I am often asked what qualifications are necessary in order to homeschool. In my opinion there is only one qualification: the burning desire to take complete responsibility for your child's education.

This may be a straightforward answer, but it is not in any way a simple answer. Most parents have great obstacles to overcome before they can take on the task of homeschooling. Without a deep-seated desire to homeschool, these obstacles would be insurmountable.

A parent of a child with learning disabilities must be willing to do the research necessary to educate his or her child effectively. It takes an enormous amount of time, energy, and patience to teach these children. As a mother of dyslexic and ADD children, I can attest that it is not easy going. However, I am motivated knowing that the one-on-one attention that my children receive will benefit them greatly, both academically and emotionally. I am also comforted knowing that my children can forgo drugs such as Ritalin and still receive a quality education.

A single parent must be motivated enough to make special arrangements for their children. The single parents that I have met employ a family member as primary caregiver, usually a grandmother. The parent provides direct instruction during their off hours and the children do independent work at the caregiver's home.

A parent who did not receive a good formal education himself, must be willing to learn alongside his children. There are many home study schools and special curriculum available to help such parents, if parents are motivated to seek them out. Studies consistently show that homeschooled children who have parents who have no more than a high school diploma do just as well as children with college-educated parents.

Since most homeschooling families rely on one income and must purchase their own curriculum, financial burdens are obstacles that most homeschooling parents must overcome. A motivated parent can find creative ways to meet such challenges, from frugal living to starting a home business. If the purchase of textbooks cannot be squeezed into the budget, the library provides a bounty of resources. I know several homeschooling families who visit the public library several times a week.

So are you a good candidate for homeschooling? If you are willing to overcome any obstacle that life throws in your path and to give up many of the comforts that you now enjoy, all because you have a burning desire to take on your child's academic education personally, then yes you are a good candidate for homeschooling.