I am exciting to share with you all our first African-American Homeschool Q & A of 2018!  When I started the series, I didn't know exactly how it would look nor did I know how long it would last.  Sharing tips and encouragement from other moms does my heart good, and I hope it does the same for yours.

Meet Homeschool Mom, Nike Anderson! 

How long have you homeschooled? What does your homeschool environment look like? 

We are in our second year of homeschool. Our boys are ages 3 and 8 so we use a variety of homeschool methods to cater to their kinesthetic needs. In our home, we very much mirror a combination of the Charlotte Mason, Montessori and traditional classroom. While we have a designated classroom, we also like to learn outside on the back porch on the days we have beautiful weather.

How did your family decide to become a homeschooling family? 

I studied curriculum development during my Master's program and really got the inside scoop on what was going on in the public school system. During this study, I stumbled across statistics on the rising homeschool population and the benefits of homeschooling. At the time, my eldest son was just an infant, but I knew even then that homeschool was a perfect fit for our family.   

What is your favorite part about home schooling? What helps you to keep going? 

Our vision for our homeschool is to help our boys develop a love for learning, so seeing my boys so excited to learn is probably my favorite part of homeschooling.

God keeps us going. He is our source of wisdom and strength.

What are your struggles with being a home schooling parent? 

Homeschooling can feel overwhelming at times, especially on those days that don't go so smoothly. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed because I'm comparing my homeschool life to that of others, and I feel like I don't measure up. I've taken what works for another family and try to force it on my own family...to no avail. In these moments, I'm reminded that there's no one right way to homeschool and to stick with what works for me and my family.
 

Share a few words of encouragement with other moms who home school. What is your tip for keeping atmosphere joyous in your home? 

My tip for other homeschool parents is to remember that challenges are completely normal. In fact, with every calling comes obstacles and challenges. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. Some things I do that have served me well are pray and meditate on encouraging verses, play soft classical music in our classroom to encourage relaxation, run a diffuser with essentials oils in our home to help balance my mood, homeschool outdoors on beautiful days, take time out for myself, and connect with other homeschool moms for laughs and good conversation.

Nike Anderson is a mommy blogger at NikeAnderson.com, where she shares her passion for faith, family, and homeschool. She is also the owner of Nike Anderson's Classroom, a virtual shop for educational resources.