Homeschooling while working outside of the home.
This is a very common question! With good reason. There is a huge responsibility with homeschooling your children and there is a huge responsibility in having a job outside of the home. Let’s not forget all of the household duties that need get done on top of it all.
Also check out our post on how to easily start saving money around the house!
You might need to find a job outside of the home to put food on the table, pay bills, because you are a single parent, or just to have extra money. It is hard for most households to thrive on one income anymore. Not impossible, but hard. So I understand the need for a two-income family.
So is it possible? Sometimes yes it is totally possible and sometimes it’s not such a great idea. Let me explain.
I say yes because if you want something bad enough you will find a way to make it work. Luckily with homeschooling you can be as flexible as you need to be. If you work early mornings you can always homeschool in the afternoon. If you work late hours you can homeschool in the mornings or after lunch before you leave for work. Also, if you work M-F and have the weekends off, you could homeschool through the weekends and have 2 work days off from homeschooling. This would give you a small break during your busy work week schedule. There is no right or wrong day or time to homeschool your children. Whatever you choose you should try to be consistent with it.
I say sometimes because it can be overwhelming for some people. Doing both homeschooling and working outside of the home takes a lot of patience and planning ahead. If you are a good planner and stay organized things will go a lot easier for you.
Bottom line: Don’t run yourself ragged to the point where you completely burn out! If you are not the kind of person who can do both, go easy on yourself! We are all different and we all have different needs in life. You need to be in a place where you can truly enjoy life and enjoy your kids. Do what works for you and your family. No judgements here I promise!
Things to help you along your working homeschooling journey:
-Meal planning and freezer cooking! This will save you much time and you will thank yourself later. Check out “Don’t Panic – Dinner’s In The Freezer”
-Ask for help! Don’t be shy about it. If you need help just ask your family and friends to help. Maybe your spouse can also pitch in with some of the homeschooling lessons.
-Use boxed curriculum sets! This will save you time from writing out your lessons at the last minute (or forgetting to prepare beforehand). Try to find a boxed set that is customizable such as Timberdoodle.
-Chore charts! Everyone old enough should have a set list of chores to do around the house. Each person should have 3-5 daily tasks to complete. This will save you so much time trying to scramble around doing housework during the week.
-Date night, girls night out, or spa night! Schedule these in at least 2 times a month. This will help you destress and help you refocus. You need a break too and you deserve it! I love having a spa night after kiddo goes to bed. Check out the beginning of my post here on how to have an inexpensive spa night at home.
I hope this helps you decide what will be the best fit for your family. It’s a huge responsibility, but you have to decide if this will work for you or not.
Do you homeschool and work outside of the home? I’d love to hear about your experiences and tips you might have to share! Let me know in comments!
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