Homeschooling or Career?

Question

I have 2 sons, 4 and 6 months. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to homeschool. However, now I think maybe they would rather have more affluent parents. I am considering getting my master's in community counseling, and working while they are in school. But then again, I keep wanting to homeschool them. I know it is my choice, but do the homeschool mothers wish they had a career, even p/t? Do the working mothers wish they had homeschooled? I just can't decide. Money or homeschool.

1) I used to be a teacher (elementary)
2) I have NO problem with them leaving my side...but if I CAN give them 1 on 1 instruction, they could learn so much more.
3) I want to pass on morals and religious beliefs integrated into everything they learn.
4) More time for exciting field trips and volunteering! (I WILL have my kids in extra-curricular stuff and homeschool clubs to keep them socialized)

But with all this we might have to live more modestly....

Thanks to all who replied. I have decided to stay home for now. I honestly don't know if I would have had the courage to do this without all of you. Thanks again.

Answer 1

I have worked part-time for at least 12 years AND homeschooled my children. For the past 5+ years I have been privileged to have my work at home --- I'm a bookkeeper for a small construction company and run my own office. My children are able to do their book study at desks in the same room with me. My schedule is very flexible and I can leave the work if needed and return to it at will. This keeps us free for field-trips, music lessons, group choir and band practice, concert performances, team sports, baby-sitting and other jobs, and many other activities.

I do regret the 7 years that I worked away from home. Even though it was part-time it put a big hole in my days and weeks that were not recoverable. Being with the children when they study is a big plus and not something to take lightly. My husband was with them during most of the hours that I worked --- and it was "okay" but could have been even better. They spent some hours with grandparents too. If I could go back.... ah.... bittersweet lament..... I would STAY HOME and be there for every wonderful learning moment.

In our situation the money was necessary. We had no luxuries and not enough to pay the bills and buy groceries -- my paycheck bought the food. If I could go back.... ah, there it is again....

Don't work outside of the home if you don't *have to*. If there are things that can be cut back and you can still live within reason --- stay home and educate your own children!!! There are so many rewards for them and for you too.

Answer 2

Homeschooling takes a lot of dedication and will definitely impace the finances in your home. I began homeschooling at a point when I could have started to consider going back to work PT. While there are other issues that will keep me from being able to take a full time position for several more years, I had gotten to a point where I could look for a job within the school system and was ready to try. However, when it became clear that homeschooling our oldest was the only option we had, I knew working even PT would have to wait. It has been hard. We have to watch our $$ more closely and buying a house is definitely on hold. Some days I find myself feeling a bit cramped. BUT, I know this is the best thing I can do for my daughter. Being involved with other home school families will help you with those "trapped and can't get out" kind of days.

Right now the boys are young. Take some of the classes toward your degree if you can. When they are old enough for school, look at where you are. Will working allow you to send them to a good private school that shares your spiritual beliefs? Or maybe you will be able to take a few y ears off and home school them up to a certain point. I guess the whole thing is that you don't need to choose right now...you can work towards your degree and it will serve you well both with your own kids if you choose to homeschool and your family if you choose not to or when you decide to send them into a more traditional class after some homeschooling. Education is all about options...

Answer 3

You don't really have to choose - you can do it all. Just realize that eventually, something will have to give. Homeschooling is not something you can do part-time and do well. Between developing lesson plans, teaching those lessons, and grading the work from the lessons, I barely have enough time left to keep the house clean, cook meals, pay the bills, ... well, you get the idea. I could work part-time in the evenings, but I prefer to stay home and enjoy the time with my husband.

As glurpy said, it all depends on where your heart is. If you feel called to homeschool, then do it whole-heartedly. If you think homeschooling is a good idea, but don't really want to put forth the time and effort, then it's better for your kids if they go to public school. Whichever you choose, I'm sure you will do whatever is in the best interest of your children.

