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How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress

April 21, 2024 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool mental stress is real. Also, look at my How to Homeschool page for more tips and resources.

Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health.

Having tried and true techniques at your finger tips is absolutely essential to coping with homeschool mental stress; the power of a mental hygiene homeschool routine can’t be underestimated.

How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress

I’ve learned to accept happily that struggling and being stressed doesn’t mean that the homeschool lifestyle is not worth it.

For my family, it has been a superior way of education.

How to Cope With Homeschool

The right view of stress, which is that not all of it is negative, is necessary to categorizing the type of stress we encounter in homeschooling.

5 BEST How to Homeschool Books

I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.

Homeschooling for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

The Unhurried Homeschooler

Homeschooling is a wonderful, worthwhile pursuit, but many homeschool parents struggle with feelings of burnout and frustration. If you have ever felt this way, you’re not alone! Most of us need to be reminded of the “why” of homeschooling from time to time—but "The Unhurried homeschooler" takes parents a step further and lifts the unnecessary burdens that many parents place on themselves.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for their children and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

Education has become synonymous with schooling, but it doesn’t have to be. As schooling becomes increasingly standardized and test driven, occupying more of childhood than ever before, parents and educators are questioning the role of schooling in society. Many are now exploring and creating alternatives.

There is good stress and there is bad stress.

There is no way to eliminate stress totally from our life because stress can be an energizing and motivating force to do school day in and day out successfully.

The release of energy, the highest sense of accomplishment, and the gratifying feelings deep down in our gut we get when we teach our kids to read, to cook, or see them positively engaging with adults is hard to explain to those that have not experienced it.

10 Tips to Manage Homeschool Stress

However, today I’m not talking about the good side of stress. 

We don’t talk enough about the bad kind of stress which can take over our mind, affect us, and affect those we love.

If you haven’t lived our homeschool life it’s hard to know what we experience day to day. 

Look at these 10 tried and true tips that have worked with me as I’ve homeschooled over the past 20+ years.

 1. Lowering your expectations is NOT equivalent to lowering your standards.

In many ways homeschooling back before all the devices exploded on the homeschooling scene, which are suppose to free up our time, was easier than today.

We didn’t have so much content thrown at us; we weren’t bombarded with information overload to wade through.

Pushing back and resisting the urge to cover every possible facet of a subject has not meant lower standards in learning.

How to Cope With Homeschool Mental Stress. Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health. CLICK HERE to grab them!

My sons high college grades prove otherwise. I view myself as a normal home school mom who didn’t always push her kids academically.

I was consistent each day and that was key to lowering the stress for the day and not overloading my mind with worry if my kids were performing well enough.

If you find that you keep piling expectations, extra subjects, or longer homeschool days on you and your kids ask yourself is it worth it?

2. Step away from the online world and into the real world.

One of the best ways to help me rejuvenate quickly is to be around close friends or family and stay completely off my phone and off online.

Do you remember the time when we all didn’t carry phones? Some people had to actually wait for a reply.

As much time as I spend on my blog and online schooling for my kids, I realize that I’ve always had intermittent times when I’m completely away from the online world.

I find myself with instant calm for my mind when I have face to face conversations with warm individuals. It reminds me that slowing down for day to day interaction is the key to a healthy mental hygiene.

3. Do simple physical activities. I do mean simple.

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to knock yourself out at the gym go for it.

My problem is that it takes me a while to recover from strenuous workouts and then it defeats my purpose in easing my mental stress. From there I go to worrying about what has not been done for the day.

What I have found that works for longer periods of time or through the years is a simple nature walk. To this day, I still take nature walks even in my neighborhood. I think doing it at the crack of dawn and seeing the sun rise sets the right tone for my day.

I’ve always been an early morning person, but if you’re not a morning person the evening sun or night skys is just as gorgeous. I have no favorites.

Being outside reminds me of what is important each day, it fills up my tank when I have to deal with others especially my kids, and it just reminds me to be grateful I’m alive.

4. Easy activities with the kids eases mental tension.

I always read about self-care and getting away from the kids. While this is true on occasions, the truth of it is we homeschool because we love being with our kids.

Not every solution involves isolation. When I feel overloaded I change our plans for the day.

A simple walk or hike with kids, an all day reading day, or even something simple like watching a movie are all easy activities that can ease mental tension. A shift in focus, rest, or stepping back are all options depending on your needs.

