| Many work at home moms homeschool their | | | | own their own, and slowly work them up to doing |
| children, as do many mothers who work outside | | | | longer and more challenging projects on their own. |
| the home both full time and part time. If you | | | | This frees up more time for your business and |
| believe homeschooling is the right thing to do for | | | | teaches your children to take responsibility for |
| your family, you can make it happen. | | | | their own learning. |
| Here's why. There really is no right or wrong way | | | | Choose the right curriculum for your family. Many |
| to homeschool. There's no right or wrong time of | | | | homeschooling families create their own curriculum |
| day to homeschool. There is no right or wrong | | | | or purchase curriculum that requires a high degree |
| time of the year to homeschool. We all do what | | | | of parental involvement. Because I know I may |
| works best for our own families. The methods of | | | | not always be available for my children's lessons, I |
| homeschooling are as varied as are the | | | | look for curriculum that my children can follow on |
| homeschooling families themselves. | | | | their own if necessary. You can do the same. |
| Here are some ways you can make time for | | | | Enlist your children's help with the housework. |
| both your home business and your children's | | | | Homeschooling and working at home makes for |
| education. | | | | more than a full time job for any mother. Who |
| Set aside time to teach. We begin our schoolday | | | | has time to do the housework too? I assign |
| at 8am. That's when my two children learn the | | | | chores to my children after their schoolwork is |
| best. I tell them what they'll be doing that day, go | | | | done. They contribute to our family, while giving |
| over their lessons with them and assign their | | | | me more time to focus on my business. |
| work. Determine what time of day - or which | | | | Use childcare or a babysitter as needed. When |
| days - are best for your children to learn, and | | | | my children were younger, it was unreasonable |
| then make school a priority during those hours. | | | | for me to expect them to get their own lunch |
| Set aside time for your business. When it's time | | | | and spend an afternoon on their own while I |
| for me to go to work, I close my office door and | | | | worked to meet a deadline. During those times, I |
| let my children know I can't be disturbed. I tell | | | | learned to ask for help. Find a nearby daycare, |
| what time I'll be available again to help them. If | | | | dayhome, babysitter or mother's helper to help |
| they run into problems or questions while I'm | | | | out when you're really crunched for time. |
| working, we discuss them on my next break. | | | | Don't forget to have fun! Balancing a home |
| Occasionally, I'll catch up on my work on the | | | | business with homeschooling can feel |
| weekends or evenings, or even give the kids a | | | | overwhelming at times. Don't forget that it's all |
| day off from school so I can get my own work | | | | about spending valuable time with your children. |
| done. | | | | Make time for fun. Fridays are usually my family's |
| Teach your children to work independently. One | | | | fun day. We'll do a bit of schoolwork in the |
| of the main goals of education is to learn how to | | | | morning, then I'll turn off the laptop and set the |
| learn independently. Depending on the ages of | | | | phone to voicemail. We all head to the local zoo or |
| your kids, you may not be able to expect them | | | | swimming pool and enjoy the freedom we have |
| to work independently for long. Start them off | | | | by working and learning at home. |
| with short, age appropriate activities they can do | | | | |