I am asked all the time how our homeschool schedule works since I am not technically a SAHM. I get asked when I sleep…..and when the kids have school….and what they do while I nap…..

I figured that since I get asked so much, that I would write a little post about it….

If homeschooling is something that you are interested in and feel  called to do for your family, don’t let a crazy schedule stop you. That is the beauty in it. It is super flexible. What seems to work best for our family right now,  is that we aim to get a day and a half’s worth of work done per day. That way, on the days when my schedule catches up with me and I am super exhausted…..we don’t have school. I can take a day and rest. The kids still do reading and maybe spelling. Taking a day when I need it does not cause us to get behind if we work a little ahead everyday. We also like to take a lot of Fridays off since that is my husbands day off and we can have a family day.

8:45AM- when my eyes usually open for the first time. I don’t get out of bed yet though. I call the kids in my room and give hugs and see what they are doing. I will scan my phone/social media (just being honest) and go through emails while I wake up. Allie helps Gary with breakfast usually before I ever wake up. They are supposed to eat, brush teeth, make beds, get ready and do their morning chores before we start school.

9:30- usually when I get out of bed, remind them that we are starting school soon and they need to finish up whatever they have not done yet or whatever they are working on. Here is where I usually start laundry and load/unload the dishwasher. Once I am up and out of bed, the kids can take the dog outside before we start.

10AM- this is our goal time to start school everyday. We usually all sit around the kitchen table in the beginning. Allie reads a devotion and both kids pray over our day. Then we start. We all work really hard to stay pretty focused from 10-12 on schoolwork. I make sure to prioritize the things that they can essentially do on their own for last. My 6th grader does not need to read out loud to me or for me to watch her write her spelling words out as practice. My first grader does not even need me to necessarily watch him color or connect the dots on a fun sheet. We save those types of pages for when they are having quiet time.

12PM- the kids take the dog out and have outside “recess” time. I stay inside and make their lunch and use the few minutes of quiet for any phone calls I need to make or for reading. Then they come in and eat lunch.

1PM- Quiet Time!! This is when I nap for about 2 and 1/2 hours. The kids are each in their own rooms. Sometimes Gary takes a nap, but most days he does not. I have saved any coloring pages that might have been on his school work and I let him take them in his room and color. He can  straighten his room  and then play or watch TV quietly. He knows the rules and if I can hear him at all…he is too loud! Allie will go into her room and work on schoolwork that she did not get done during the morning. She also has to do her afternoon chores and straighten her room before TV/phone.

3:30PM- is about the time I pull myself out of bed again. The kids take the dog out. I can check on their work from quiet time.  We flip the load of laundry. I start dinner.

4:30PM- Daddy gets home from work. We eat dinner.

5:15PM- dinner clean up and loading the dishwasher. Kids are back outside. I make a list of any school work that they have left and needs to get done for the day. They don’t usually have work to do at this point. However, if my husband has a meeting to go to or something like that- I will just pull them out a few pages each to work on.

6PM- I leave for work

7PM- 3AM- my work shift

4AM- get back home

I usually fall asleep between 4:30 AM and 5 AM.

So, that’s an honest peek into my crazy schedule during this season of life. Crazy is sometimes hard, but not impossible. We will do crazy for those we love. Have I ever found myself thinking that if they went to regular school…I could sleep all day if I wanted….(ALL DAY)!!!! I would be lying if I said that has never crossed my mind. We truly believe that teaching our children at home is what God has for us at this time. I know that He will give us the strength that we need. The flexibility is such a blessing to our lives. We can be available to help with ministry events and anything else that comes up at the church. We are also free to vacation whenever we want. We can plan fun field trips and don’t have to stress about sick days! It works great for our family!