Written by contributor Hillary Boucher of infinitely learning

When my husband and I set out to homeschool our three children while running two home-based businesses we had no idea what we were getting into. We knew we would love the flexibility, the sense of control and the bonus family time, but we didn’t realize just how well organized we would need to be or the added stress it would bring into our home.

My husband designs and installs stonework and we run the business end from our home. I run a local birth services business that includes photography, doula services and birth tub rentals. I also do web consulting work for small businesses and non-profit organizations.

Three years later and we’ve finally learned how to make it work.

Here are seven things I wish I’d known when we started.

[Read more...]

Written by contributor Lora Lynn of Vitafamiliae.

One of the beauties of homeschooling is the flexibility it offers when life throws us curve balls.

We can punt school for a few days in the name of “learning life’s lessons” and then get back on track when we’ve recovered from our interruption.

But there are occasions where we need to plan for school to go on… without the teacher.  New babies, illness, surgeries, or, in my family’s case, an adoption that requires a trip to Africa, all mean an extended absence for the homeschool teacher.

So how do homeschoolers lesson plan for our substitute teachers?
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Written by Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool and founder of Steady Mom

A note from Jamie: We just pulled into our driveway last night after over two weeks away. Imagine me surrounded by suitcases, piles of clothes, and three energetic children! I’ll be back next week to share some new thoughts–until then enjoy this cleaning repost. It was originally published on April 26, 2010.

Anyone who has been homeschooling long knows the secret for “getting it all done.”

The secret is–that there is no secret. And it is virtually impossible, especially with many little ones underfoot, to get it “all done.” When you focus on the house, the schoolwork slides. When you focus on the schoolwork, the house slides.

What’s the answer to this homeschooling versus house cleaning dilemma? How can you juggle all these plates and keep them successfully in the air?

While there’s no magic formula, here are four tips to help you win the home management battle.
[Read more...]

Anyone who has been homeschooling long knows the secret for “getting it all done.”

The secret is–that there is no secret. And it is virtually impossible, especially with many little ones underfoot, to get it “all done.” When you focus on the house, the schoolwork slides. When you focus on the schoolwork, the house slides.

What’s the answer to this homeschooling versus house cleaning dilemma? How can you juggle all these plates and keep them successfully in the air?

While there’s no magic formula, here are four tips to help you win the home management battle.
[Read more...]

One of the benefits of homeschooling our children is the opportunity to teach them the nitty gritty of home management. A very useful lifelong skill.

This is especially important in the kitchen. Thanks to Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and others who are sounding the alarm, we’re becoming aware of how little the average child knows about food – where it comes from and how to prepare it.

As homemakers and homeschoolers we have the power to create a healthier reality for our children. The time we spend in the kitchen with and around our children is not a distraction to their learning but an important part of it.

But let’s be real. Preparing three healthy meals (don’t forget snacks) each day and homeschooling is not always easy.

Both home education and eating well take time and though it may seem these two are in competition with each other, they aren’t. [Read more...]