Ok, I just needed to vent today in honor of all homeschooling moms. I think most people picture us sitting all curled up around the fireplace watching tv and eating chocolates all day without a care in the world. I haven’t figured out what they think our kids are doing during all of this. But, if this is your picture of homeschooling, you are dreaming!
Homeschooling is a full-time job the way I look at it and thankfully most of the people I know do also. I’m like any other teacher that works at a school or someone who has a full-time job. I have lessons to plan, papers to grade, lessons to teach, class disruptions to deal with plus I’m the lunch lady. I have to be the P.E. teacher, the art teacher and the science geek all in one. I’m the guidance counselor, the principal and still the mom. But, I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way!
Our days are just as crammed as yours and maybe even more; plus we still have to fit in school on top of: taking kids to their work, their classes, practices and games and not to mention all the things they do with their friends. Most homeschool moms are heavily involved in ministry and church and so are their families. Socialization not a problem here, matter of fact, I might could do with a little less some days. But I really do love everything our family does!
Homeschool moms are also housewives on top of their full-time school duties. Martha Stewart we may not be, but we aim to please! So add that to our time at home. Many of us are not only homeschool teachers, housewives, involved in ministry, but we also do other things like: coach, lead, work outside the home, work from home and so much more. A lot of us have husbands that work 2-3 jobs so that homeschool can be a possibility, so add single parent to the list. But our husbands wouldn’t have it any other way!
So before you look at me and think or say, “We’ll you’re at home all day so you can do(fill in the blank). Don’t you have time to (fill in the blank),” stop and think. My time is just as precious as yours and although a good bit of my day may be spent in my home, I guarantee it’s spent working. I love my job! The pay is lousy in worldly terms, but I love it just the same!
Homeschool moms are a very generous bunch; we have to be to give of ourselves as much as we do, and we do love to give so much! But please, don’t think it’s all chocolates and tv all day. Our top priority is God, our families and our school. It’s a huge responsibility and one we take seriously. So please be as considerate of our time as we are of yours because you work full-time outside the home. So in honor of all the homeschool moms out there, this if for you… I understand and I am one you! Happy Homeschooling and don’t be afraid to put your family first.
Hmmmmm….Maybe I should start some new articles called “The Real Moms of Homeschooling”? Do you think it would get picked up as a show?
Well, while you vented I was a couch potato today. After overdoing it yesterday, I did curl up on the couch and eat leftovers and chocolate today. The fireplace wasn’t running, but the washing machine was. Toys are strung all over the place and we listened to an audio book today. Tommorrow I’ll have twice as much catch up, but I’m grateful for homeschooling because I was free to relax with my children today and just enjoy their noise and messy creativity. Yeah for us lazy moms who “don’t have a care in the world”! I’ll care tommorrow as I’m teaching phonics and fractions, catching up on laundry & scrubbing the pot, paying bills and cooking meals…
I love it! I have those days too, when you just need to chill out and take a break and enjoy the kids. School will still be there tomorrow. I took one of those days last week; matter of fact, I took two. One to chill and one to find the floor of my van! lol It sounds like you had a wonderful day yesterday and in no way are you lazy. I wrote the article because three women had been really snippy about me “being home all day” and I just couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to be busy and work. It ate at me and I needed to get it off my chest. I hope you have a wonderful day today 🙂
Great, great post! It’s often a joke among a group of ladies at church that I’m retired and stay at home all day. They can’t wait till they get to stay at home as well! Well, let me tell you, I’m looking forward to staying home and doing not too much! Until that day, I’m working my fanny off and loving it!