This is my first “A Day In The Life ” blog post…..where I am going to share how I balance of motherhood and homeschooling. Let me just preface with this: being a stay-at-home homeschooling mom has probably been the most challenging experience of my ENTIRE life.
But it has also been very REWARDING.
Our ‘schedule’ has looked different EVERY SINGLE YEAR….and we have been homeschooling for 4 years now. But this is normal because as your kids grow and mature so will everything else; their interests, likes and dislikes, attention spans and more.
So in this blog post I will be sharing a bit of MY journey as a homeschooling mother, who is also a full-time stay-at-home momma. Homeschooling can be a beautiful thing for both you and your child(ren), but it can also be stressful if you don’t manage your time wisely.
KEEP IN MIND: I am a mother of three: ages 12, 6, and 5 months old.
Morning Routine
My goal every morning is to wake up at 5:30/6am every day. I work on my blog part-time and try to get as much work done as I can before the kids get up. I also listen to my bible in a year podcast and enjoy my cup of hot coffee in PEACE! 🙂 My husband will also get up around this time and he takes the dog out and gets ready for the gym.
I normally wake the kids up around 7:00am and they complete their morning checklists and meet me downstairs by 7:30am. I have already fed the little one by this time, and she will chill out in her swing while the boys and I eat breakfast.
Family Breakfast Time
I make breakfast for the boys every morning. We normally rotate between waffles, pancakes, eggs, bagels, oatmeal, etc. We have also been listening to Jack Johnson Radio on Spotify while we eat. The boys love listening to his music lately. We also take this time to review expectations and talk about things we could do better that day that we didn’t do well the day before.
After breakfast we do our chores. The boys have their set chores every day; they start by emptying the dishwasher from dinner the day before and they load it with breakfast dishes. They also wipe down the counters after breakfast, push in stools…etc. We also clean one room a day…we do this together.
The boys also have to play with the doggos every day. We have a fenced in backyard so they will go outside for about 15 min and then we are ready to start our school day.
Our Homeschool Day
With stomachs full and eager minds….the homeschooling day officially commences. It’s about 8:30am at this point. We did the “The Good and The Beautiful” curriculum for three years and recently switched back to Abeka Academy (parent led route).
The reason we switched is because teaching a 7th grader and 2nd grader while also attending to an infant is not fun…and it’s super stressful. With Abeka the boys are able to watch video lessons with a teacher and they are able to complete assignments without me. This has made such a difference for EVERYONE!
We take a break around 10:20am; the boys will have a snack and go outside to play…..I normally give them about 20min. Lunch is at 12:20pm and they are both done by 1:30pm.
Afternoons
When the boys are finished with their school work they have instrument practice, coding practice, free play, and then they have to get ready for tennis practice.
While the boys are doing school work and doing ‘electives’, I’m prepping assignments for the following week, grading work, prepping meals(lunch, snacks, dinner), attending to the baby, and taking care of any other household duties/chores like the reviewing the budget for the month, ordering groceries, meal planning, laundry, cleaning, etc.
Evenings
While the boys are at tennis I cook dinner. I normally cook every day of the week except Saturdays. We normally go out, and it’s mainly just to give myself a break in the kitchen…I love cooking. 🙂 Once I am done, I choose to relax for about an hour before the boys get back home. Once they get back we have dinner, wait for my husband to get home, he will eat, and then we all go on a 30-minute walk through the neighborhood.
When we get back my husband will bathe and feed the baby and the boys shower while I clean up and reset the kitchen. The boys get a bit of free time of their own where they will watch tv, play on tablets, play video games, etc. It is about 8:15pm by now and the baby will be put to bed, my husband and I then shower while the boys are enjoying their free time. Once we are done, the boys will be tucked in around 9pm.
My husband and I make it a big deal to have alone time together, EVERY DAY. So at this time we hangout on the back patio while the dogs get their jitters out in the backyard before bed. We play card games, play darts, listen to music, talk, etc. and we try to be in bed by 10:30pm.
ACTIVITY/Field Trip DayS
We only do school work four days a week; Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Wednesdays are reserved for activities and field trips. We do bigger field trips once a month (zoo’s, aquariums, museums, etc) and we do smaller activities other weeks. Normally on these smaller activity days we go the pool, park, do science projects, go to the library, do picnics, etc. The boys always look forward to Wednesdays, and this schedule works great for us as it gives us all a much needed break in the middle of the week.
Here are some things to keep in mind…
- Create a schedule that gives you flexibility to balance motherhood and homeschooling making sure to include breaks, for you and the kids. Embrace the freedom of homeschooling by leaving room for activities and exploration in your routine.
- Prioritize self care as a part of your schedule to recharge mentally and physically. Find time for activities that bring you happiness, like reading, yoga or pursuing hobbies. Don’t be afraid to seek help from family, friends or other homeschooling parents for some needed self care.
- Involve your children in the learning process by encouraging them to take charge of their education. Create a learning environment where kids can share ideas and learn from each other. Engage in projects and hands on activities that promote teamwork and creativity, among children.
- Keep things neat and flexible. Make sure your homeschooling area is well organized with all the supplies and materials you need within reach. Utilize tools like planners, calendars and digital apps to keep everything in order and monitor your progress on this homeschooling journey. Stay open minded and ready to adjust your homeschooling approach as necessary to handle any changes or challenges.
- Find community and support. Connect with moms who stay at home and families who homeschool for encouragement support and a sense of community. Engage in discussions, social media groups or local homeschooling organizations to exchange ideas, resources and stories with parents who share similar values. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance or advice when you need it whether, from other homeschoolers, educators or mental health professionals.
