We all have a pretty good handle on what fear is and  probably what our fears are.  But I think we need firstly define “inadequacies”  – not in common use, really.  But it is one of my favourite words AND favourite pastimes.   Most of us tend to harbour our inadequacies and fantasize about how terrible they are.

Mothers invented this problem.

Inadequacy is the noun form of the adjective “inadequate” – the  -cy  ending makes it so.  To be inadequate has two meanings according to dictionary.com, who by the way, is my best friend.  Especially thesaurus.com.

Inadequate:

not adequate or sufficient; inept or unsuitable.

Wow.  If that just isn’t how we feel as mothers most of the time.  Insufficient.  Inept.  Unsuitable.  

It’s all lies, my friends.  All lies.

In psychiatry, however, inadequate (and therefore inadequacies) take on a slightly different meaning, more suited to the inadequacies we experience considering homeschooling, or, in fact, raising children in general.

 ineffectual in response to emotional, social, intellectual, and physical demands in the absence of any obvious mental or physical deficiency.

BWAAAAHAAAHAAA

Wow, isn’t that just me all over?  Let’s take all possible problems in our family life (social, intellectual and physical demands)  and respond ineffectually to them, when we DON’T ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM.  Then, just for fun, let’s consider homeschooling (in the absence of any obvious mental of physical deficiency) and respond ineffectually to THAT.

A recipe for madness.

1.  you don’t have a mental or physical deficiency

2. you respond ineffectually (in a futile or impotent manner) to normal life (social, intellectual and physical demands)

3. throw homeschooling into the mix

I’ve got news for you, sisters.  We all have mental and physical deficiencies.  We all respond ineffectually to normal life.

Is homeschooling going to stress you out because you have fear of math?  Probably.  Because you feel inadequate writing an essay?  Almost certainly.  Is there help available to fill in the gaps of your own experience, education or natural strengths?

Yes. Yes. Yes.  So much help available.  You can still homeschool if you want to if you fear math.  YOU CAN.  You don’t have to do it all by yourself.  I am not musical.  I contract out music to someone else.  Someone else teaches my kids tennis.  Someone else teaches them how to survive in the wilderness.

I can’t do that.  They would not read music.  They would hold the wrong end of the racket.  They would die in the wilderness.

NOT. MY. STRENGTHS.

Contract out what you fear and what you find yourself inadequating about.  

I should have a glass of wine before I blog all the time.  Apothic Dark.   Check out this website.  It’s super creepy.  You are sure to feel afraid and inadequate.

The photo below does not represent actual homeschooling.