We’ve been homeschooling for 14 years now, and up until recently relied solely on a single income. With 5 children to feed (2 in college) it’s been nothing short of miraculous that we’ve been able to make it this far! My husband’s a hard worker, but the construction/remodeling business certainly has its ups and downs. As prices have soared and his industry continues to plunge to new depths, I’ve taken to building a home business as well. I’ve also spent some time talking and emailing other homeschoolers I know with their own businesses, and have come up with this (non-definitive, I’m sure!) list.

5 ~ Let’s get the obvious out of the way: having the kids home all day… every day… 365/24/7!

Now, for most homeschoolers, that’s really not a bad thing. After all, we have chosen this lifestyle. I know quite a few non-homeschooling WAHMs who say summer is their “downtime” and they punch it during the school year! We, however, don’t have that luxury. Therefore, in order to have a successful venture it is imperative to handle the next “hurdle”, which is…

4 ~ Having to balance between work and work.

No, that’s not a typo. As you progress in homeschooling, it quickly becomes obvious that even if your kids are fairly independent learners “school time” becomes somewhat consuming; this is especially true if you have young and middle-school children. School-related activities take up much of the time that a “day job” would: if’ we’re not researching, comparing and analyzing curriculum choices (times the number of children you have), then we’re teaching, helping them complete lessons, testing, correcting their work or keeping up with whatever administrative requirements we have to fulfill legally. Oh, yeah, then there’s the housework… and whatever happened to that order I was supposed to fill?…when am I supposed to meet that new customer?… and what’s the deadline for that article again?…. Get the picture ?

3 ~ Budgeting

This is especially difficult, because, although there are ways to homeschool for free or with a limited budget, there is a financial cost. And, yes, for the most part, we’re operating on a single income to start with, so…It requires a fine balancing act to fit in start-up expenses into an already possibly-tight household budget. Down the line, or course, hard work and diligence allow the business to support itself, but this is definitely an issue for a fledgling business.

2 ~ Overcoming the “what could I do” blues?

I can’t tell you how many homeschoolers I talk to that double over with laughter at the thought of starting their own business. Or at least look at me like I’m crazy. “What can I do?”, they ask “I’m just a homeschooling mom.” I have to admit, I was there once myself. Until I learned 2 things. First, people buy solutions, not products. (And boy do homeschoolers come up with some creative solutions!) Second, in this cyber-age we live in, it is possible to turn hobbies and interests into a business ~ I’m coming across it all the time!

But possibly the biggest hurdle homeschoolers need to overcome is

1 ~ Guilt

Huh? Yes, it takes time to build a business. It takes time to build a website. It takes time to build a network. Get-rich-quick schemes do usually work ~ for the guy who got your money! And in the process of taking this time away from the kids to build the foundation for financial success, homeschoolers go through tremendous guilt. It’s imperative to keep your eyes on the big picture.

Challenges are something we all face from time to time, and homeschoolers are some of the most creative people I know.  So if you find yourself in a frustrating or tough spot right now, remember you’re not alone ~ and that working through it will not only strengthen you, but be a great example to your children, as well.

Early on in my “homeschooling life”, I subscribed to every homeschooling magazine available, searching for curriculum, resources or “how to” articles. One thing that always struck me were the families that were chosen for the covers - a gajillion kids, all dressed in coordinating outfits that were (of course!) made at home by mom, each holding a different instrument, and (of course!) working together in a home business. Then the catalogs started coming in, and I noticed, again, how many outfits were run by families! Aaargh!!! What was wrong with my family? Why didn’t I sew neat outfits, and have a gajillion kids, and teach them all a different instrument, and be part of a family-run business? I know my husband has always wanted our children to someday be a part of his construction business, too, but none of that has panned out, yet!

Having been a member of support groups over the years, I’ve met many people who work from home, and many are not involved in internet-based businesses. Out of curiosity, I sent out an email recently to some of them to conduct an informal study. I already knew some of the challenges about setting up a home business as a homeschooling mom, but I was more interested in the feedback from those who had been at it awhile and were successful at it. These families range from “newbies” to veterans (think: back when homeschooling was not “legal”) and small to large. One group that is not represented is the group that all wears coordinating outfits made by mom!