Sometimes it’s just not possible to be alone and when you can’t, take steps now to have ideas in place for when you need a different pace.

Besides, you are also modeling to your kids how to cope with days that are mentally taxing.

5. Add humor in big doses throughout the day.

There are many reasons to laugh during the day while homeschooling.

If you’ve taught for any length of time, you know your kids say funny things, think funny things, and do funny things.

Treasure those moments and don’t forget to laugh when it’s time to laugh.

It’s a quick fix to alleviate stress in the air and your kids will love the stress free atmosphere you create. Better yet, write down all of those funny sayings in your planner and come back to them.

I also save pictures in one file of funny things my kids did and I have some picture of myself that ares absolutely awful while homeschooling which I would never share with the homeschooling world.

But every time I look at them, I laugh so hard it’s hard to stop. It keeps me balanced of how I view myself.

6. Do we really NOT have time for a hobby? Count the mental cost.

I was wrong when I started homeschooling because I gave up some of my hobbies. Okay, my thinking was a bit off. It took me years to find balance; I hope it doesn’t take you that long.

My thinking was off because when I thought of a hobby I thought of something that gave no value. A hobby could keep you from doing the more important things if it’s not kept in balance. Why do we think it has to be all or nothing?

How did I adopt such an extreme view? I know it was to prevent me from not giving attention to what I needed to do each day which is to be sure my kids get the best education I can give them.

From Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle

  • Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle
  • How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress
  • How to Begin Homeschooling A Teen Lagging Behind
  • How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child & Free Checklist
  • 5 Ideas to Kick-Start Your New Homeschool Year By Including Others

Again, I try not to go too hard on myself because I had set the right priority.

Balance is the key to doling out increments of time doing something I enjoy whether it’s photography, cooking, or blogging.

Not thinking about the teacher mom at present, but about the person and woman I am has always revitalized me.

You’re the only one to answer to if you have become unbalanced with your hobby.

At times, depending on the level of stress in my homeschooling, I’ve needed more time to step back and focus on who I am. Other times, not so much.

Avoiding critical judgments of how others spend their time off from school helps.

There is no time to be critical of others when you homeschool positively and care for your mental stress.

7. The power of 15 minutes for a shift in focus.

I mentioned earlier that unless you experienced our homeschool lifestyle it can be hard to appreciate the tips. I know oh so well how at times we just can’t get away from our kids.

When I had that time period in my journey, I had to learn the power of a 15 minute shift in focus.

If your kids are old enough to be left alone or to go to another room for that long, then implement that daily tip.

I set the timer on my stove because it was the loudest and because my boys could run into the room to see how much more time was left. It was an easy timer for them to read.

Of course I explained to my kids they didn’t have come into the room to see the timer and that they would hear it.

Staying in their room was a game in the beginning because they wanted to be near me to see what I was doing. However, the more I did it, the more they enjoyed it and stayed in their room or another room to play.

Also, looking back, I realized I also taught them how to have a pause in their day for relaxed mental time. This world can be extremely stressful and our kids need tips as they grow too.

Whether you decide to lay down and read, bathing (if you can), or just do nothing, you decide. Don’t keep engaging your mental person when it needs rest.

8. Your spouse or a trusted friend are priceless.

We know that we do a majority of the homeschooling, but if your husband is like mine, he’s interested in how you’re coping.

Don’t shut him out because he may not understand completely.

Just relaying to my husband what I have been dealing with helps me to articulate it orally and I find it refreshing to get it out of my mind.

I’m all for date nights if you can.

One more technique that my husband and I have implemented is although we may not be able to get away from the kids, we make time to talk alone and teach the kids to respect that time.

Time alone with my husband while the kids were present became absolutely necessary as each kid hit the teen years and we had to deal with unique stressful situations.

We had already implemented daily or weekly management of that type of stress.

9. Organize it, throw it out, and kick it out.

Another huge mental release for me is being able to clean, organize, or kick clutter to the curb. This is especially good if part of your mental stress toll stems from a cluttered home.

Don’t ignore your need for a more efficient working area.

Homeschooing is about teaching kids how to cope with daily life.

So many homeschooled kids are not taught that taking time to organize is as imperative as doing their school work. Is this because some homeschool families don’t view it as essential?

