I've been homeschooling my two sons ~ now ages 11 and 13 ~ for the past two years. Prior to that they were both in public schools but l was extremely frustrated with their lack of academic progress, even though they both had perfect attendance and nothing that should have prevented them from learning. l was a financial analyst in the corporate world, but often l couldn't figure out the point of their math assignments. When l'd question their teachers about the applicability of the methods to difficult problems in college, l was told they didn't expect the kids to use this stuff in college and that eventually they'd be taught the more "normal" way. What nonsense that one should be taught something only to have to unlearn it later! No wonder public school math tests show such poor student achievement.

    

l had also been unhappy with evolution being taught as fact which contradicted our Bible beliefs.  l talked with my boys about evidence for creation because l've read many books that clearly show the world more clearly lines up with creationism, but it was still a constant struggle to keep up with the latest trash they were being fed. 

   

l've worked full-time my entire adult life, but now that my sons were entering their teenage years, l knew l had just a few years left to influence their lives. l also realized that teenage boys who are unsupervised after school are much more likely to get into trouble than if someone is home with them. l prayed for guidance and insight because l am a single mom and the sole financial support for our family, and l knew God wanted me to be spending much more time with them.     

  

One day l saw an article about a woman who interviewed people and wrote their life stories for them. Something about this just clicked for me. l've always been skilled at writing, and this felt like the kind of career l could feel good about - like l was truly making a difference in someone's life. l knew how grateful l would be if l had a written record of my grandparents' lives but they're all dead and it's too late. But l could help other people preserve their family history in a book that would become a treasured keepsake for generations to come!

   

l researched this new field and discovered there weren't very many people doing this type of work. Unfortunately that means nobody is actively looking for my services because few people know it exists. But it also means very little competition, although there are a handful of people doing this in my town. l love to write and talk with people, and l'm a quick typist so l can transcribe the interviews reasonably quickly. l get business by speaking at nursing homes, assisted living centers, seniors apartment buildings and churches. l give a short class about the benefits of preserving your life story, and have brochures and business cards for people who want to follow-up with me later on. l have a hand-out that gives them information they could use to start the process themselves, but most folks may start it on their own but they give up quickly.  

   

This is the kind of business that lets me do the keyboarding, editing and setting up pages at any time of the night or day. l have to schedule interviews during the day, and l do classes whenever the opportunity arises, although mostly they happen in the daytime. But l'm almost always free during the morning for homeschooling.

   

My children spend about 3 hours a day "doing school" and then they've got the rest of the day free. They participate in team sports, and practice basketball every afternoon from 3-5pm at our local park gym. So those two hours are almost always available to me to schedule interviews, correct their schoolwork, read, type or do whatever l need to accomplish that day. 

My income is nowhere near as high as it was when l was employed by a big corporation. But l am blessed in so many ways in this new lifestyle. After almost two years of homeschooling, my sons are both working ahead of grade-level in math (the youngest is doing 8th grade math at the end of fifth grade). l used the same math curriculum used by most private schools which taught them the "normal" way most of us grew up learning, and private schools always score higher on tests than public schools. 

    

My older son had always complained that he would "daydream" at school but the teachers never noticed. But he was falling further behind in almost every academic subject because he wasn't paying attention much of the time, and he felt stupid.  Now that l'm working so closely with my kids, l can see that his attention just wanders off sometimes when he's listening to someone else talk.  So l was able to address this problem that nobody even caught in school. 

  

When l don't have a lot of memoir writing projects lined up, l can also get income by offering typing services to small law firms in the neighborhood.  Some of these clients are sole practitioners who can't afford to hire anyone on a long-term basis, but they frequently need extra help on special projects or during a busy time. So they can call me (or l'll keep calling them on a regular basis) to have me do some overload typing for them. Again, l'm a quick typist so l can complete the work faster and make more money per hour than someone who types slower than l do. Another benefit is that l can work on those projects after the boys are in bed or while they're doing some independent reading or study. With with email, faxes and scanning, these kinds of "independent contractor" jobs are easier to do than ever before.  

   

Another thing l've done is sing at funerals. That might sound kind of strange, but funeral homes like to be able to offer someone who can play and sing during a funeral service. l play the piano and sing, so it's a nice all-in-one combo. l have many songs that l consider "standard", some old-time favorites and others more contemporary, but sometimes do a special request.  l earn around $60 for each funeral, which is pretty good for about 1.5 hours of actual work time ~ if you don't count the time l spend on my own, practicing and learning new songs, which l'd probably do anyway. By itself, it's not enough to live on since l rarely do more than one funeral per week. l suppose l could do more if l really wanted to push it, but it's a good pace for me right now. l also like it when l can see that my music has helped someone get through a difficult time.

   

l'd recommend being very creative and assessing all your talents to see which could be used for profit. You don't need to have an employer to have income! lt's harder to think on your feet all the time - to constantly have to develop new business or to keep yourself in the forefront of someone's mind when they're thinking of who can fill a special need they have. But these part-time sporadic projects do add up, and they give me a chance to use my God-given talents to benefit my customers and my family in a personal way. And l'm so grateful that as a single mom l can homeschool my sons and give them the best possible chance to succeed in life. We're stronger as a family because of the time we share together, and God is an integral part of virtually every part of school, instead of a separate box that gets tacked on in Sunday School or home devotions. 