And remember, homeschooling is not a death sentence - you spend 15-20 years at it, and then have the rest of your life to get your master's and be a community counselor (or whatever tickles your fancy at that point in time). You could always try homeschooling for a sememster or a year and see how it works out. If it doesn't, enroll your (now) 5-year-old in Kindergarten next year and get started on your own schooling.

Answer 4

Kids don't care if their parents are "affluent" if they don't go to public school and have the other kids tease them for not having all the right clothes.

Many homeschool families cut spending on unnecessary things so that they can afford to travel and do other things like that.

My children are homeschooled. They realize we aren't rolling in cash. They don't care that they can't have all the newest stuff "right now". They also learn how to save up to get the things that they want.

If you REALLY want to have a job, homeschool in the evenings. It is possible to work and teach. You will just have to work your schedule around your husbands, so that someone is home with the kids. OR you can have a babysitter come in while you work.

Answer 5

I don't think any child ever reached adulthood, and wished their parents had been more affluent, or had provided them a more lavish lifestyle. There are, however, plenty of kids who wish they had had parents who spent more time with them, and who had made them a priority in their lives. If you place greater emphasis on money and things, or if you think you will somehow be unfulfilled if you do not work outside the home, then perhaps it is not a choice for you. If your heart is not in it 100%, you are better off not doing it at all. It is not a matter of giving up a career, but of chosing to change careers. There is no job you will ever have that is more challenging and more rewarding, or more personally fulfilling. There is no greater feeling than being there for the ah-hah moments, and know you have been the guiding light. No teacher, however well motivated, with access to the latest and greatest educational tools, can ever replace you and what you have to give your children.
I've homeschooled my children for the past 14 years. I left a good job behind, one that I truly enjoyed- in the military and as a paramedic, to stay home and educate my children. I have never regreted it for a moment. Not everyday is a golden educational experience, but I wouldn't change a moment of it. When they are struggling, I am there along side to help, just as I have been since the moment they took first breath. We learn in great leaps and in tiny steps, all depending on what is working best just for them. That's an educational experience only you can offer your children.
There is no reason you can't earn your master's degree while you homeschool your children. I did it, taking classes on line and in the evenings. I often did my homework alongside them, which was an even more important lesson for them. They saw that not only did I value education, but I valued it for myself as well as them. I was homeschooling three at the time, at one point I had 5 children all homeschooling, from preschool through grade 12. I managed to earn my degree in less than 3 years, so I see no logical reason why you couldn't do that as well.
We do live perhaps a more modest living than some dual income families. I don't see that as a bad thing. We are not lacking for anything important, or anything we need. The children learn early what it is to live within a budget, to weigh purchases carefully, and determine what is a must have versus what is a pure want. We do not feel obligated to purchase the latest games and such out of guilt, as a subsitute for spending time with them. Don't kid yourself that it's "quality" time that's more important that "quantity". They are both important. You'll never know when the"quality" moment has arrived unless you spend "quantity" time with them.
Socialization - bahh. You can get the children involved in any number of good activities, which will provide all the social opportunities they need. Nobody said homeschool children can't leave the house or be involved in outside activities. The socialization that goes on at school often leaves scars for life. The bullies inflict a bit, the name callers, the teasers, all take their toll. So does being the last one to be picked for the team, or not being in the right "clique". People pull that socialization argument out of the bag because they haven't anything better to throw out and don't know any better. Homeschool children can be and often are better adjusted socially because of the things they don't have to deal with as well as the things they do.
If you think you will regret your decision to homeschool, and feel like you have somehow "given up" a career to stay home, you are better off not even starting. The rewards to you are intangible, the job will never pay well monetarily, and you will certainly have to do without some things. You just have to weigh up what it is you really want against what it is you can reasonably have. Money, however, isn't everything. Your children won't be children long, and there is no going back to regain lost moments. I promise you, they will remember what you taught them long after the toys are gone. They won't remember how big the house was, or what kind of car you drove, or anything else you think money will provide for them. They will remember you teaching them about fractions by making chocolate chip cookies. And they will remember they were the center of your world, for a short time. That's a priceless gift to give your children.

