One of the things I worried about most when my kids were struggling was “how to homeschool as a single mom?” It kept me up at night! And here is what I figured out!
Homeschooling as a single mom requires you to think outside the box. But it can be done!
When I became a single mom, I could barely keep my head above water.
I saw the mess and the hurting kids but didn’t know how to handle it.
As my heart began to heal and my mind cleared, I could see that this wasn’t working anymore.
The teachers were excellent! They loved these kids and were great at their jobs! But they could not see what I saw. I saw kids who were capable of learning but had been through trauma.
They had missed substantial building blocks of education because of trouble at home. And no one could go back and give them what they had missed.
As I spent years in the public school system, I realized that these kids would either fail and be labeled for the rest of their educational lives or that I would have to do something different.
This wasn’t Plan A, but by then, I had come to grips with many Plan Bs.
I wrestled with this for a long time. I’m a single mom. There are so many things that I’m already responsible for. I wasn’t sure if I could manage this.
The heartache my kids were going through forced me to consider this. I wrote about this in a previous post.
Courage for the single mom (singlemomoutwest.com)
But, after much prayer and talking to people wiser than myself, I took the plunge.
It takes courage and the willingness to do things far outside your comfort zone. But we’ve done that before. We are single moms!
We love these kids; despite the trauma and brokenness, they deserve the best chance to make it.
Identify the reasons why you are considering homeschooling.
Why is this important to you? You get to vote!
Some reasons surpass inconveniences. Bullying, special education, and a hostile environment are reasons enough to homeschool. These are the reasons why parents pull their kids out of school quickly. And I agree!
Kids need a safe and loving environment.
Do not tolerate bullying. Suicide is a genuine concern for those kids who are being bullied. We have options! Listen to your child!
Hopelessness is very real to kids. They do not understand it’s temporary. And they will take drastic measures to stop their pain.
There are options! Private school, homeschooling, or a school change.
There may be other reasons that are not as urgent but are still important!
Homeschooling has been around for a while, but it’s gaining attention in this complicated world.
Consider what kind of jobs and work provide flexibility.
Most single moms need to work, but if you look hard enough, you can find negotiations and wiggle room.
Many jobs can be completed online or in a work-from-home environment. This can take a while, but keep looking; you have options! Research what options are available.
Books, online articles, and blog posts are great places to start looking!
Here is an additional blog for this.
Work from home options for moms, Single Mom Out West Skills for Single Moms
Collect information about homeschooling. And specifically homeschooling as a single mom.
Homeschooling may seem like a dream or an impossibility, but many single moms have done it! It just takes rethinking life.
There are complicated custody issues and financial situations that must be dealt with, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done if it is in the child’s best interest.
Read everything you can and look online for additional information. As you gather information, ideas and possibilities will emerge.
Nicki Truesdell has written has written an excellent book, “Anyone Can Homeschool.” This book discusses how to make homeschooling flexible enough for anyone. You can find the link for it on my bookshelf.
https://www.singlemomoutwest.com/books-for-single-moms/
Find information about your state requirements.
The Homeschool Legal Defense Association has a lot of beneficial resources and information:
Here is the link to this:
Examine which subjects you want to provide extra attention to.
In my state, I am required to teach certain subjects. I do this consistently. However, there are some subjects that my kids need extra support in.
These include reading, writing, and math. Kids who have been homeschooled from the beginning may not need as much focused attention, but many kids do!
I love this aspect of homeschooling: You can start where you are and work your way up without stigmatizing your child.
Review what the functional schedule looks like.
Homeschooling requires fewer hours than a traditional school. Some parents homeschool on weekends, evenings, or in the morning.
Adjustments such as rising early daily, working on weekends, and taking online classes two days a week have allowed me to work and be available during school hours.
I also follow the school district’s calendar in my state for most of the subjects but will continue schooling on focused subjects throughout the summer.
It’s not easy, but it is doable!
Evaluate different types of homeschooling and find the one that works for you.
Some parents choose one curriculum program and follow it through. This is an excellent, comprehensive way to homeschool because each subject builds on what was previously taught.
Then there is unschooling, which is more child-led and centered around the child’s interests.
There is also the eclectic style of homeschooling, which does a little bit of everything. I follow this style.
I use a specific online program for two days during the week. The other three days are written work. This allows me to work with fewer interruptions.
Your plan will become more apparent as you consider your options and your child’s needs.
Even though you have a basic plan, as you go along, you will learn more about what works for you and what doesn’t.
You will also be able to implement additional learning opportunities! Museums, field trips, and hands-on learning!
Basic organization:
I have learned the magic of book bins! These magical things keep all items for your students in one container. They are a brilliant piece of organization! Make sure you get bins that are large enough!
One other essential thing to purchase is a planner specific to homeschooling. I recommend an un-dated spiral-bound notebook. Keeping track of what has happened over the years is a great idea!
Final thoughts about homeschooling.
Education is essential, but there is more than one way to obtain a quality education. I love options! And this one provides single moms a way to be more successful if things are not working out at school.
The following post will include specific curriculums and programs that are very helpful!
Please consider reading Part 2 in this series, where we go over additional information:
Simple Pointers for Homeschooling as a Single Mom. – (singlemomoutwest.com)
