To Use or Not to Use . . . a Tutor

Math.  It’s the bane of my existence.  

Apparently, I can do math, but I’ve had a difficult time teaching two of my three kids math.  One, because I really don’t like math, and two, my daughter and I have very similar (ie, strong) personalities, which can lead to some difficulties.   It’s hard teaching and explaining when a person’s expectation exceeds their ability or knowledge, someone who just has no interest in math whatsoever, or they have decided a career path that requires math for college that I never learned.

So I decided to get a math tutor.

I have to admit, it was a difficult decision.  I felt like a failure, as a mom and as their teacher.  I tried to find the perfect math curriculum (here’s a clue, there really isn’t one), and I changed our curriculum way too many times to count.  It doesn’t help that the past few years have been difficult for everyone, but we also had three deaths in the family in less than a year, and it took a toll on us.

I found a tutor.  A former homeschool mom (all her kids are grown) who apparently loves math and can explain it to my kids.  And the transformation has been nothing short of amazing.  

In just a few short weeks, their confidence level increased along with their math skills.  And over the last year, it has made such a difference in my children. It has also decreased my stress level. It’s pretty much a win-win situation.  

If you have a child who is experiencing struggles with learning, I want to encourage you.  As homeschooling moms, we put a lot of pressure and expectations on ourselves, and we also deal with pressure from others as well.  We are very fortunate in our homeschooling journey at this time, because we have so many opportunities for learning for our kids, both local and online. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t teach it all (especially math or science).  

I encourage you to take the opportunity to avail yourself of the myriad of options available if you need help.

Tamara