Homeschooling 8 kids? My honest book review “The Four-Hour School Day:” How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life by Wilson

Hello, fellow homeschool mom here! I've been homeschooling for the last 13 years, and I love discovering new books about educating at home. I highly recommend one particular book about a family of eight that homeschooled their kids, mostly all the way through, depending on each child's interests and goals.

Check out “Four Hour School day” Durenda Wilson

The Four-Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life

On Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hD20KD

What struck me is that these parents weren’t highly educated or pre-trained teachers like myself. Instead, they learned, experimented, and grew alongside their kids. This book has really made me reflect on my overall goals for my children. I only have three, yet I often find myself struggling with thoughts like, "Are my kids behind?" or "Am I doing enough?" and "Will they be prepared for life?"

This book has been a huge help, especially since the family featured was homeschooling well before the internet, relying on traditional methods like paper, pencil, library books, and thrift store resources. They weren’t a wealthy family with access to all the latest services and apps; they kept things simple by teaching their kids at home, taking them to the grocery store, and going on bookstore trips. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the past 13 years, and it really encouraged me.

The author shares stories about all her children, who grew up happy, healthy, and well-adjusted, some of whom are now college-educated and have full-time jobs. They still maintain strong family relationships, which is so inspiring to me. Sometimes I question what I’m doing and wonder if I should just scrap the whole homeschooling idea. Every year, I remind my kids that they aren’t prisoners in my home; they have the freedom to say, “Mom, I want to try this” or “I want to go to a traditional school.” I ask them yearly if they want to switch to a more conventional setting or try a hybrid co-op or online learning, and every time, they say no.

They recognize that transitioning to a traditional school would mean sacrificing the flexibility we have, especially since we travel 6 to 8 weeks a year. If we were more intense about academics, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy these experiences together as a family. My husband and I own our own businesses, so our kids often join us on job sites, learning and growing alongside us.

I always give them a choice and discuss the pros and cons, creating a list together. We have these conversations every year. Going back to the book, the author mentions that she was never homeschooled herself; for her, it was simply a grand experiment, which resonates with my feelings after all these years.

It’s refreshing to see what lies at the end of the tunnel and to learn about the challenges her family faced, both mentally and emotionally, and how they remained patient with their kids without rushing the process.

As a trained teacher, I’ve been conditioned to believe that children need to hit certain milestones and check off boxes by specific ages. I often feel anxious, wondering if my kids are behind and if that might hinder their future.

So, this book has been a fantastic source of encouragement. If you're newly exploring homeschooling, especially in Virginia, I recommend visiting my blog at www.thefunschoolers.com

for resources and tips on getting started.

If you're a veteran homeschooler who's been at it for a long time, I’d love for you to comment below and reassure me that everything will be okay because your kids have turned out just fine. And if you’re curious about why I choose this path, I’d love to hear your thoughts as well! Much love, everyone. Peace out!