My friend Carol and her family work with a national direct-sales company. Their business (www.BigN.com/tldaughtry) has provided them opportunities to “practice needed time-management and organizational skills and pass information on to her children”. She states “the training and spirit of entrepreneurship [being taught] is priceless”. They have incorporated these business skills into home schooling subjects that are preparing their 2 sons for real life. Another “perk” is that they get to take the boys with them to conferences (instead of them being stuck in school!)

Debbie’s business is much more direct and hand-on. “As a former homebirth midwife, and a present-day childbirth educator, doula and lactation counselor (http://www.BlessedBabiesandFamilies.com), my hours are not always set, as you can imagine. This means any time I'm teaching, I might be interrupted and have to leave. Sometimes, this works to my child's benefit; it gives her a little longer to think about what I had just taught and then when we pick it up again, she understands it better. Other times, though, it seems as though I have to re-teach the whole lesson.” However, one of their primary goals as a Christian homeschooling family was to teach their children to love one another. Getting to know the women Debbie worked with created a real concern for them in her children, accomplishing an important goal. It also taught them to “go with the flow” - an important life skill in itself!

The Health and Wellness industry is getting bigger every day. Mary’s business (www.creatingwhatmatters.org/534473) allows her to sell something she is passionate about, and it shows! Her word of caution: “While the flexibility of homeschooling and working at home is great, each can infringe on the other with neither getting the best.” Again, time management and developing your own tools for needed organization are crucial.

As I often find, homeschoolers can come up with some pretty creative solutions to lots of situations. Although they continue to homeschool, Cindy’s husband has been chronically ill for some time, creating some financial challenges. She’s turned her hobby into an opportunity to bring in some much-needed cash (http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/cindybartley). Her business also allows her to take her children with her to parties or demonstrations, and because of the creative nature of it, is further developing that quality in her own family’s life.

As you can see, there is no formula for working from home, just as there is no formula for the “typical” homeschool. Success looks different for every business; every family. The bottom line, the ultimate question is: does it work for our family? It’s important to set goals, as well as decide where you don’t want to go, and then run with it. Businesses can run the gamut from internet-related to hands-on. It can be totally run from home, or take you to others’ homes as well. You can see just from this small sampling how different they can be! How to get started? Well, that’s a topic for another time.

When your child gets to be a teenager, sending them out to experience the workforce can help them get some valuable job experience before college or the fulltime workforce, and also reduce some of your expenses around the house. As many college students graduate with little or no work history, getting in some practice now will help your child learn the value of money as well as put them ahead of many of their future graduates. Many employers are wary of hiring people with no work experience and your child can smile with confidence about having taken the initiative to attain some. Work experience is also a chance to help your child learn about basic economics.

Laws vary as for how many hours your teenager can work in a normal paid position, but internships can also be paid and these laws differ. To really understand your local child labor laws, look up your department or ministry of labor and employment. The guidelines shouldn’t be hard to find. With this in mind it is time to start researching.

There are two ways to help your child gain work experience. One option is to assist them in just “getting a job” flipping the proverbial burger. Another alternative to consider is to focus on jobs that may support them gaining necessary work experience that will help your child standout for college and future employers. Option one (regular employment) is easy. Look for local businesses in your town, coffee shops, fast food outlets, retail stores, etc. See if they are hiring, and what ages they consider. There are a realm of possibilities including shopping cart collector, barista, and cashier. Also, in some cases, during the summer, landscaping companies or even city landscaping agencies will hire teenagers that are a variety of ages.

These jobs teach your child discipline, responsibility and, with a bit of supervision from Mum or Dad, how to manage their own money. Employers like to know that their potential employees are willing to put time and effort into their business, so a good reference from early employers such as these, can be a foot in the door for future careers.

