Homeschooling as a single parent

As any single parent will tell you, not having that supportive partner certainly does make things more difficult – a LOT more difficult. Having to arrange for care, go to work, help with school work, still perhaps try to have a social life (yeah, right!)… it’s one big juggling act that is not easy by anyone’s standards.

That is why when single parents hear the word “homeschool” they tend to guffaw and shake their heads. Teach? On top of everything else I have to do? So when do I sleep?

Fact of the matter is, homeschooling is becoming all the more popular as our public school system flounders more and more. Homeschooling is not just limited to two-parent homes either; more single parents than you may realize have also taken on the task of homeschooling and they absolutely love it!

Can you develop a more flexible schedule?

Perhaps the most important thing to realize when you, as a single parent, decide to homeschool, life as you know it will need to change. Most single parents must switch to a job that can be worked from home, and that offers flexibility. These parents can then get their work done at 9am or 9pm and in little chunks in between. Other parents who still go into an office every day find that they are able to give their children lessons both before they go to work and after.

“I tend to give them a project or research to do before I drop them off at their daycare,” one mom explains. “The caretaker is extremely accommodating and shares her resources to help them work, too. Now they have had some important learning to do during the day amongst their other activities and I can check up on it when I get home from work.”

Everyday life: the ultimate lesson plan

Another single mom also explains that she gives lessons as she’s doing typical household duties. “Going to the grocery store is a math lesson!” she gushes. “We budget before we leave and make a meal plan together. She brings her calculator and we figure out what we can buy and what we can’t. It’s an important life lesson that so many of us today have lost!”

You are not alone

It is important for single parents to know that there are homeschooling associations out there that can support them and help them find teaching resources, tutors (if necessary), plan a curriculum, obtain necessary text books – almost anything you can think of.

Single parent homeschooling is all about getting creative with learning and applying it to our every day lives. You’d be amazed just how many things we do on a daily basis can be turned into an exciting opportunity to teach our children! When children pick up on this, there is also a notable change in their curiousity and zest for life. That in itself is a great reward for homeschooling our children.

photo by Horton Group