Are you looking to get started minimalist homeschooling? Why? Let’s start at the beginning…
invest – v. 1. To commit in order to gain profit or interest. 2. To spend or utilize for future advantage or benefit.
Parenting is the only investing I can think of in which the investor relinquishes all gains to the parties in whom they have invested. These investors expect nothing in return for themselves. In addition, they believe so fully in the potential excellence of that in which they are investing, that they don’t hesitate to commit.
Minimalist homeschooling asks two questions:
First, what exactly are you investing in?
Second, what are the wisest investments to make toward that goal?
The obvious answer to the first question is: Our children. Their futures. But you’ll have to be a little more specific than that…
The second minimalist homeschooling mindset hack from the book is: Invest your time and energy into your values.
There was some discussion in our facebook group about how to approach homeschool values… are they the same as family values? Different? Do they overlap?
It depends. What are you so sure will offer your child future gain, future advantage, and/or future benefit that you are willing to commit whole-heartedly, certain of a positive return on your investment?
Because let’s be clear: we are not adhering to homeschool values, or following our values. This goes beyond knowing our values. Investing is plunging us into commitment with an eye toward a future gain.
Homeschoolers invest in their children’s education. They commit. Most homeschoolers tend to spend and utilize every resource they can get their hands on. They do it for future gain, future advantage, and future benefit.
Now, the distinction must be made between the investment we make, and the thing in which we are investing. The investment is the expense, that which we invest in is the potential gain.
We devote our time and energy to math facts, lessons, and outings. Homeschoolers make investments of field trips, grammar, or Latin word roots. The investment is our time, energy and knowledge – and those investments take many forms.
We invest in our children; in their education; in their future.
A financial investor invests in their future financial security by wisely picking and choosing investments. So, too, minimalist homeschoolers can wisely choose investments that are most promising for ensuring a future gain, benefit, or advantage for what they are investing in: their children’s education.
In fact, minimalist homeschooling relies on making wise investments. Minimalist homeschooling theorizes that you will have better returns in the future by focusing your portfolio on the most important investments. Homeschoolers can be savvy investors that choose the best investments, not every investment.
To identify your homeschool values, it really comes down why you are investing in your children: What potential future increase in value you foresee or desire for them?
Put another way:
What big-picture return on your investment are you hoping for this school year?
What potential return on your investment are you hoping for at the end of the homeschooling journey?
Then, what are the wisest investments you can make?
Comment below with the investment that will motivate you to get started minimalist homeschooling…
>Read The previous post in the series “Do What You Love… because Minimalist Homeschooling is about more than purging books.”
>Read the next post in the series: How to keep homeschooling simple amid fears of everything you SHOULD be doing.
The Minimalist Homeschooling Mindset Series is designed to compliment the book Minimalist Homeschooling. While the book offers a road map for homeschoolers looking to optimize their child’s education, these posts help readers embrace a minimalist mindset that advocates both simplicity and excellence.
>You can also read “What is Minimalist Homeschooling,”
>Check out all of our Minimalist Homeschooling posts here.
Wishing you all the simple things,
Zara
I am just getting started on my journey with homeschooling. I have always had a desire to make the jump but was scared I would mess up and my kids would suffer in the long run. We are going to invest in basics and building foundation for something more challenging in the next couple of months. For now keeping it simple
That sounds like a wonderful plan! How is it going???