Today I've posted at Simple Homeschool: 5 Ways to Simplify Dinner in a Homeschool Kitchen. I hope you have a minute to visit me over there, but before you do...
All homeschool moms work. My goodness do we work - today I am seeking the wisdom of moms who work on top of work. Whether it is outside the home or within - how do you do it?
I am asking in all seriousness as it is something I am rather desperately trying to figure out. When I embarked on this homeschool journey with my family, I did so with just one "condition." I would give 100% of my focus and full time energy to homeschooling, but I would not be able to contribute to our household financial needs (and I did want those needs to be met modestly yet completely). I knew that in order for me to do a good job, it would take all of my energy and attention. We thought we could swing this single income and we were wrong. I've added the numbers up every which way and there does not seem to be any way around it. My income matters tremendously.
I have plenty of work opportunities in front of me, so it isn't the looking for work that I'm having trouble with. And I feel very blessed to be able to do the majority of this work from home. It's the how do I do it all dilemma that I can't seem to master.
The work that I do is highly creative and requires (for me) a large amount of quiet, focused time to achieve decent results. I am not a night person, in my world the earlier the better. I simply can't produce anything worthwhile in the evening.
Somewhere within the homeschool day, I am trying to locate a workday for me...
I used to get up early (4am) and use those early hours to accomplish some writing and work. The last few months I have felt a shift - a need for more sleep, a need to give up the much desired caffeine that I required in order to arrive at my writing desk by 4am, and the need to perhaps go to the gym instead (ahem).
So I've been sleeping until 6:30, heading to the gym, and leaving the coffee (sadly) un-percolated. Then I come home, shower, dress, etc. I feel great starting my day this way! The only downside is I have no time in the morning to work now.
As a mother that homeschools a fairly driven 7th/8th grader, our school work is pretty focused as she quickly advances in her formal academics dreaming of college and beyond. It takes time each day. We can easily spend a full day (9am - 3pm) on school related 'work'.
Basically, homeschooling is a full time job (I knew this going in to it), generating a decent income is also a full time job (I did not anticipate I'd be doing this while homeschooling). I'm feeling a little lost when it comes to managing two full time responsibilities...
How do you do it? Have you seen others do it well and can share your observations?