It’s unbalanced to do a whole workbook of math while kids live in a monumental mess.

Why is being good at math so much more important than being a person that people want to be around as they grow into adults? I would never want to live with anyone that didn’t pick up after himself. I want my kids to be the kind of persons that others can roommate with or live with.

Did I mention they are? If you find that your mental stress comes from a cluttered home, then STOP homeschooling and declutter.

You’re not getting behind on homeschooling when you clean, you’re getting ahead of it.

10. Make time for the little things. Chocolate, chat with a friend, get out of the house, or listen to music.

Lastly, make time for what refreshes you mentally.

Creating time to soothe your mental health needs to be part of daily management of homeschool mental stress.

Whether you find a bit of milk or dark chocolate helps bite by bite, a chat with a close homeschool friend which understands your feelings, getting out of the house, listening to your favorite music, exercising more, or doing like I did one time binge watch a Netflix series, they all count.

Make Daily Stress Management Part of Your Routine

Accepting the fact that I can’t do all I want to do and having daily routines has helped me to cope with negative stress.

Learning how to say no to things I can’t be involved in and recognizing stress triggers like avoiding explosive personalities in my homeschool world helps me to manage too. Some people bring unnecessary stress on themselves and those around  them.

Have tips ready at your fingertips for when you need a mental break; your journey should be memorable for the right reasons.

How to Cope With Homeschool Mental Stress. Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health. CLICK HERE to grab them!

What mental coping techniques do you use?I know you’ll love reading these other ways to empower your sticking ability to homeschool:

  • Homeschooling STARTS When You STOP Caring What Others Think
  • 3 Foolproof Ways I Cope When I Can’t Homeschool
  • Deschooling: Step One for the New Homeschooler (the Definitions, the Dangers, and the Delight)
  • 4 Undeniable Reasons People Hate Homeschooling (Keep It Real)

Hugs and love ya,

1 CommentFiled Under: Be an Exceptional Homeschool Teacher, Homeschool Simply, Homeschool When Nobody Wants To, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool anxiety, homeschool challenges, homeschool clutter, homeschool crisis, homeschool joy, homeschool joys, homeschool lifestyle, homeschool stress

What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 2

March 21, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I realized that year around homeschooling for my family meant shorter days, longer breaks, more meaningful lessons, less prep time for teacher to cover things “lost” during a long down time. Also, look on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

And year round homeschooling meant a choice of vacation time that suited my family’s rhythm whether it was summer or otherwise.

What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 2

Then the next thing I wanted to know is “How does the schedule look?”

What are others doing that makes it successful for them or a good fit for their family?

Next, look at some of these books to help you plan to school year round.

5 BEST How to Homeschool Books

I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.

Homeschooling for New Homeschoolers: When You Don't Know Where to Begin

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling. Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops. When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

The Unhurried Homeschooler

Homeschooling is a wonderful, worthwhile pursuit, but many homeschool parents struggle with feelings of burnout and frustration. If you have ever felt this way, you’re not alone! Most of us need to be reminded of the “why” of homeschooling from time to time—but "The Unhurried homeschooler" takes parents a step further and lifts the unnecessary burdens that many parents place on themselves.

Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Those who have made the decision to homeschool their children have done so out of great love for their children and a desire to provide them an excellent education in the context of a warm, enriching home.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childhood chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom

Education has become synonymous with schooling, but it doesn’t have to be. As schooling becomes increasingly standardized and test driven, occupying more of childhood than ever before, parents and educators are questioning the role of schooling in society. Many are now exploring and creating alternatives.

More Homeschooling Year Around Tips

  • What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 1
  • What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 2
  • Homeschooling Year Round – Chaos Or Calm?
  • How a Homeschool Planning Calendar is Superior to a Regular Calendar
  • 4 Benefits to Planning Early for the Next Homeschool Year

What is Year Around Homeschooling Part 2

Here are some options for schedules that I have followed and are following:

  • 4 weeks on, one off, until spring or holiday times, then off for a month.

This I found was best for when the kids were younger, and I would get behind on house work and chores.

Too, when I was pregnant or just sick and needed more rest, this was a much more relaxed time since the down time was longer.

You can even take off a month during the holidays or springtime.

  • 4 days schooling, one day off during the week instead of one consecutive week.