Answer 6

In 1989, I began homeschooling my oldest kid. At the time, the kids were ages 5, 4, and one and a half. I worked part time and homeschooled these kids as they came of age, and in July 1991 I gave birth to another child.

I worked part time in 1993, and had our youngest child in April 1994. My former husband is a postal worker, I'm a nurse, and we just lived more simply when I was not working. He worked days; I worked when he was home, so we did not have to pay a sitter. We were also lucky to have found an inexpensive house, and to have been given a car due to my dad's passing.

We stopped homeschooling in 1995 for several family reasons including stress due to my ex's dad's terminal illness and marital problems for us unrelated to homeschooling.

I would definitely do it all again! It kept the kids close with me and with one another. You may or may not miss a career; you may be able to do something part time. You MUST find ways to take care of yourself -- get enough rest, socialize, and ask for help around the house as needed.

I can't decide for you, but I'll never regret having homeschooled. The kids went on to Catholic schools (entering in Nov. of grades 5, 4, and 1 respectively), did every bit as well as conventionally schooled peers, and better in some subjects. Three are now in college, and my second and third children have earned many, many thousands of dollars in scholarship money and Advanced Placement credits. My daughter said she felt better prepared in English than her peers.

She has occasionally said she wishes we'd had a smaller family, so that she would have been financially better off, but other than that, none of them has ever said they wish we had not homeschooled for any reason, monetary, social, academic, none at all.

Email me if you like! :-)

Answer 7

One of the most important things you need to think about is your reasoning for wanting to homeschool. Is it because you are not satisfied with the status of schools in your area? Is it because you have a passion for teaching? Is it because you are afraid to let your children leave your side for most of the day?

Once you have figured out what your motives are, then you can start to make a more educated decision of what would be the best choice for your children. Young children need the socialization that group education can give to them. Older children sometimes become distracted by the stresses of pressure to date and fit in.

Additionally, you need to make sure that you are able to handle the stress and pressure of home schooling. You will have to be able to keep ahead of your children's studies and prepare them properly for either college or a trade. Also, what would make you the happiest and your family the happiest. Would your spouse be jealous of you spending that much time with the children? Will you be able to (as a household) keep up with increasing expenses with only one employed parent? Will you be able to maintain and create new friendships?

Sorry to answer this question with questions, but there will be mothers that answer that they wish they had done something different (no matter what the question). I know many families where only one of the children was homeschooled because the other thrived in the public school system. The choice to homeschool or not has to depend in part on the personality of your children.

Answer 8

Money isn't everything.

YOu do mean 4 and 6 years, not months. If you mean months, then you DEFINATELY better keep homeshcooling! That's terrific feat!

The problem with the education system, besides the violence and drugs in schools, is the severe lack of primary education.

Once you get them up to snuff they can handle school and be qualified for Honors classes.

It's English and Math skills that are lacking.

The average high school student has the average Math and English skills of a 6th grader!

That means they can barely do fractions or decimals!

Get them up to Geometry!

It's either that or you MUST homeschool at nights when you are finished with your school

Otherwise you'll have dummies with IPods, Xboxes and Honda Accords.

Answer 9

Which do you value more? Where does your heart lie? With money or homeschooling? Which do you think will help your children more in their development--more money as they grow up or the benefits of homeschooling?

FWIW, I know some homeschooling moms who work and homeschool. Some do part-time hours, others work from home.

Answer 10

My mom works sewing for a place that makes tipis, and she is able to bring all her work home with her, and she is currently working on a shirt business that shes starting. When I was little, she sewed for the tipi shop,and was still able to home school me, now I work more on my own, so she has more time to focus on her business. I would suggest that you wait a few years and home school your kids,and then when they get old enough to do school more on there own, then you can pursue going to college and such. You should focus on your kids well being,how they are taught,who they hang out with,and what types of things they are taught,such as your religion.(I'm christian) and who knows,maybe you send your kids to public school and in a few years, you regret not teaching them yourself.Just try home schooling, and see what happens.Good Luck!