The Homeschool Dad: In Praise of the Unsung Hero

Preamble:

Whereas the noble homeschool mom has been lauded in song and story, the homeschool dad often toils in obscurity, his contributions unsung. Let it be known that this injustice shall stand no more!

We, at Seton Magazine, in a spirit of levity and coffee-stained lesson plans, do hereby declare the following:

Article I: The Right to Dad Jokes

• It is the inalienable right of every homeschool dad to inflict puns, wordplay, and groan-inducing jokes upon his captive audience (aka, his children).
• Resistance is futile. Embrace the dad joke. It’s part of the curriculum.

Article II: Mastery of Mundane Multitasking

• A homeschool dad shall be lauded as a master of multitasking, capable of:
• Explaining the Pythagorean Theorem.
• Simultaneously brewing coffee for an exhausted mom.
• Mediating sibling disputes without really knowing what the fuss is about.
• And fielding work calls, all while maintaining a semblance of sanity.

Article III: The Great Outdoors

• We believe that education extends beyond the four walls of the home (and the occasional trip to the library). Therefore, all efforts of the homeschool dad to incorporate nature walks, camping trips, and impromptu building projects, accompanied by the occasional “field trip” to the hardware store into the curriculum shall be encouraged.

Article IV: The Art of Winging It

• No homeschool dad shall be expected to have all the answers. Indeed, the ability to creatively “wing it,” turning a failed experiment into a valuable lesson in humility (and the importance of following instructions), is a core competency. Let it be known that he shall also oversee the cleanup of such messes derived from these winging-it experiments, including, but not limited to, repainting a ceiling covered in baking soda lava.

Article V: The Sacred Man Cave (or Shed)

• Every homeschool dad, no matter how much he loves his family, requires refuge, a sanctuary, a place of quiet contemplation. This space, be it a garage, a shed, or a corner of the basement, shall be respected by all members of the household. Any snoring you may hear is merely a figment of your imagination.

Article VI: The Provision of Snacks

• The homeschool dad must ensure a steady supply of snacks.
• These shall be healthy snacks, of course (mostly). But his real gift to the homeschool is that, on occasion, the snacks are the ones mom does not purchase but make learning more…palatable.

Article VII: The Tech Support

• In this digital age, the homeschool dad is the first line of tech support. From fixing the printer to setting up educational apps to troubleshooting a crashed computer, they are the unsung heroes of the digital classroom. Remember, though, before calling upon his valuable knowledge, turn it off and then back on first.

Article VIII: The Unexpected Expert

• A homeschool dad must always be ready to become an expert in a vast range of subjects. One day, it’s ancient history; the next, it’s rocket science, and then you’re suddenly an expert on Elizabethan literature. When expertise is lacking, refer to Article IV.

Article IX: The Keeper of the Schedule (ish)

• We understand that a schedule is important, but also know that life happens. Homeschool Dads are the masters of the “ish” – we aim for 9 a.m., but we might start at 9:30ish or maybe 10ish, but we will get there…eventually.

Article X: Celebrating the Wins

• We will celebrate every victory, no matter how small. Aced a math test? Time for ice cream! Finally understood the difference between “there,” “their,” and “they’re?” Break out the confetti! Memorized the Ten Commandments? Movie night, complete with popcorn!

Let it be known that the homeschool dad is more than just a supporting character in this grand educational adventure. He is a teacher, a mentor, a provider of snacks, a teller of terrible jokes, and a champion of lifelong learning. He is, in his own slightly chaotic way, indispensable and for him we are truly grateful.