(This is the schedule I am presently kind of following. I prefer to have “off” one day during the week that is not school so that I can re-organize, catch up on work, help newbies or just do nothing. I don’t take it off EVERY week but maybe ONCE every three weeks or so)

  • 6 weeks schooling, take off one week.

This will give you more time at any “interval” during the year where you may want to take off 2 weeks.

  • One month off for “travel” for science and history.

Here is the problem – although it’s a nice problem but is this REALLY off or are your children learning while you are going to museums, field trips and visiting Washington D.C?

Summer months we hit school harder because here in Texas, it is too hot to be outside too long.

We save being outside for milder weather.

We can actually swim here in Texas all the way through September. So plenty of time for being outdoors and have a “summer” it’s just not in summer, but in fall.

Keep to the regular school schedule. If this is working for you, no need to change something that your family likes.

Summer months hit lighter. (We did this for this past year as my past year was very busy with school and my husband’s work). So, math and reading only and mostly rest.

Cover only like or two subjects during the summer. I always cover math.

But some homeschoolers prefer language arts, but I do not.

I prefer to do some science or history or craft projects that would be more time consuming during the year. This way we can give almost the whole day to learning about it.

One year I just schooled until we needed a break, like 8 to 10 weeks and then took like 2 weeks.

This is also a GREAT schedule. It is very refreshing, and you feel like you can stay caught up during the year.

What Year Round Homeschooling is NOT

1. Missing making fun summer time memories.

This is plenty of time for that and to keep moving forward in school.

2.No rest for the weary. It is really just the opposite.

My husband can tell when I and the kids are finishing a break. I have way more energy and patience in dealing with the children.

3. Drudgery. Homeschooling is about life; life is about homeschooling.

If our life hits drudgery, and it can at times since we are just human, it just means we need a change.

Drudgery is something that seems to sap long time homeschoolers, so we need to re-focus and realize the blessings that come from a long term relationship.

Change can come with new curriculum, a new routine, less structured work or just getting among other fellow homeschoolers.

The “newness and freshness” of new homeschoolers, the EXCITEMENT that consumes their every waking minutes and passion they have are contagious.

What do you think? Have you given year round homeschooling a try?

What is Year Round Homeschooling Part 2

Leave a CommentFiled Under: How To - - -, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Plan For & School Year Around, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: curriculum planner, new homeschool year, planner, planning, yeararoundhomeschool

Day 27 10 Homeschool Tips to Break Out of a Homeschool Rut And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

December 6, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, Day 27 we have 10 homeschool tips to break out of a homeschool rut. You’ll love the other tips on my 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

When learning about the Oregon Trail a few years back, we looked at pictures of wagon wheel ruts stretching across two thousand miles of untamed wilderness.

Ruts served as a guide to pave the way to the West. No doubt, hundreds of pioneers took comfort as they reached their destinations.

Day 27 10 Homeschool Tips to Break Out of a Homeschool Rut And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Ruts certainly paved the road for adventuresome pioneers and it is similar with our homeschool journey.

Homeschoolers that have gone before you have plowed ruts and left visible markers like free online curriculum and testimonies when their children graduated.

However, a rut can make each day uninteresting and lifeless. The longer you homeschool, the easier it is to become humdrum about it.

On Day 28, I will go over some questions on how to tell when burnout looms, but today I am sharing more about how to spice up your day. You know, get those creative juices of yours to flow.

However, these tips can help too when you are already burned out and the little yellow school bus back to public school is looking quite nice.

You’ll love the homeschool tips I share below.

Before I share some tips to bring the spark back into your day, I want you to trust the method in how to get those ideas to spout because it is not easy at times to get creative juices flowing.

Believe me when I say that my curriculum planner or unit studies today do not look anything like they did a few years ago. Refinement is a process in education too. 

I have to share this one thing that I learned when reading over the weekend about the brain and refinement of information.

I know, crazy to read about that, but only educators read about those kinds of subjects. Anyway, it was so fascinating to read how synapses can become more like a super highway of information through constant use.

The more you create and build your ideas about teaching, the easier it is to take one idea, tweak it and make it into another.

Information overflows and grows as these synapses working with dendrites bring information in.

10 Homeschool Tips to Spice Up Your Routine

I stand in amazement that we are so FULL of the capability of bringing our homeschooling ideas from a sagging bridge to an indomitable interstate.

