Practical Tips

One of the most challenging aspects of homeschooling is not finding curriculum or making space in your home for the books, it's simply fitting it all in. You're a mom, so you already have meals to cook and bathrooms to clean, errands to run and laundry to fold. Throw teaching into the mix, and something's gotta give. While I'm not even close to perfecting a system, here's what I'm finding helps the most.

Get up earlier than the kids
A lot of moms do this anyway, but this was the most challenging for me. When I started in September, I had a five month old baby who wasn't sleeping through the night. I took all the sleep I could get. He sleeps good now, but his brother still gets up about 6:30 every morning. Beating the kids out of bed is not easy for me, but it's always worth it. Even if I accomplish nothing but getting dressed and having coffee, I feel like I'm a step ahead the rest of the day.

Make the kids do their share
My kids have chores to do every day but Sunday. They're easy tasks, but they save me time. They make their beds and put their jammies away. They clear the table after meals.They feed the animals and Gracie cleans the bathroom sink. Caleb helps match socks and Gracie folds towels. We also have a rule that all their toys stay in their bedroom to keep the rest of the house neat.

Complete at least one load of laundry every day
Laundry is a constant thorn in my side. There's always so much of it! I have a bad habit of washing four loads, piling them up, and ignoring them for days. Instead of waiting until the hamper is full, I've been doing one load from washing to folding every day. It only takes a few minutes to fold and everything is where we need it so we're not digging for that missing sock Sunday morning.

Work with your schedule, not against it
The first thing people seem to say about homeschoolers after "they get no socialization" is they're "lazy and don't start school till ten o' clock". Well call me super-lazy, but we don't start till one, because that's when Luke takes a nap! In September we were starting at nine. The whole time I was trying to teach Gracie I was also trying to feed and pacify a very needy baby. I was back and forth between Gracie and Luke, giving neither of them my full attention. The result: everyone was frustrated, except Caleb who just does his own thing most of the time... I quickly realized we would be better off waiting till Luke went to sleep instead of trying to force it because that's when you're "supposed" to start. Now we have two solid hours to focus, and by the time he wakes up, Gracie is working on things she can do independently.

Do all your shopping/errands on one day
Instead of running to the store as I need things, I'm learning to plan out trips better so I can go out once a week instead of several small trips. If I need to go grocery shopping, I'll also return library books...stop at the post office...that kind of stuff. If I run out, I'm learning to just do without it for a few days. Jeremiah does have to stop for milk on the way home, but going once saves time and energy, not to mention gas!

Multi-task
Even though I have Luke's nap time set aside for school, I'm not sitting by Gracie's side every second. I learned early on that watching a first grader complete math problems is like watching paint dry. So now I use that time to straighten up the kitchen. I sit and teach her, then when she does the exercises, I start cleaning. The dining room is right off the kitchen, so she can still talk to me and I stop whenever she needs a hand. But it gives me a chance to get stuff done, and teaches her to do her work without me hanging over her shoulder.

Don't let homeschooling define you
There's a difference between "a homeschooling family" and "a family that homeschools". It's very possible to become consumed by it. You want to do a good job, you don't want to be judged, so you pour all your thoughts and energy into until there's nothing left over. I know a family in which the mom got so obsessed with homeschooling they almost got divorced. She ignored her husband because she was always making lesson plans and craft projects.When they did spend time together she wanted to talk about homeschooling. It's important to remember that you're a family, not a school. You have a life to live, and education should flow as a natural part of it, not dictate your every move. So don't worry if you want to take a day off, take advantage of nice weather or a visit from friends. Isn't that part of the reason we want to homeschool in the first place? I for one want to enjoy my kids while they're young, and while I do enjoy watching them learn, I also enjoy watching them play, relax, and be silly. I enjoy watching them be kids. And when they're grown, I don't want them to think of me as a good teacher. I want them to think of me as a good mom.