Juggling Your Work at Home Job While Homeschooling

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © mikecogh; Flickr.com

At times it can be difficult and downright stressful to try and run a work at home business out of your home while homeschooling. Trust me, I’ve been there. You may have business phone calls coming in while you're trying to teach a lesson. If you don't answer the phone, you may lose money, but if you do, you may be interrupting an important homeschool lesson plan or worksheet explanation. To solve the problem of juggling your work at home job while homeschooling, you need some tips and a plan from somewhere who’s been there.

Scheduling a Regular Work Time and School Time

You usually need at least 4 hours of homeschooling each day to fully benefit the child as well as to fulfill the requirement for most states (check your state’s requirements). Schedule that time around your work at home schedule. Let's say you need 8 hours of work time and 4 hours of homeschool time. Your work hours might be from 5 am to 1pm, allowing for breakfast time. Lunch can be made at 1pm if you give a healthy snack in between. At 2pm, you can then start homeschool and finish at 6pm. This is just one example. Schedule times according to your family’s needs.

Being More Flexible With Times

If your family needs even more flexibility, you can do things like prepare lunch or dinner while teaching the kids. You can also use the method where the child basically instructs him or herself while you work, using your pre-written lesson instructions for each subject. If the child has questions, you are still there, but the questions don't usually take very long to answer. Since most homeschooled kids learn faster, this method may even be possible at a younger age. Use your better judgement.

To do it this way, you will need to have plenty of things handy to keep the kids busy in case they finish their homeschool lessons during your work time. If you are the only parent available, be sure to give your kids love and attention during your work hours and know where they are and what they are doing at all times. If both parents are working at home during homeschool hours, this can be much easier. One can teach the kids and one can run the business. You can even take turns.

What About Field Trips & Home Economics?

Remember that field trips do not always have to occur during the homeschool week when it isn't possible. A field trip can be done during the weekend, when there is more time. By doing this, the field trip can also count for school hours, which means that the children could take some time off during the week, equivalent to the learning time spent on the field trip. This may also add more availability for your work at home job.

If this time is taken off, the children can chip in with housework and the business, leaving more time for you to get your work done. Chores are an important part of learning, as your children will need these skills when out on their own. You can consider this part of home economics class.

Who Will Answer Business Phone Calls During Homeschool Hours?

One way to solve the phone call problem is to use a virtual office service during your homeschooling hours. This will help ensure you don't miss calls, but your kids will still get their education. As mentioned above, the children may also be able to answer some business calls for you. If another parent is available, one can answer the phone calls and another can teach the kids and/or do other things related to the work at home business. There are many ways to solve this. You just have to be creative and use whatever works best for your family.

Pulling it All Together to Juggle Your Work at Home Job While Homeschooling

You can use the ideas here or come up with your own unique way. The important thing is to brainstorm and make sure your ideas work for all involved. Thinking ahead regarding homeschool lessons and work at home duties will relieve stress greatly. You can take a weekend to plan everything as far in advance as possible. Put homeschool assignments and business plans in order in clearly labeled folders for ease of use. Calendars, planners, and other organization tools may also be helpful. Working at home while also homeschooling is not as hard as it may first appear, if you keep an open and willing mind. You just have to figure out what all the needs are and find a way that you can meet them all.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network