Whether you work outside the home or from home or your only job is your house and kiddos, you have more to do than is humanly possible and you have probably asked yourself more than once why you decided to add homeschooling to this (unless you started cuz Covid shut your world down). First, if you are questioning your ability, that humility is probably half the battle because it’s going to help you look for answers. Second, in case no one has told you lately, you are rocking this thing! You might be in a bumpy spot (or a really giant pot hole) right now, but the road will be better once you dig a tunnel. So let’s see what we can do to make this work.

Routine, Not Schedule

First, Make a routine, not a schedule. This is huge. Obviously, some things, like that Zoom meeting or doctor’s appointment have to happen at specific times. Block those things into your day with 15 minutes on each side for cushion. Otherwise here is what my schedule might look like in any given day.

1. Devotions for mommy and coffee (if I have time I start working immediately after this)
2. Invitation to breakfast (see my blog post about it)
3. Breakfast and morning meeting with kids
4. Get kids ready for the day
5. Kids play learning games or toys while mom gets ready
6. Get to office by 10am for 10:30 meeting. Boys finish independent work or play tablet.
7. Lunch-check in on table work
8. Boys play outside. Mom does work outside or inside.
9. Tea Time (post coming) and check table work progress. Finish table work for boys.
10. Dinner
11. Everyone clean up. Boys head to baths
12. Read-a-loud. Bedtime
13. Time with spouse
14. Get 2 things ready for tomorrow or complete a work task.
15. Go to bed!

Now, to you, this may make you crazy. Notice there is only one time. Everything else has an order and structure but not a time because trying to stick with a schedule was stressing me out.

Second and on the same note, do not overfill your days. Sure it would be nice for your son to be on a baseball team and your daughter to take all the dance classes, but is it adding more stress or more value? More on this in another post. I’ve learned the hard way. What is your goal for your child? What is your goal for your family?

Follow Elsa-Let it go!

Say this with me, “I do not have to do everything in the curriculum every day.” Ha! You said it. Now let it go! You and your kiddos hate crafts? Don’t do them all. Google the skill being taught and teach it a different way. It’s a busy week for you with work or with family illnesses, do the bare minimum you feel good about! You guys are ready for summer and you didn’t finish the last three weeks? Close the book. Walk away! I taught public school for eight years grades K-8, several subjects and NEVER finished a textbook. Never.

If a curriculum isn’t working for your family let that go too. Return it for a refund if you can or sell it on one of the many homeschool swap groups. We had to switch mid-year because we were all dying under the weight of a curriculum that was too much for me while working and too much sitting still with worksheets and inappropriate material for my son at age five.

GRACE

This is not easy. Nothing about parenting is though. It’s also not easy to learn to read or do algebra. If you are new to taking control of your child’s education or new to working while doing it, that is a lot on your plate. Give you and your family time to adjust. Stay in communication with each other about what is working. Take a week off from school if you need to. Now take a breath and try again. Adjust your routine or make a more set schedule if you need to for your personality. Whatever you do, give yourself lots of grace!

Just say “no!”

Do not sign up for extra stuff without careful consideration. Don’t make your automatic reply when someone is asking you to do something a “yes.” I cannot emphasize this enough. These are your first disciples and you are unlikely to get a second chance in leading them. I set aside, temporarily, perusing my doctorate because my most important study, most important title, is Mommy and right behind it is Officer/Pastor. The reality is that your brain and body and spirit were only designed to do so much. Know your limits and limit your yes’s.

Hold on, Take a breath, and go!

This is by no means exhaustive but I hope it helps someone to feel more prepared to work and teach their children. Every situation is different. The beauty of homeschool is that you don’t have to do it just like anyone else. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make this work for all of their school years, and there have already been many sacrifices, but for right now it is the right choice for our family.