Option two takes a little bit more work, but can certainly be worth the effort. It requires research, direction and focus. To get a good internship you have to know what potential industry your child wants to get into and then find a company that is willing to take on a highschool aged and homeschooling intern. This extra effort required can sometimes be offset with the fact that your homeschooled child has increased flexibility with the times that they are available. Homeschoolers have been able to internships in government and corporate America with a little bit of work. If your child is a bit indecisive (as most children are) about a potential industry or career, look into shadowing someone for a day. You can go about it the same way teachers do — just call and ask!

Work experience is an important part of your child’s education and growth, and should not be overlooked just because your child is homeschooled. And, being homeschooled, you may find that your options are even wider due to increased flexibility in scheduling, and the ability to use lessons learned as part of your child’s educational plan.

I’ve always enjoyed reading and studying “Language Arts” while growing up, and even though I got good grades, I’d never felt particularly good at it. When I began blogging and developing a website as part of a home business, I realized that ready-or-not, I needed to hone that skill. As I worked through a system that I now coach others through, I learned that the foundation for a solid business is not in hype or over-promotion, but in solid information and over-delivering. In other words, people don’t buy products; they buy practical solutions from a credible source. Therefore, in order for my business to succeed, I had to be able to communicate clearly in order to deliver those solutions!

Well, that all made sense to me - but there was that one glitch: my writing skills, or lack thereof. There were 3 obstacles that I had to overcome. And they’re ones you may have to as well.

1) The first was my own attitude toward writing in general, and my writing in particular. Now I have no illusions that I’m out to write the next great American novel, and I am confident that I don’t pose any threat to Emily Dickenson’s place in American literature. However, the attitude I’ve had about my own writing skills was certainly my biggest obstacle. Looking back in my education, I always did well in writing assignments; I worked on school newspapers periodically (no pun intended!); I tutored others in writing and reading skills while in high school and college: so what was my problem? What helped - and is helping - me to overcome this is pure and simple, and the word I hated most while growing up: practice! The more I write, and the more feedback I get from others concerning my writing, the more I am able to improve. This, in turn, has definitely accounted for my own attitude adjustment in this area.

2) My opinions about what I had to write about needed some revision as well. OK, so I got over the “I can’t write” mentality, but then staring me in the face was the follow-up to that one: What do I have to say that could possibly interest anyone?!?! Do you ever feel like that? All around me are wonderfully interesting individuals with amazing life-stories and unique experiences to wax poetic about... and then there’s me. Well, that one’s the kiss of death, and it’s also one of the biggest lies you can tell yourself. Don’t believe it for a minute. And if you find yourself having a pity party on that account, please be ruthless and nip it in the bud. The best way to do that? Sit yourself down at the computer or a notebook and just start writing. About anything. And don’t stop ‘till you’re too tired to think. Then save your work and go back to it tomorrow.

3) And after getting over those 2, there’s the content challenge, or What Do I Write About? By this time, you’re allowing yourself to write, and accepting that you have something to say, but now you wonder what to talk about! Well that one’s the easiest to hurdle. Writing prompts abound - I have a whole Squidoo lens on them, along with resources to improve your writing skills. I even have a “day in the life” section where I explain where I found a whole bunch of ideas recently!

I have to admit, writing was the one area I least thought I would develop in my lifetime. But it has surely changed me in some ways that I can’t even explain. I look at life and my experiences in a whole new light these days; I meet people and am eager to discover their story; I pass church signs and jot down some of those clever sayings; I listen to the news and research how these complicated financial times will affect my life and my family’s - and write about it all! I hope you’re able to take even a tidbit from this piece, and use it to change your life as well.

Like most women in America, I find myself extremely busy. I am the mother of three children, the wife of a teacher, coach and part-time cattle farmer, a blogger, a homeschooler and, oh by the way, I have a full time job.

Many of the homeschooling families that I come in contact with are ones in which the husband works outside the home and the mother works at home as the resident domestic goddess and educator extraordinaire. When I mention to people that I have a full time job and homeschool, the cries of,  “Wow – I could never do that!” increase exponentially and I am often asked how I can manage to do both. In this article, I will give you my answers to that question.

