Forming a homeschool support group: The Vision

When we moved I was looking for a homeschool group that fit the needs of my family. I looked online before we moved and found what I thought was it. Although the group was a wonderful place to start and certainly had strong resources to share, it just was not the style I was after. In my years as a homeschool mom I felt that my past experience with support groups were a bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Eventually I felt led to start my own. To steal from Jen Hatmaker, clutch your pearls. If you think you cannot do it. It is too much, I assure you all will be well. Although I had been part of other groups I had never been the big cheese of any homeschool group. And I had just given birth. To my fourth child. And the oldest was then seven. Yikes! Oh, and we moved 12 lovely car ride hours away from all family, previous friends and babysitters. So time was limited. But by being strategic it was a challenging but oh so rewarding process. I have been a part of a tiny group, a medium sized group and a big ole Texas State Fair sized group. Each had its own vibe and its own purpose. When I set out to create my group I knew I needed to start with a vision.

Starting a Homeschool Group Step 1.
Create your vision.
Umm, okay. So what does that mean? Take a moment to think about what you want your group to look like. You do not need to know the exact answer to all the components, but it is a good idea to brainstorm a plan for as many categories as you can. Feel free to print off the planning worksheet (is worksheet a bad word?) and use it to help you get your idea on paper.

Why is a vision helpful?

It will help you align the group with your intended purpose. For example, if you are looking to grow your group into a huge powerhouse of families, the way you communicate your vision to prospective members will look very different from someone else who is looking to create a small, tight-knit community. I do not know about you, but when an idea gets into my head, my brain starts reeling with ideas. It is so fun. But it is also a little overwhelming. But getting those thought bubbles captured and placed into categories helps me go back later and tighten up my ideas. You see what you have and what you might need to look into further. It is also helpful to have someone else take a look. Maybe he or she can flesh out some areas. So happy vision casting! This is the first step to getting your group going. That was a lot of G alliteration. Whew. Gotta go. (sorry I could not help myself)