resolve to homeschool and reinforce positive attitudes in yourself, but it will also allow you a break from people who badmouth your goals and dreams at every turn.  Even though there are many children who have been successfully homeschooled, there are still those who are detractors and negative for one reason or another.  Being a part of a local home school organization will help you stay the course.  You need positive enforcement.

Sit down and uncover what has become the barrier between you and your goals. This seems to be hard from some people. Having the ability to identify weakness is very important and can help you to make positive change.  Are you worried about not being able to successfully teach a certain subject?  This is where communication with other homeschoolers will prove invaluable.  You may form an alliance where each of you teaches to your strengths.  Or, you may learn about a curriculum that will suit your needs.   Your future will look much brighter if you acquire new strengths through either online searches or associations with other homeschoolers.

Have a notebook or a smartphone app to jot down notes wherever you go. Use a notepad app on your phone or even carry a real notepad with you. This way, you will always be in a position to write down your thoughts and these can then be implemented at a later time when you have more freedom to act on them.

Recognize how much you still have to learn. You can then focus your attention on positive growth and development.

Even as a home school mom or dad, don’t forget to take care of yourself.  Exercise.  Eat correctly.  When you are healthy you can do a better job at managing a homeschool.   Exercising stimulates your body to produce all kinds of chemicals that ultimately result in a happier, calmer you.

Individuals who are dealing with severe problems may benefit from regular therapy. Sometimes it takes a professional, outside perspective to identify the real source of a problem and this cannot be found in self-help books. There are many times when talking with another person about a stressful situation is the most effective route to relaxation. Reading a book won’t let you have a dialog the way therapists do.  If you have some kind of severe struggle that is affecting you and your children, find help.

Do you abuse alcohol? Are nicotine or other destructive habits something that harms you? Our bodies are important to maintain, and should be treated with care. Improve your life by eliminating unhealthy habits. Evaluate your lifestyle and habits honestly to see what you can start working on today.  It is especially important to deal with bad habits and eliminate them.  Use the help you can find through a church, a professional counselor, an AA program, or whatever it takes.  Your child is watching you, and especially watching you even more if you are homeschooling.

No matter what your self improvement goals are, there is one thing you need to do. You must live life to the fullest, and avoid being a spectator who watches the world go by. Don’t be a spectator who isn’t participating in your world. Take action and live!

A great step in self improvement is to practice selfless behavior. Knowing what it means to care for and help others, by making the sacrifices within yourself, can greatly benefit your inner character.  Being a home school parent is a sacrifice, but it is worth it.   Making self-sacrifices for others, while still feeling your best, will take you that much closer to achieving your personal development goals.

The sound advice in the above article will give you some important concepts to consider as you work to improve your attitude, character and lifestyle for the better. Use the tips from this article to help yourself work on your personal development as a home school parent, and you will be on your way to enjoying a new life.