So You Think You Can’t Homeschool?

Wishing you could pull your child out of public school this year? There are plenty of good reasons for parents to be fed up with system!

• Mask mandates
• Vaccine mandates
• Progressive/politically radical curricula
• Violence, and/or bullying and and/or other safety concerns
• Failing schools

And the list goes on.

But while the spirit may be willing, many parents feel defeated from the get-go. I’ve heard this a lot over the years: ‘I’d love to homeschool, but…” (insert reason that the parent thinks it’s impossible here).

You probably already know that I have good news for you, or I wouldn’t have written this post! The barriers to homeschooling are not as insurmountable as you think. Let’s go through them, driving home the point that homeschooling is not a privilege, it’s a right, and its within your grasp.

 

I’m Not a Teacher

solution

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” William Butler Yeats

It Will Cost Too Much

solution

Both Parents Work

My response to this off the bat is: “Can mama stay at home?” It’s the most obvious and ideal solution.

Yes, really.

If I’m getting a virtual eye roll from you right now, let me just point out that I have ten children and we live on one income, and everyone is well-fed and happy. Please email me if you need real-life tips on making it work.

That aside, it’s a fact that many parents who homeschool also have jobs. They share teaching with a spouse, teach in the evenings, switch to part time, work from home, and come up with all kinds of creative ways to fit school it. One of the main reason you can work and homeschool is that it doesn’t require as many hours per days as public school. On average, I can finish a young child’s teaching in 1 or 2 hours; older children may need 3 to 4 hours.

The question is, are you determined to make a beneficial change in your child’s life? Are you willing to get creative and make some sacrifices? GREAT! Check out these ideas for starters:

• Share teaching duties with your spouse.
• Cut back on your hours; change your hours.
• Change jobs.
• Hire a tutor.
• Use virtual school and free video lessons/tutorials.
• Ask a friend or family member to help.
• Get older siblings to help.

“Success waits patiently for for anyone who has the determination and strength to seize it.”
– Booker T. Washington

I’m a Single Parent

It’s too bad that so many people think that being single makes the homeschool option a non-starter, when what’s needed is simply some creativity and a little bit of support.

Here are examples of how single mothers and fathers are making it work!

• Work out a different time schedule with your boss.
• Work out a remote working scenario with your boss.
• Bring your child (and his books) to work with you.
• Find a different job that allows for the above-mentioned options.
• Work school time into your free time (early morning, evening, weekends, etx)
• Do school only 3 or 4 days a week.
• Ask a friend or family member to help while you’re gone.
• Search for a homeschool “co-op” or group in your area.
• Utilize virtual school options.
• Remember that school can happen anywhere (audiobooks in the car, math at the park, reading at a restaurant)
• Stick to the essentials and let go of extras like crafts, labs and unit studies.
• Teach your child to help and be more independent, relieving you of some of your burdens.
• Plan simple meals (soup, crock pot, sandwiches, continental, breakfast for dinner, etc.)
• It’s important to have resolve and to stand up for your decision because there will be plenty of naysayers in your life.

“The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home.”
Harold B. Lee

 

I Have a Special Needs Child

D

solution

 

Friday is a free day. We keep it open for errands, outings, appointments and anything else that might come up. I love knowing that we have this day to take a breather at the end of the week. It’s been a life-saver, and doing school 4 days a week instead of 5 has not gotten us behind at all. We also participate in homeschool field trips once a month on 3rd Fridays. Some of our free Fridays end up being play dates with other families, when no appointments or errands are needed. As a homeschooling family, you have the freedom and flexibility to do fun “extras” like field trips, community service, charity work or even just visit and socializing with other families.

Dealing with Younger Children: Benjamin (4), Samuel (2) and Susanna (1) are this year’s floaters. How do we keep them occupied in the morning when I need to be at the school table with Joseph and Catherine? First of all, I get them started with toys or a game right before school begins. This buys us 30 minutes, or sometimes an hour. Benjamin and Samuel are great playmates and love all the same toys – Legos, Playmobil, Hot Wheels, etc. – so it’s not that hard to keep them occupied. Susanna just wants to crawl around and explore, and doesn’t get into much trouble. After a while, I’ll offer everyone a mid-morning snack. And then Susanna takes a long nap at 11 am. If Ben and Sam are tired of playing at this point, I’ll let them sit at or near our school table if they are quiet. Benjamin will occasionally do a few pages in his “pre K” workbook and Sam might doodle on paper, or just play with his Lego guys some more. I don’t ever turn on a video or movie because TV viewing is a treat around here (we have 2 days a week set aside for it), and it wouldn’t be fair to the older children, plus it would be a big distraction.

Our Principal: This is my husband, Jeremiah! He does a roundup review at the end of the week with Joseph and Catherine, to see what they are learning and to quiz them on the most important concepts. I read a very interesting study recently where homeschoolers were asked “Which of your school subjects is the most important?” It turned out that the subject most children said was important was the one their father emphasized and took the most interest in. Fascinating! Jeremiah has always focused on their catechism and spiritual formation above all since these are truly the “First Things.”

I would love to hear how YOU homeschool. Share your ideas and experience in a comment below!