Hello again, everybody! We are still thinking about homeschooling, and I had posted last month before school started about how frustrated I was that I could not be a SAHM and homeschool the kids. I think we have decided that we are going to try doing this while I continue to work. I work 12hr night shifts at the local hospital. I am adjusting and learning what I can do sleep-wise. Does anyone have any advice on this?? DH is on board and willing to help me tackle this. I know it won't be easy, but I have such a strong desire that I firmly believe God has laid on my heart to teach my kids at home. I would love to hear from someone who actually does something like this...
It can be done, but only you know your family's limitations and need to think through what you can realistically do.
Here's my story. I'm a single parent and have been homeschooling my son since we moved out of an awesome school district that I felt 'okay' about to a
supposedly awesome school system which we have had first hand, very unpleasant experiences with. We began with his seventh grade year. He's now entering what would be his sophomore year in high school and we haven't looked back.
Here's what we do, what's worked, and what I would change if I could:
1. I work full time (in IT), BUT I work from 5:30am to 2 pm and I work from home four days/week. I DO NOT take time away from my job to do homeschooling when I'm working. Period. We usually have lunch together unless he's out and about at an activity or at our local park day. My son does some things on his own before 2 pm: music practice, music theory, video editing, programming, writing(he's working on a non-fiction book this year) and reading (novels and any textbook pages I want him to read in preparation for work we'll do together).
2. During the day, when I'm at work. My son's grandfather is with him and is able to take him places. Also, we have a large and active homeschool community where I live and sometimes our friends will pick him up. In return I have run rocketry clubs in the past so I do try to reciprocate when possible. Sort of my way of giving back to those families who have helped us out in the past.
3. After work, my son and I get together on things he needs/wants my help with...math, science, history, Japanese. We also periodically review the rough draft of his manuscript and use that time to cover issues related to grammar and citing references.
4. I use my days off for planning and also for field trips outside of those he participates in with other homeschoolers during the week. Planning for us is pretty time consuming because we are child-led in our homeschooling and don't often use a purchased curriculum that we can just follow and check off tasks as we go (math is the exception to that, we use Thinkwell). He's also college-bound so I spend a lot of time documenting what we're doing for his transcript.
5. Things I wish I could change and believe would be better if I didn't work: I wish I got more sleep...there just never seem to be enough hours in the day, I write novels as a hobby of sorts and I've had to seriously reduce the number of hours I spend on my own writing, I don't get to interact as much with other homeschooling parents so I've had to work extra hard to make sure we stay connected to the community, I have no life outside of working and homeschooling my son...seriously...none. That last one actually doesn't bother me that much because I really think that I'm doing right by my son, but maybe it'll be an issue for you and it's something to think about. I really don't have time to do anything that's not about work or making sure my son has the education and opportunities he should have.
Everything I'm doing you'll be doing x 2. Also, while I'm having to handle high school level coursework which can seem more intimidating, my son's getting to be fairly independent so that makes it easier for me, too.
Some other things that may be different about our situation: my son has some special needs (he has Asperger Syndrom) and he is also gifted. This made getting him an appropriate education in regular school very challenging. Homeschooling was the option that made the most sense for him. If he had a different profile he would probably still be in school.
While I firmly believe that homeschooling can provide a superior education for pretty much every child I probably wouldn't have chosen this path (homeschooling while working full time I mean) if it were not for the fact that public schooling just isn't flexible enough to accommodate a kid like mine.
Whatever you decide, good luck, and hope this helped a little.
. I hate looking up a million websites and links. I feel like I am looking for Gary the Gander (lol Phineas and Ferb). Anyway. It drives me insane not to be able to flip through a book or look over a set of manipulatives. I am now looking for Reading/LA and it is NO fun!!! I haven't even begun to look for anything for my Pre-K child!
Haven't been on the thread in a while!! Just had a quick question for you hs moms who have older kids...my older son is 15-technically he would be a sophomore, but is doing Jr Level classes...he is in Alg 2 and Chemistry this year. Now, when I high school Chem was not a requirement for graduation so I didn't take it-so, we are having a bit of a struggle-at this point it's either start over and me go thru it with him step-by-step, or get a tutor. And the question is this...how 'needed' is Chemistry anyway? It's not required in my state for hsing, but is he gonna need to have had it BEFORE he gets to college. And we are using an upper level Chem curriculum-that could be the problem! LOL!! Just curious what your thoughts were-especially those of you already in or past this point! 
TIA!