I am able to manage working and homeschooling because:

I have a wonderfully supportive network. In my professional experience as a Foster Family Coordinator and Child and Family Therapist, I have had the privilege of training families to open their homes to children in need. One of the main points that we attempt to convey as we prepare families for this monumental task is that ASKING FOR HELP IS A STRENGTH, NOT A WEAKNESS. I have learned to apply this in my own life and in the area of homeschooling, especially. Having a supportive network of friends who believe in what you do and ones who are willing to step in and help when you need it is essential to your ability to be an effective and confident educator. My network includes my Mother-In-Law who keeps my children twice a week so that I can attend meetings (and make uninterrupted phone calls - remember those?), a wonderful group of homeschooling neighbors who provide many opportunities for “socialization”, a co-worker who swaps with me for child care once a week for a few hours, a wonderfully engaged husband who tends to the kids in the evenings if I have work that is still pressing and a whole host of others who help me carry the load that would otherwise weigh me down and prevent me from being able to follow the call to educate my own.

Working a flexible schedule is very helpful but not necessary. For me, working a job that allows me flexibility has been an important aspect of how we schedule our days. Fortunately, I am able to work from home and can take time between my work tasks to do formal lessons with my children at various times throughout the day. Because I have been with the same company for nearly 15 years, I have built a relationship with my employer that enables me to have the flexibility to work for a paycheck as well as spend the time that I need to educate my children. Approaching your employer about a flexible schedule is easier when you have proven that you are a valuable and trustworthy asset to the team. But I know that some of you are shaking your heads and saying, "That's nice for you, but I do not have the luxury of working at home or working a flex schedule." If that is your situation, take heart. One of the beauties of homeschooling is that learning does not have to happen between the hours of 8 and 3. If you are able to work out child care during the day (remember, utilize your network!) you can do schooling in the car, at bedtime, at the dinner table, playing in the back yard, taking an evening walk, on the weekends and during those moments that you do have with your child. It will take more diligence on your part but it is possible, especially if you are schooling young children. One more word of encouragement in this area: Research has consistently shown that reading aloud to your child is the single most important thing that you can do for them. Read at the dinner table. Read at bedtime. If you are traveling in the car and someone else is doing the driving, read aloud instead of listening to the radio. Read to your children while they are playing in the bathtub. Listen to audio books instead of watching television. For more information on this topic I highly recommend "The Read Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease.

My teaching style is flexible and I utilize everyday events as “teachable moments.” I do not currently use a formal curriculum. We do make a point to read, write, and do math every day and I have lesson plans for those things. Other than that, we learn as opportunities arise. (My children are young and I do realize that as they grow older, the demands on my time will be greater as I will need to do more planning but for now, this system works wonderfully.) In the evenings while preparing dinner, instead of turning the television on so the kids can be "out of the way" we do math by measuring and counting. My preschooler builds dexterity and works on fine motor skills while he cuts strawberries for a fruit salad. When someone falls down outside and scrapes a knee, wet take that time to talk about our epidermis and the importance of keeping wounds clean. Being your child's primary educator is a blessing. Because you have the responsibility of making sure that they are learning what they need to learn, you become mores aware of the fertile soil of every day life as opportunities for learning useful facts.

On-line resources play a huge part in our teachable moments. When we find a spiderweb outside and we want to learn more about how they catch their prey or how they manage to walk around their web without getting stuck themselves, we gather 'round the laptop and search youtube, goggle, and lesson pathways for spider information. Within seconds, we are transported into the fascinating world of arachnids and arthropods. By seizing upon the moment of interest, the information becomes crystallized in the memories of my children in a way that no pre-planned worksheet could possibly provide.

An attitude of thankfulness for my current situation. Truth be told, I would prefer to not work. I have learned to multitask and with the above things in place, I have managed to find systems that work for me and my family. I could get bogged down in pity parties and feel sorry for myself because I have keep so many plates spinning. (And as long as we're telling the truth here, I often have to try VERY hard to resist that temptation.) I have found, however, that if I approach the source of potential pity with thankfulness, I am able to overcome the demons that would pull me into ineffectiveness.

So, are you thinking of homeschooling but don't think you can because of your job? Be encouraged! With a great network, great resources, a willing employer and a willing spirit the possibilities are endless!