Day 27 10 Homeschool Tips to Break Out of a Homeschool Rut And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp. I have 10 homeschool tips to break out of a homeschool rut. You’ll love the other tips on my 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. However, a rut can make each day uninteresting and lifeless. The longer you homeschool, the easier it is to become humdrum about it. However, these tips can help too when you are already burned out. #newtohomeschool

Look at these ideas that I hope gets your creative juices flowing:

1.) Instead of doing math worksheets for the day, take the day to read living math books. This instills in your children the fact that math is about using it for everyday living. Click on the picture above to see the different categories for books and read some next time your child chimes that math is boring.

2.) Read out loud together as a family. No, and I don’t just mean in elementary school. I read to my sons all the way through to high school. Their memories of sitting in my lap and now laying on the couch or sitting beside me as I read to them not only endears them to me but helps them to realize the beauty and value of reading. It’s not about them to learning to read, but it is about treasuring family relationships and restoring our spirit. It’s about the pleasure of reading without having to do an analysis of it.

3.) Take a family walk. Though my husband and I use to do this by ourselves, the kids have been joining us. They may ride their bikes while I exercise by walking, but the fact that we move for the day helps us to lift our heads out of the rut.

4.) Cut back some text books and add in a homemade lesson plan. I’ve said it before but anything homemade tastes better than box anytime. You really want to do this from the very beginning of starting homeschool so that you can become skilled at it as the years go by. For example, if your science lesson for the day said to read about the planets for the day, take time to act out the process. Your young kids will enjoy twirling around the room as they learn about terms like revolve and rotate. If you are doing some Shakespeare, then assign an older child to recite some of it. Most of us have that one kid that likes to dress up and make others laugh. He is also the same kid that will benefit from a skit like that because it is fun and brings laughter to learning.

10 Tips to Spice Up Your Homeschool Routine
10 Tips to Spice Up Your Homeschool Routine

10 Tips to Spice Up Your Homeschool Routine

5.) Instead of a co-op, meet with JUST 1 other family each week to do a project. I did this one year when I was planning too much and I felt like we needed a break. One week we met at my house as her kids looked forward to coming to my house. The next week we met at her house so that we could get out of our house. Both of us as moms were super busy so we kept it super easy when we met. However, just the fact that another educator was helping to plan gave us a huge impetus for our year. We cooked food from another country for one history assignment and made an ice cream Viking ship at another assignment.

6.) If your kids don’t like to write, have them start a private blog. I know a lot of homeschool kids that blog and they make it private. They may only share with grandma or a few other close homeschooling kids. Kids that may not like writing suddenly find a purpose for sharing their thoughts.

7.) Volunteer service. I know a lot of us homeschool because we are not only worried about the reading grade but want to instill Godly character. My sons have taken turns in the past reading the Bible to some elderly ones in a nursing home. The elderly love hearing the Word and especially when it comes from such a sweet face. Food banks and some wildlife preservation places clamor for teens to help out too. What satisfaction we get from our homeschool day when we focus on others.

10 Tips to Spice Up Your Homeschool Routine

8.) Take your work to the park. We have done this many times. Either it has been the first day of school or when we get up in the morning, I can see that this day calls for a change in the routine. Packing our lunch or better yet, according to the kids, driving thru and picking up a home made pizza, we head to the park.

Ewwwwwwwww, homeschooling on the wild side!! It feels goooood!

9.) Start off your day with a different subject than normal. Though it sounds like a little thing, the smallest change in your routine can ignite the passion for learning and take you out of the humdrum. For example, I start off reading aloud to everybody, then have everybody start their math or writing.

10.) Stop. If you are in a rut and you can feel burnout coming, just stop and rest. Relaxation and rejuvenation combat the homeschool ruts. There is no need to be a super mom. In the end the praise we want is from our God, our husbands and our children. Nobody else matters. So take your time and stop to rest and take care of yourself. You ARE worth it!

Take these ideas when the homeschool rut hits and TRUST that you can create some awesomeness in your day if you are willing to continue to work on your teacher skills.

