by Shari McMinn
Homeschooling moms frequently ask me, “How did you do it all?” Well, I’ll be honest. I didn’t! I was an old, tired mom — in my mid-60s when I finally graduated the last of my nine home-educated children after 28 years!
Before getting married and having 11 children (one was not homeschooled and one died as an infant), I was a successful commercial interior designer, with a career that included designing elegant hotels, restaurants, golf clubhouses, and occasionally, high-end residences. I know what a perfect house looks like, and I didn’t have one then and still don’t now.
Instead, I had the perfect home for my imperfect family. It was often messy with homeschool projects scattered about, laundry piled higher than the washing machine, a sink and counter full of dirty dishes, and unintentional science experiments growing in the refrigerator. But it was home. It was warm and welcoming.
I was simply a “too busy” homeschool mom who was also a widow for the last 10 years of our homeschooling journey. I also worked from home to support my family as a single parent. Yet, my family was (and remains) joyful, accomplished, and content — so am I.
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Organizing Your Homeschool: Expectations vs. Reality
The myth of “having it all” is just that — a myth. You can’t work full-time, have a beautiful home, travel the world, have a happy marriage, and truly raise your children. It doesn’t happen. You can’t simultaneously have a Pinterest house with a model figure and face, be ready to give your husband everything he needs and wants, volunteer for both church and scouts, birth ten gazillion kids, and homeschool future Ivy League grads.
So, get over it! What you can have is a wonderful reality that is perfect for you and your family.
Every homeschool mom wishes that at least one day a year, the school bus would stop at her house. Every homeschool dad is slammed when he gets home from work with a messy house, a lousy supper, a wife in sweats, and screaming kids at least one day a month. Every homeschool kid hates bookwork at least once a week. Every homeschool family experiences communication issues and verbal disputes regularly. That is reality.
So, I humbly suggest that with a simple plan, you can accomplish most of what you want to do as a homeschool family — most of the time — and do it reasonably well.
Realistic Strategies for Organizing Your Homeschool
These are a few strategies that worked for our family, and they might be worth trying at your house.
1. Set a reasonable routine and stick with it.
If you deviate from your routine, start over the next day and continue working on it, adjusting it as needed. We got up around 8am, then ate breakfast. We fed our farm livestock, then started school by 10am. We ate lunch at 12:30pm, had PE outside, then did a group lesson until 3pm. Everyone enjoyed free time until livestock chores began again at 5:30pm, with supper after. We had family worship, relaxed, and headed to bed by 9pm. Over the years, the schedule varied, but we generally had a plan and stuck with it.
2. Have a set place where your kids will do schoolwork each day.
It could be the kitchen, the living room, or their bedrooms with doors open. Provide bookcases and storage bins for supplies — those don’t have to be stylish. Extra books not in use can be stored in sealed boxes under beds, in the garage, or in the basement.
3. Have a list for each child of what schoolwork they are expected to do.
They can then work through the list without needing reminders from you. Pictures work for non-readers. They begin their work independently, then ask for help as needed. Even a toddler can color or count objects. Help the little ones learn to sit for a few minutes at a time, then take a play break.
As they grow older, your students will become independent learners and “own” their education. They will excel in college or business if they have been taught (and have practiced) self-discipline for their expected schoolwork and personal chores each day.
4. Everyone helps pick up the house.
Before going to bed, each person should put their own things away from the common rooms. It should be routine for them to straighten their own bedrooms each morning as they get dressed. Dirty clothes are put in a basket, and sheets are changed weekly. Kids who learn to be responsible for their possessions as toddlers and are trained to clean the house thoroughly once a week as ‘tweens will be teens who can maintain the home for you.
5. Every child should be expected to participate cheerfully in chores, church, recreation, and school.
No slackers, no pouty-facers, no high-and-mighty attitudes allowed. When you are in public, your children, regardless of their age, should speak respectfully with others, ask and answer questions, get along with all ages, and participate fully instead of standing against the wall being shy or acting “cool.”
6. Mom and Dad should enjoy a fun date night once a week (even right at home).
Dad can also plan and enjoy a board game/movie night with all the kids so that Mom can have a few hours off each week. Children should perform all the basic chores, such as setting the table, washing dishes, sweeping, and feeding pets, so that parents are not their slaves. This allows them to learn to do for themselves and become successful adults.
7. We stay home more than we go out because what we do is called home education, not car education.
We didn’t leave home every day in our car, except once a week for errands or medical appointments and on Sunday for church. We did only a few extracurricular activities: each student took piano or string lessons, and we participated in 4-H as a family.
Our schedule was not monopolized by belonging to a bunch of different teams with practices every night of the week, so that we could stay home together. If someone wanted to participate in a sport, such as soccer, then everyone played soccer, and my husband was the coach.
8. A simple home and hearth is easiest to provide and maintain.
Each person should have their own personal space, even if bedrooms are shared. A common room, such as the kitchen or living area, should have a table and inviting places to sit and play throughout the day. Simple food that is quick to prepare — oatmeal with fruit for breakfast, taco salad for lunch, and fresh produce, along with bread and soup simmered all day in the crockpot — is an easy and nutritious dinner.
9. Kids need to be productive with their time.
Train them young — bigger kids playing with or supervising the littles. Each should enjoy hobbies instead of waiting for you to entertain them. Limit electronics and maximize creative play for all ages. Request arts and crafts supplies from relatives for holiday gifts instead of toys. Last but not least, teach your students to be responsible, develop a strong work ethic, and treat everyone with respect.
Organizing Your Homeschool With Freedom from Expectations
Forget the picture-perfect mansion — live within your means and really love and enjoy life together as a family. Our family always lived modestly, helping others who needed food or clothing, hosting many families for meals, and caring for kids from other families for a few days at a time so their parents could get a break.
If you let go of the world’s expectations portrayed on social media and stick to the routines outlined above, your life won’t be perfect. But it will be warm and wonderful, and your kids will turn out amazing! You can’t do it all, but you can do most of what you consider priorities. Of course, following the one and only perfect man, Jesus Christ, is the most important thing of all!
Shari McMinn, your trusted homeschooling friend
Dive Deeper
- Listen as Jenny Hedrick, a dedicated homeschool mom, wife, mental health therapist, relationship intelligence coach, and founder of the Super Simple Homeschool Podcast discusses the importance of setting a clear vision that aligns with your homeschooling goals in this episode: “Overcoming Homeschool Doubts: Insights from a Busy Mom”
- Learn more about how to simplify your homeschool routines in this CHEC Blog post: “The Making of Simple”
About the Author: Shari McMinn
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