Are there any home school moms that also try to hold down a full time job?

Question

I appreciate everyones input on this! I have homeschooled for 13+ years. I am considering/praying about taking on a full time job while continuing to homeschool. I can't give that up but need an income as well.

Answer 1

Me . . . I currently homeschool a 5 and 7 year old and run a home daycare/preschool with my mom as my partner.

This is hard, but it helps that it is a situation that is educational in itself, so my lessons that I have planned for my daughters are watered down for the preschool.  And I could not do this without my mom's help.  I have a circle time, etc in the morning with the Pledge and we talk about our day, then my girls do their file folder games or math manipulatives, read, etc. while I work with the little kids.  Then, I take the girls (my kids) and we have math/science before lunch.  Reading, social studies (history, geography, etc.) are for after lunch while the daycare sleeps).  We use Saturdays or afternoons for field trips, co-ops, park days, swimming, music, etc. too.

It is busy, but doable.  We go year round, and take breaks when we need them, and really, my kids need down time, they could plug away at school all day and easily burn out.

Answer 2

Yes, one of my friends is a minister and home schools.  Another teaches at the community college and home schools.  Both of these situations involve elementary students who can sit quietly and work on projects or computer lessons.   I know someone else who works full time, but her mother actually does the homeschooling, so I am not sure that counts.  I know several who work parttime and homeschool.  I even know a father who does the homeschooling part and works from home, while the wife has a teaching job.

Answer 3

I recently started homeschooling and I work full time for a local government agency. I bring my son to work with me every day. It has turned out to be a winning situation for all of us. He is now getting the one-on-one attention he needs, I am able to continue to contribute financially to the household, and I haven't been late for work since we started homeschooling. I will admit that I am exhausted, but I was even more exhausted before we started.

Answer 4

I did for about 6 months to get out of financial tight spot.  I was constantly exhausted and wouldn't want to do it again, but I would if I had to.  Now I work Part time.

EDIT:

I should note that the work I was doing was very physical.  Housecleaning.  Lugging trays of cleaning supplies through huge houses, lugging vacuums, lifting things, carry everything up the stairs, carry everything down, etc...

Plus, because I was in business for myself, no paid breaks, no paid lunch, so I usually didn't take any breaks, and scarfed my lunch down while driving between houses.

If I had been working a desk job, or even a job at a grocery store or restaurant, I don't think it would have wiped me out nearly so much.

Answer 5

I work from home. While technically a part time job I put in full time hours most weeks by the time my inspections are done and all the reports are written up. My husband also works part time.

How do we do it? Well on Monday and Tuesday I go out and get the inspections I need to work on and my husband teaches school those days and I take over on the days he works. It works for us but then we make it work as well.

Answer 6

Yes!  It's a bit difficult but it can be done.  :D

Answer 7

Yes.  That's me.  Exhausted. (smile)

Actually, it works out ok for us.  I work for the public high school as a school bus driver and cashier in cafeteria.  Our son is 15 (almost 16) and is not a self motivated student.

He was in public school until he was 13.  We have been homeschooling for 3 years.  

I spend time after the bus route in morning with reviewing and checking work and giving assignments.  We also read some of the text aloud during this time.  (We take turns reading and it helps him retain by forcing his attention to the texts.)

He has school assignments and housework assignments during the day.

We usually have free time after 4:00 and review and check work after supper.

We use a few Saturdays and most of the summer for learning.  We use lots of video and audio for History and Science. (Free resources at library and internet)

He learns more than he did in school and cannot use any excuse for not doing his work.

  Here are list of excuses that don't work anymore:

I did it in class.

I left it in my locker.

I lost my book.

I can't find my assignment book.

The teacher didn't explain it.

I don't have any homework.

A kid on the bus took it.

I have 2 weeks before it is due.

It's ok, the teacher said we didn't have to do it, it's for extra credit.

I don't understand it, so I'll ask the teacher to explain it to me tomorrow.

(and when we try to help....)

That's not the way the teacher said to do it.

Whew.   Glad those days are past.

Answer 8

While I home schooled my son I worked full time on the 11pm to 7 am shift.  It was not easy, but we managed quite well and my son graduated from high school at age 16.  I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.