Day 27 10 Homeschool Tips to Break Out of a Homeschool Rut And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics

  • 1 Learn The Lingo (& free glossary)
  • 2: Homeschool Roots Matter
  • 3 What is NOT Homeschooling
  • 4: Confronting Relatives & Naysayers
  • 5: The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round & ‘Round
  • 6: Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations
  • 7: Tied Up with Homeschool Testing?

8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners

  • 8: Organize Your Home – Then School
  • 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year
  • 10 Grocery Shopping Cooking Laundry
  • 11: Swoonworthy Learning Spaces & Homeschool Rooms
  • 12: Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool
  • 13. Streamlined Record Keeping
  • 14 Homeschool Supplies List


15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum

  • 15: Discovering Learning Styles
  • 16: Practical Tips for Learning Styles
  • 17: How to Choose a Homeschool Curriculum 
  • 18 Teaching Young Children – Elementary Homeschool
  • 19:  Guiding Homeschool Teens 
  • 20: Homeschool Lesson Planning
  • 21 Time Tested Tips For Homeschool

22- 28 Homeschool Preschoolers, Highschoolers, and Resistant Learners

  • 22 Homeschooling Preschoolers
  • 23 When Your Child Hates Homeschooling 
  • 24 Finding Homeschool Curriculum For Unique Learners
  • 25 Homeschool High School 
  • 26: Tips for Resistant Learners

Do you have any ideas that may be a trickle now?

Easy Ways to Break Out of a Homeschool Routine

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1 CommentFiled Under: 31 Day Blog Bootcamp for New Homeschoolers, How To - - -, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: new homeschooler

Day 10 Grocery Shopping Cooking Laundry And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

August 30, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Tips for grocery shopping cooking laundry is day 10 of the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

New homeschoolers quickly say grocery shopping cooking laundry in long breath.

When your new homeschool life settles down after the initial excitement, then the everyday grind of keeping up becomes reality.

Day 10 Grocery Shopping, Cooking & Laundry And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

I want you to be energized when you give attention to this area of your life.

When stress is kept to a minimum, you maximize the enjoyment of beginning to school.

Paying attention to details like how you spend your day cleaning, cooking and doing laundry will help you stay flexible.

Grocery Shopping Cooking Laundry

For example, I tried to bring my I have-to-have-an-all-day-laundry-day mind-set to homeschooling.

The kids were all young and between hubby’s work clothes and a newborn that could plow through three or more outfits in one day, I was overwhelmed.

Instead of having a plan, I had to stop/start my school as I fell behind in my every day housework and cooking.

This of course was not good for my first homeschooled child as I wanted to start setting a routine for our day.

So, addressing your need for a relaxed order in your home is part of learning to school.

Balancing Grocery Shopping and Being a New Homeschooler

And I hope to spare you the mistakes of many wonderful cooks and moms turned fulltime home educator.

On Day 8: Organize Your Home, Then School, I don’t want you to think of organization as a stranglehold.

Here is where a positive attitude is helpful.

I realize many cooks like to cook spontaneously, but menu planning is neither dull or boring.

Because I prefer to be doing something else enjoyable, I have not made it a habit to go the grocery store two or three times a week.

Now, shopping online is convenient and time savings. I didn’t have that option when I started

When I first started homeschooling, I lived way out in the rural or country.

And I had to make every trip count to the grocery store.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.  

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

  • I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

Power of a 30 Day Menu Planner

That is why 30 day menu planner is powerful.

No stress at supper time determining what is for supper.

I simply look at my menu and know that I have EVERY ingredient in the house.

Too, the advantage of planning 30 meals gives you back time to enjoy each week.

It takes me about 15 or 20 minutes longer to plan, but I squeeze so much time out of having a plan for 30 days.

Day 10 Grocery Shopping Cooking Laundry And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

I have a 5 inch binder now complete with more than 365 meals we enjoy.

Start slow on gathering recipes of what your family likes and keep adding to them.

When I started, I only had like 7 or so before I had to repeat.

I took one year to focus mainly on family favorites and added to my binder.

Look at your month and notice which days you may have a field trip or a co-op and pen those days in so you can have quick meals.

And I have a 31 day fee editable menu planner to help you stay organized each month.

editable 31 menu planner

When I go in person to the grocery store, I have a generic grocery shop list. And I have another one that is by aisle.

Why take the time to do this?

  • It takes less time at the grocery store
  • I save money by not overbuying.
  • Every ingredient I need for meals my family will eat I have on hand and
  • The time I get back in the week is huge.

