Any advice for how to balance Homeschool and working at home?
By snowstar42
@snowstar42 (11)
United States
February 21, 2007 10:57am CST
I quit my job as a chemical engineer 2.5 years ago to be at home with my then 2 year old daughter at the time and start a home daycare business. Well I got pregnant with my second daughter and was getting morning sickness and the daycare kids sucked a lot of energy out of me and I couldn't put quality attention for my oldest daughter so I decided to start working at home as a customer service agent. Well, my second daughter was born (now 8 months) and I have been working at home with her ever since she was born (took off 6 weeks maternity leave). I also have my 4 year old daughter home with me now. I work early mornings before kids are up, sometimes a little in the evenings for 1 or two hours when hubby is home and mostly on weekends. I still have 1.5 years before my 4 year old goes to kindergarten but I really want to homeschool her(I am doing preschool activities for her now). It is working out ok since I can make my own schedule but I would like to know for those of you who work at home and want to homeschool your kids, how do you balance working enough hours if you want to homeschool. How many hours does it require to homeschool and what curriculum are you using? Any good work at home programs that is good for work at home moms who are homeschooling? thanks all all comments welcome.
3 responses
@rbonsor (60)
• Canada
21 Feb 07
throw out the curriculum idea, children learn 24/7. The secret is to make what the child wants an educational lesson. I play complex war stratigy games Alexander wanted to play so I told him you have to be able to read and do elementry math. He learned to read at 5 years old instantly because he wanted to play. lets use any sport as an example; There are the formal rules, general physical fitness and game skills. A sucsses full athlete also requires public speaking and the full range of money management skills. So your job is to point out what they need its their job to apply themselves and make it happen. Brainwashing or programing always fail so why force them to memorize useless infromation.
@wahmbrendamh (576)
• United States
22 Feb 07
We don't use curriculum either. In fact we're unschooling. We use a LOT of stuff from the library though.
Brenda Marie
Homeschool 4 Us (My homeschool blog): http://homeschool4us.blogspot.com/
My ebook: "Homeschooling Without The Headaches" http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=812683
@rbonsor (60)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
There has been a store specializing in games in every sizable town/city I've ever been in. Some times its used book places, for education purposes avoid computer based games. A standard deck of cards is a great place to start, I've played chess using the pattern on the floor and a standard deck.
@snowstar42 (11)
• United States
22 Feb 07
I agree with you...I am not even using a curriculum at this time but was just wondering if other homeschooled kids do or not. Where do you get the complex war strategy games at?
@butterfly07 (4)
• United States
21 Feb 07
Homeschooling is wonderful! It's a challenge to homeschool and work at home, but it CAN be done! I'm working on it myself (doing this, among other things!) I'm just starting out with this, too. I think it all comes down to time management and learning to be frugal!
Yours are still so young, it's easy in some ways, but challenging in others. By staying home with your kids, you are giving them the best foundation you can for life.
The reasons for homeschooling vary with each family. Just keep in mind that you are doing a GOOD thing. I have three grown and in College, homeschooled all the way through, and they are not only good people, they hold down jobs and contribute to society, as well as have a healthy outlook on life, and enjoy themselves throroughly. The "socialization" issue is really a non-issue. Kids can manage to learn to get along with each other, as well as a larger spectrum of people if they are not stuck for 6 hours a day with only one small group of age peers!
@wahmbrendamh (576)
• United States
21 Feb 07
It's great to hear from another happy homeschooling parent whose children have been so successful.
Here's my tip for those of you who want to work at home while you homeschool your children... Find a job that allows you to have your children around making noise. Most of these jobs aren't going to be telephone based but there are plenty of other jobs available. I am a single mom homeschooling my 5yo 1st grader. Granted we do a lot of unschooling, but my dd is excelling because I've decided to dedicate my life to seeing her succeed. It's not always easy. I work a few minutes here, do something else a few minutes there, you get the picture. I'm glad that I can work at home as a freelance writer while homeschooling my dd.
Brenda Marie
Homeschool 4 Us (My homeschool blog): http://homeschool4us.blogspot.com/
My ebook: "Homeschooling Without The Headaches" http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=812683
@snowstar42 (11)
• United States
21 Feb 07
Thanks for the comments. It is great that I have the opportunity to do this; I wouldn't give it up for anything else. What curriculum did you use to homeschool your kids?
@michmdmama (77)
• United States
26 Feb 07
Well, the good thing about working at home is that you can do it any time, right? My dh and I have a special situation. I have been working at home for 2.5 years (almost 3 now) making a decent amount. Dh got laid off in December and we just decided at that point that he wasn't going to go back to work. We stepped up our WAH efforts. Now, I work in the morning on the computer while he works with the girls playing games and such (we unschool too). We meet for lunch and by them I am done with my work most of the time and we spend the afternoon and evenings together.
