Is it actually possible to balance homeschool and work as a single parent? YES. Being a single, working parent is hard. Being a homeschooling parent is hard. Combining those roles is even harder. I’ve done it and you can too. In these times of COVID, a lot of families are having or choosing to switch too homeschooling. I’m going to share with you everything I have learned from my homeschool experience. I hope this will help you avoid some of the mistakes I’ve made along the way.
Stay organized to better balance homeschool and work
- Write things down: This may be the most important thing you can do. I am not a naturally organized person. I’ve seen a huge difference in how much smoother our days go when I take time to write plans and time block activities. It’s nice knowing what to do next, where to go, etc. Take time to experiment with different time tracking tools to find what works best for you. Personally, I like to handwrite my plans in a daily and monthly planner. Other great options include downloadable lesson plans or an online calendar that can be shared and synced across devices. Write out any lessons you want to do with your child for the week, materials you might need, work meeting times, anything important you need to remember.
- Maintain a bookmarks folder or Pinterest board to save lesson and activity ideas you find online. Here’s a list of our favorite outdoor activities to get you started.
- Purchase lesson plans and curriculum online to cut down on the planning. You can find many great resources online, both free and paid, from individual or themed lessons to full, school year curriculums. To get you started on choosing a homeschool curriculum, here’s a great, detailed post from the HomeSchoolMom.
Allow space to change things up
If work runs late and you don’t have time for the specific lesson you planned for the day, that’s okay. Homeschool schedules are rarely perfectly followed. Do something different, go on a walk and count birds, or practice spelling the objects you see with your child. Be prepared for things to not run smoothly 100% of the time. Being flexible will allow you to go easier on yourself and not feel as overwhelmed.
Know your working hours and communicate with your employer
Know what’s expected of you at your workplace. If you have an ever changing schedule, that can make things much more complicated. Depending on your relationship with your boss, try to make sure they know that you balance homeschool and work. Be clear that it could be difficult for you to come at irregular hours or take on additional projects.
Don’t forget about you
As if you don’t already have enough on your plate, make sure to reserve time for yourself. If you are constantly going, you will burn out. Even waking up an extra 30 minutes earlier before your child to stretch, clear your head, or enjoy some coffee can be a tremendous help to your overall mood and health. For a more detailed list of ideas on self-care for single moms, check out this post.
Give your child their own homeschool space
Give your child a good indoor homeschool space, even if it’s just a table in the corner of their bedroom or your living area. A comfortable spot for them will allow them to thrive more, be better with independent play/work, and make it easier on you. I tried to take my son outside for lessons as much as possible, but some things just make more sense to do indoors. (An extra tip – let them help decorate their little space and make it their own! They can hang up pictures or drawings, you want it to be a space they will want to be in.)
Don’t stress too much
It is entirely up to you how this all goes, homeschool is wonderful for that reason. You can change things up whenever you want to or need to. I still struggle with the thought of “I’m not doing enough, he’s not learning enough, etc.”, but I promise you, they are and you are killing it as a single parent who is homeschooling! If you or your child is overwhelmed, take a mental health break. No one will “fall behind.” There are endless opportunities to learn and chances are you teach your children things daily that you may not even realize.
Final thoughts..
Staying organized and confident in yourself are two of the major keys to successfully balance homeschool and work. Remember, you aren’t messing up your child’s life by having them miss out on one day of learning about volcanoes, and they are probably better off learning from a loving parent right now instead of an overstressed teacher via online schooling. Homeschooling can be an amazing opportunity for you and your child so don’t be afraid to put in that effort!
Leave a Reply