Are there any single moms with full time jobs who homeschool? Am I crazy for even considering doing this? I have a 5 year old son who is supposed to be entering kindergarten, but he is well beyond kindergarten level and very bright. I would hate for him to be bored and tune-out in school (It happened to me!). I am also leary of public education. I am concerned about his socialization, should I decide to homeschool, as with my work schedule I would be hard pressed to bring him 25 miles into town for clubs, sports, etc. I am an organic market gardener in the Summer, and work full time at a ski area in the winter. I produce most of our food (milking, canning, freezing, slaughtering, etc.) In case any of you think I have "Super Mom" stamped on my chest, you should know that my sister and brother-in-law also live on the farm and share chores. We are not members of any organized religion, so there's no help availabe there. I always assumed I would homeschool, but I hadn't counted on being single! Has anyone done this? How?

-- Margie Paskert (orgfarm@earthlink.net), August 17, 2000

Answers

What state are you in? Here in Wisconsin, they would notice me working all day when I am supposed to be schooling. I realize alot of parents school different hours but I would be concerned with a nosey neighbor reporting it. (that does happen) Kindergarten is a breeze! Figure out how you're going to put your hours in, what method of teaching you will do and set your mind to doing it. OR - you could check into a Christian school. Maybe the buses would deliver him there for you. It's gonna depend on when and how much time you have available to do it. Have you decided for yourself how much time you are willing to give up out of your day to teach your child? It can be done, don't get me wrong! Sounds like you've been teaching him all along and just haven't recognised it as school. GOOD LUCK !!

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), August 17, 2000.

Although I am not single, I would like to offer you encouragement in your desire to homeschool. An advantage of homeschooling is the flexibility with which you can schedule "school hours." Our kids do their schoolwork in the morning, leaving their afternoons free. We know other families who do the reverse. Being single will likely put added pressure on you, however, to do EVERYTHING without a partner to give you a break. You might consider hooking up with a local homeschool support group ( there are many throughout the country).

-- Liz Rhein (merhein@shentel.net), August 17, 2000.

Margie:

Can you compromise? For example, Saturday morning and afternoon would be supplemental school days to either learn what public schools aren't providing or to supplement it. I have known several people who held 'Saturday School'. When I was in maybe the 5th grade I remember when Mom hung other clothes I had to recite the multiplication table three times in a row perfectly. If I got to the third time and 9x9=82, I had to start over.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 18, 2000.

I homeschooled my son from 5th grade to 9th. We are a lot closer because of it and he is a much more responsible person than a lot of teens his age. I was at work until 3 every day so he studied during that time. I would email him lessons and grade what he sent back. Don't feel constrained by trying to imitate a classroom. That's the beauty of homeschooling, everything goes. Your classroom is wherever you are and whatever YOU think is important. Have fun.

-- Linda Al-Sangar (alsangal@brentwood-tn.org), August 18, 2000.

I am not single, however we live on a farm and my husband works outside the home leaving most of the farm duties to me. I work around this schedule to school my 7 and 12 year old children. Will power is important. As for socialization my children both attended public school in the past. The "socialization" they got there was not good for them! Try to find a homeschool group around you, the support is nice. Work around your schedule and don't worry about socialization. As for noisy neighbors depending on the state you live in, you should just have to contact your local family services office and advise them of your homeschooling so no one knocks on your door to find out why he is not in school. Where does he go when you are at work? Can he work on things then. Reading Writing etc.?

-- connie nash (cresent@misn.com), August 18, 2000.

I personally would leave the family service out of it. Here we get a paper from the homeschool group, fill it out and send it in to the department of public instruction. Check what everyone else does in your state. Every state has it's regulations in this area.

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), August 18, 2000.

Margie,

Homeschooling a kindergartener only take about 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours a day. If you can fit that into your schedule, then go for it! The early elementary grades only take a little longer. Because your child will be receiving individual 1-on-1 attention homeschooling does not take 7 -8 hours like a public or private school does. And there is no homework to deal with in the evenings!

Outside activities are important too, but you don't have to do them all. Just pick one or two a year. And NO you are not crazy for wanting the best for your son. You can make it work!

-- melissa (bizemom@netzero.net), August 21, 2000.

I have a friend who was a homeschooling mother when her husband decided being a father of five was harder than he had expected and was sure it would be easier for her to do it by herself (sarcastic laugh). She didn't want to upset the family any more than it already was so she got a part time job and with the help of her mother as a babysitter, continued to homeschool. I won't say it was easy but she has done it now for two years. Your situation has some benefits hers didn't. You have only one to worry about and you are able to make money at home. Go for it. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. You can find lots of good support on the internet too. Just don't be afraid to ask for and take help when offered.

Blessings, Kathy :-)

-- Kathy (DavidWH6@juno.com), August 21, 2000.

Melissa's estimates of the time necessary to teach a little one are pretty accurate. Even in high school, they should be able to get all their work done in less than five hours per day. Get ahold of your state home school association -- all states have at least one -- and find out what the regs. are for your state. It's best to comply as far as possible, and if you are lucky, you will be in a state with good laws. Then you should be easily able to work your son's education around your work schedule. As he gets older you can make helping you with the work part of the curriculum. Sounds like you are on a farm -- any possibility of changing your production around so you have a more-or-less year-round income from something raised on the farm? So you wouldn't have to go out to work in the winter? It would make it easier to keep your son included in your life, and be able to keep an eye on his growing up. (I think you can find the home-school laws on-line if you do a search.) Best of luck to you.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), August 21, 2000.

Find the HomeSchool Legal Defense Assoc (?) (HSLDA), they can point U to state regs on homeschooling. Homeschooling should NOT BE like government school - at all, and so what if your schedule is different?? Find a way to do this, and keep your precious kid out of the clutches of the socialist mind control centers.

-- Guy Winton (guyiii@home.com), August 22, 2000.

Get a kindergarten level math book (Modern Curriculum Press is good) and Sigfried Engelmann's "Teach Your CHild to REad in 100 Easy Lessons" and both can be done in less than an hour a day. Finish the Engelmann and your child will be reading close to a second grade level. The rest of kindergarten is play, play, play. Take it easy with him. Half the fun of homeschooling is to go at your (and your child's) own pace.

-- Christina Watkins (introibo@address.com), August 22, 2000.

Hi Margie, I've been a single parent for 18 years now, the last five years I homeschooled (she unschooled and self-taught) my now 18 year old daughter. I have worked fulltime, plus homesteading. I do have a B.A. My son, now 19, went all the way through public school. I wasn't thrilled about homeschooling, but she was depressed and very unhappy at school, so... My son scored a 16 on his ACTs; my daughter just scored a 23 and has been accepted by 6 different universities. Now, children are always individuals, but my daughter has a much broader liberal arts education than my son ever thought to have. But she also lacks in the same areas I lack (math). Would I do it over again? I wish I would have taken the plunge sooner with her. Socialization? Both children have good manners, pleasant to be with at home and in public, good on the job. Both children are loners, so am I.

Go for it! Don't fret the small stuff. Don't formalize it overly. Challenge your child, discuss everything with him, make him think outside the box, teach him to read and use the computer and think for himself, build his self-esteem and encourage him in directions that he wants to pursue, and most of all, have fun!

-- Bev Sandlin (storm@rconnect.com), December 17, 2000.