Homeschooling is a Job

Why do we need to treat homeschooling as a job?

For a long time I thought what I did as a mom and as a homeschool mom did not count. I fell into the trap of believing that other people are out in the world doing something “important”.

Sometimes I still get caught in these myths. To fight these sticky mental blocks I have written out truths. I hope that these help you on the day when you are feeling discouraged and stuck. What you are doing matters. Don’t get trapped!

4 Myths that Trap Homeschool Moms:

The Myth: I am my own boss so it doesn’t count as “real work”.

Yes, I am my own boss. I am also my kids’ teacher and principal. It all falls on me. The organization, the planning, the execution of every day, the field trips, the special events, the holiday parties, teaching a world language, all state guidelines, and any curriculum requirements. That is a lot of responsibility!

Being an Effective Homeschooler Requires:

• Planning and research
• Gathering resources and understanding the curriculum
• Making time and space for teaching and learning
• Being consistent with your performance when you would rather not finish that lesson or that book.
• Communicating well with humans who are moody, selfish, lacking motivation, and often crabby. (usually, this is the kids, but somedays it’s me!🙂 )
• Choosing to do things that you do not enjoy because they benefit other people.
• Showing up on days when you have so many other things to do in the kitchen and on your list.

The Truth: Being my own boss is hard but can be very rewarding. I can lean into my strengths and outsource the things that I am not good at. I can be a part of a homeschool community to get that support and understanding. I can research productivity and apply what I am learning tomorrow without a board meeting or manager authorization.

I can take it seriously using my creativity to create lessons and special events for my kids. The personal growth that I will experience will be hard but rewarding and my family will benefit. I will lean in when it is hard and exhausting. I will ask for help when I need it. I will find that I learn even more than my children do. That is exciting!

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The Myth: My schedule is flexible so it doesn’t count as “real work”.

This is the one that really gets me. I get a bit fired up about this one. (hold a moment while I get out my soap box…) Ahem. I have lost count of how many times I have had a neighbor or a family member make a request of me “because I am home”. Being a homeschooler does not actually mean that you are always at home. And, it does not mean that you are available when you are at home.

It also does not mean that someone else’s personal agenda is more important than the math lesson you have planned. Yes, I can have my son do his math lesson in the afternoon during his free time or I can have him do it tomorrow. Does that mean that I should? No. Sure, I can move things around and spend a few days catching up on school lessons. But do I have to do that? No.

Would that same person demand that their request be met if I worked in an office? Would she march into an office building, take the elevator up to the 4th floor, walk to my cubicle, and talk to me in front of all my co-workers? Would she tell me that I have to meet for lunch or see her right now? What about if I worked in a public school? Would she march into my classroom and demand that I come visit for the afternoon? I doubt it. But someone who works from home with a flexible schedule deals with this ALL THE TIME.

The Truth: Having a flexible schedule is one of the awesome benefits of homeschooling. The rewards of that sacrifice belong to you and your kids. They give you space to sign up for activities, co-ops, classes, and to go on a hike on a Tuesday morning. It is a bright spot to a very difficult lifestyle. Enjoy the rewards of making your schedule on your own terms. Do not let others decide how and when you will do things.

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The Myth: Working from home doesn’t count as “real work”.

In 2020 we all discovered how difficult it can be to work from home. We discovered that the level of work is the same but the number of distractions and expectations increases. When you work from home there is always something to work on and something to do. The guilt can eat you alive. The drive to always be productive can be loud and maddening. Or it can go the other way and you can find meaningless things to be distracted by. You can spend an afternoon on things that do not matter when something important is due the next day. Focus is a tricky thing to master and whatever bad habits happen in your home environment can leak into your job.

The Truth: Working from home can be highly effective and efficient. Without a commute, other distractions, waiting in line, kid drama, and bus schedules, you can get right to what needs to be done. We can learn about how to get things done. We can become more efficient. I can read books written by smart people who have figured out productivity.

I can apply my learning and tackle each day with energy and enthusiasm. I can do my best, make lots of lists, plan and get things done. As I learn the rhythms that work for me and my family I will become more efficient and less stressed. I will find a balance in life and homeschooling. And when I do find that balance it does not mean that I need to “do more”. It means that I can enjoy my life and my freedom to do other things.

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The Myth: I am not getting paid so it doesn’t count as “real work”.

Not only does homeschooling NOT bring in a paycheck there are usually big financial expenses. It is a lifestyle choice where the family often lives on one income and have a budget category called “Curriculum & School Expenses”.  This can cost several thousand dollars each year depending how much time you take to plan and how scrappy you are.

The Truth: Real work is defined by so much more than a paycheck. What we do is so much more than what money we make. Our worth is not tied up in financial success. If you have been called to teach your kids then I know you have a reason why. What is that reason? Having less income in a two-income society is definitely a downside of homeschooling. But the sacrifices that you make will be worth it in your relational investments. You are earning money in an unseen bank account. It is a long-term investment with no guarantees.  What you are doing matters.

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Questions to ask:

• Which myths trip you up?
• Where do you get trapped?
• When have you heard some of these myths spoken out loud?
  • Who said that? Does that person’s opinion actually matter to you?
  • What can you do to change that perspective?
• Do you need someone to tell you what to do to be effective?
  • What is your favorite way to accomplish a large project?
  • What unique personality traits do you have with organizing and teaching?
  • How are you doing things in your own way?
  • The Truth: Being my own boss is hard but can be very rewarding.
• When was the last time you went on a vacation without a set plan? Did the flexibility take away from it?
  • Have you ever spent a Saturday relaxing with your family without an agenda?
  • Did that day still feel restful? Was it still a “real Saturday”? Or did the flexibility take away from it?
  • The Truth: Having a flexible schedule is one of the awesome benefits of homeschooling.
• Have you ever stayed home all day working on home projects/yard work and felt exhausted?
  • Did that count as a day of hard work even though you stayed home?
  • The Truth: Working from home can be highly effective and efficient.
• What other things do you do in your life that you do not get paid for?
  • Does that affect how you feel about that activity?
  • If you were paid to do your family’s laundry would you do anything differently? Why?
  • The Truth: Real work is defined by so much more than a paycheck.

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Are you convinced yet? All of these different pieces make homeschooling a unique profession. Some days it is easy and fun. But most days are hard and require a big dose of self-control to get to the end. There is space for growth wherever you are at on this homeschooling journey. We can all work on dismantling the myths in our home lives and in our professional lives.

So much of our American culture is “what we do” that it becomes “who we are”. You are not your job. Your job may be homeschooling (or maybe it’s just one of your jobs), but you are more than that vocation.

You are loved by God. Created on purpose. Given to your children as their mom and their guide in this scary world. You have a unique perspective on how this world works. Your personality shapes the way that you do things and how you teach your kids.

You have an opportunity to set your schedule and organize your day for your family. This is so important! Choose wisely. Be efficient and effective, but be yourself. Allow space for who you are and what your family needs. Fight those myths with truth!

You got this! – April

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