How can I homeschool after a divorce?
I want to homeschool both kids but I’m a single mom and I need to allow myself more flexibility to make $50K/year and still be there more for them since their father is gone.
One daughter is very creative and artistic, so I want to guide her to being a small business artist while the other one is more gifted in math and people stress her out. They are both still under 10. Does this sound like a plan that will work?
I’m going to challenge your idea of homeschooling your kids the way you’re doing it. I’m realizing that people homeschool with no goals for their kids and pretty much everyone who has raised their kids on my blog who doesn’t put their kids in high school has kids who are totally screwed.
So, if you couldn’t make a living doing “small business/artist” why do you think your artistic daughter can? I think women have money before they have that business and they lie to each other.
And if your other daughter is good at math/computer science, it’s linear, which means you have to learn everything in order, which means if she doesn’t start learning when she’s young she gets very far behind and has a significant issue catching up. She can catch up starting in 6th grade. But not in 9th grade.
I’m telling you this so you think about your plans. Homeschooling doesn’t work forever for most kids unless the parents have tons of money.
Penelope
“Homeschooling doesn’t work forever for most kids unless the parents have tons of money.” This should be a whole blog post. Would love to see you elaborate.
Minami,
I agree. Some elaboration would be helpful. I’m also curious about this statement, “I’m realizing that people homeschool with no goals for their kids and pretty much everyone who has raised their kids on my blog who doesn’t put their kids in high school has kids who are totally screwed.”
The way Penelope’s response is framed it is implied that people who have followed her philosophy for homeschooling are not doing the right thing for their kids. So, are we to interpret this to mean people shouldn’t homeschool? After her years of advocating to homeschool, I don’t think this is what she wants to suggest. More context would be helpful at least for me since I’m a highly contextual person.
I don’t think this sounds like a plan because too much information is missing. A plan would answer questions like:
1. What’s the job that pays $50k? What are the hours, how much paid time off do you get, how are the benefits/health insurance, what’s the commute, is it remote or onsite?
2. If the plan is to freelance, what’s your rate, how much work do you expect to get, how many clients do you have?
3. What will your kids be doing while you work? Who is providing childcare during those hours, and at what cost?
4. How long can each child work or play independently? How long can they play together peacefully?
5. What do you plan to do with your kids when you’re not working? How are you spending your time together? Are you teaching, facilitating, taking them places, etc.? What parts of homeschooling require your full presence and attention?
6. How much time do you need for housework, meal prep, and basic life admin?
7. If you look at the 168 hours per week we all have, how do you plan to allocate those hours?
8. If you look at your budget, how are you allocating money? Is your net pay (after deductions for taxes, health insurance, etc) enough to pay for housing, transportation, healthcare, childcare when you’re working, and other necessities?
9. Do you have any other source of income, like child support or alimony? How long can you count on that continuing?
10. Do you have family support? Is there anyone in your life who is willing and able to reliably help with childcare?
It’s your life and your family, so you don’t owe me any answers, but I think it’s worth answering these questions for yourself. Hopefully it will help you get clarity on what you need to do in order to care for yourself and your family.
I started following you years and years ago; you were the reason I stuck with homeschooling through all 12 years, why I felt comfortable in an unschooling (are they still calling it that?) model. Your blog was the support I needed when I questioned the practicality of homeschooling at all.
My daughter was accepted into an Ivy and seven IvyPlus schools. We aren’t rich! We live modestly for sure, no fancy camps or travel sports teams, no tutors. She designed her own curriculum.
Truly, Penelope, if it wasn’t for you, I’m 100% certain that she would have gone to the local highschool and not be where she is today.
So thank you.
Congratulations!!!