   

A wise friend told me when l first started thinking about homeschooling: "lf God has placed a desire in your heart, He surely will bless it and make a way for it to happen. Trust in Him and it will work out somehow, even if you can't see it right now." Those words were so true, and they were my anchor when l felt overwhelmed about how l could provide an income and still homeschool my boys. l pass that wisdom on to anyone else who needs it because it's so very true ~ God can work miracles if we are striving to do His will in our lives.     

   

Kathy, Homeschooling Mom of 2 boys for two years, Minneapolis, MN

      

  

 

 

"lt's a daily walk,

a daily leaning on the lord,

daily trust."

     

  

 

When l began homeschooling 5 years ago, l envisioned *school at home* complete with desks, textbooks (for my 4 year old even!) and schedules. That was horrible, and my children even went back to public school for a year. Then, l took them out once again, and began to do what l called "relaxed homeschooling" using unit studies, projects and lots of reading. The children's current ages are 14, 9,8, 3 and 1 year. Recently, l became a single parent, very very suddenly with no warning.  My first thought was that l could not homeschool anymore. However.... l began to realize that God would not have put it in my heart to homeschool my children, and be mommy to them, then pull that out from under me and send them back to public school. l have read each of your books, plus quite a few others and l know that public school is not where my children need to be. So... that being said, l am continuing with homeschooling.

   

First, l still have complete cooperation with my ex-husband. He agrees that the children should be homeschooled. That makes it much easier. He pays very good child support but not enough to support all of us. l have made the decision to get an inexpensive apartment, and go onto food stamps, instead of going to work. lt was a hard decision to make, to be honest. However that allows me time to be home with the children. l have found there are many HUD programs out there, and other forms of help for single parents. ln July l will begin college at the local community college, heading for my nursing degree. l chose that field, mostly because the money is stable, enough to support my children and l can work three 12 hour shifts a week, leaving me with the children most of the time.

    

There are many ways to make money while being home. Daycare is one way. l could take in 2 children a month, and that is 800.00 a month more income. lf you can do daycare in the evenings or weekends, you can easily make much more then that. Buying and selling on Ebay is another way to make money. l watch Goodwill, yard sales etc., and then resell books, containers, clothing etc. You can make money by watching your expenses very very closely.  Things that previously were not thought about become important now. Anybody who is a single mother probably already knows this, though.

   

As far as actual homeschooling goes... we are pretty much doing the same thing we were before.  We visit the library at least 3 times a week. l'm amazed at how many free things there are to do. Our town has festivals every weekend of some kind... art, culture, foreign countries, war stories... anything you can think of. l try to mark things down ahead of time, and we spend time reading about the particular country or event. l use Rod and Staff math and English for the younger children, which is very reasonably priced and l can reuse it with the younger kids.  Everything else we learn about from the library, the internet, and local resources. One of the best investments is a copier/printer so that l can put together packets of information before we head off to some new adventure. We do a lot of hikes, camping, nature sketching, visiting friends who have farms, or home businesses. l figure a week in a tent in the woods is a great vacation, you can get history, science, research, art...  and many more "subjects" incorporated, plus you're building wonderful memories for your children.

   

Other things are...  trading childcare with another homeschooling family, trading work, books, curriculum or even meals can really take the burden off of yourself. l have forced myself to get more involved with other people, and to have people around me that support me, my children, and homeschooling. lt is SO easy as a single parent to get distracted because you WILL hear... "You can't" homeschool and work" or "You can't give your kids a proper education" etc. lt's the same story l got when l began homeschooling.  But honestly, even staunch homeschool supporters have told me l can't be single and homeschool.

   

Keep your head up, your eyes on the Lord, and he will open the doors to you, showing you the way.

      

Katrina, Homeschooling Mama of 5  

 

 

 

I am not a single mom - anymore. When I was a single mom, I had never heard of homeschooling, but if I had, I would have jumped in with both feet. Now I am married (17 years) and mother to 10. But I understand what it means to be single, knowing that those little ones have no one but you to feed, clothe and provide shelter for them.  But remember, God is the Father to the Fatherless and a Husband to the Husbandless.

 

Encouragement #1 - God gives us the desires of our heart - if we are focused on Him.  Spend time with Him in front of the children.

 

Encouragement #2 - There are ways to be a single mom and homeschool. I know, I have worked with many single moms here in Texas over the past three years, helping them with homeschooling resources, support group connections, and encouragement.  They are all doing well. Some tutor other homeschoolers and public school students, one mom is a "closer" for a title company, and I share kid-sitting privileges with several homeschool moms to help her out, several moms have home daycare, one drives a bus for the school district, and the list goes on. They encourage me with the determination to make it work so they can homeschool their children.

 

God WILL provide, but you need to pray and seek His wisdom in the matter, find others who love and support you, and ask for their helps and suggestions.

 

Blessings and favor on you for desiring to be a light to your children!

 

 - Lisa Guidry; Mother of the Tribe (6 girls - 23, 16, 14, 8, 4, 2 and 4 boys -21, 12, 8, 6) and homeschool mom for 15 years; Houston, TX