Power of a Permanent Grocery List

Another benefit of having it by aisle is that if you coupon, you can match up your coupons and have them ready for each aisle ahead of time .

GROCERY SHOPPING LIST

Too, life will throw you curves as you school longer.

Many times I have been sick or caring for sick children. And I have had to rely on hubby, my teen boys or somebody else to grocery shop.

By printing this list weekly or laminating it, it stays on the refrigerator.

Then my family is helping me when they use the last of a product because they can check it on the list.

Balancing Cooking and Being New to Homeschool

My sons have done this from an early age. And it helps them to appreciate my job as head cook. Too, it teaches them organization.

InstaPot/Crock Pot, Yes More than One are Your New Homeschool Friends

There is no rule saying that when you cook, you can’t have more than one instapot or crockpot going.

I have found that if I take the time to put in one supper into my crockpot, then go ahead and put in a few more so they cook all at the same time.

Why? Your supper and/or lunch are being cooked for the next day or so.

Cook with the End of the Week in Mind

Another life saving tip especially if you have a big family is to cook extra.

If you cook extra chicken, beef, or veggies at the beginning of the week, you have it ready for the rest of the week.

Put it aside and have it ready when you cook, for example, chicken tacos or lasagna.

I-Don’t-Know-Why-I-Started-Homeschooling Meal

Okay, this is really called an emergency meal.

But I call it this because I have used my make it ahead frozen meals for bad days .

For example when I just didn’t feel like schooling cooking.

However, over the years having a few frozen meals have been a blessing when I was sick or had a sleepless night caring for sick children.

I used to keep one in the freezer, but now I keep as many as I can. I tend to do more during the flu season.

How to Not Give Up Doing Laundry While Learning How to Homeschool

Even when I took off a whole day to clean, I realized all day laundry days were impossible .

IF I wanted to get other things done on my day “off”, I had to get groceries, clean and pay bills too.

Give Up an All Day Laundry Day

This does not mean that you can’t catch up on laundry, it just means that you schedule laundry too.

Wash Laundry by a Priority Schedule

It took me a few years before I was comfortable with low piles of laundry, but I realized language arts should come before laundry.

So I set out to divide my laundry by more than just color and weight.

I needed a workable plan to manage the laundry.

tips for how to do laundry when you homeschool

Dividing laundry into these two mental piles has been a life saver for me.

I am able to spread out my laundry during the week for clothes in my pile that are obedient or require very little fussing.

For example, does it really matter if your underwear gets folded right away or not?

Or if you are right in the middle of explaining a math problem and you see your child’s face light up  and at the same time the washer beeper goes off.

Can’t the clothes wait to be changed?

Saving the nicer clothes when I am around the house in/out has made it easier to give them attention immediately.

You decide on your mental list whether or not a group of clothes require immediate attention.

For example, my husband prefers nice, creased and unwrinkled jean so I give them immediate attention.

When my boys were younger, it didn’t really matter about their jeans being in top shape. I could certainly wanted clean, but could leave with a bit more relaxed look, aka a few wrinkles

Home AND School Schedule

Take a look at my schedule for suggestions on how to get it all in.

This schedule I left intact “as in” because I had created it when the kids were younger, all elementary ages.

You will notice that I put everything down that bothered me.

homeschool schedules with little ones

Grocery shopping, cooking and laundry do not need to be compromised because you started to homeschool.

You do NOT have to choose between healthy meals and homeschooling.

It just all needs to be assigned a spot. 

We are moms, wives, daughters and some of us working homeschool moms. These needs have to be met and we all need balance.

The first and second year of homeschooling is about finding that balance.

Do not start school without plan to only have to stop and feel like a failure halfway through because you didn’t come up with a plan.

It takes a lot of energy to set realistic expectations and then redefine them again.

Take time to do it now before you jump fully into homeschooling will only benefit you.

When we are free of clutter, control our schedules and find workable solutions, we are on our way to being more organized and on our way to overcoming organizational hurdles.

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

  • 1 Learn The Lingo and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp (& free glossary)
  • 2: Homeschool Roots Matter and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 3 What is NOT Homeschooling and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 4: Confronting Relatives & Naysayers and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 5: The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round & ‘Round – So Get Off! And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 6: Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • Day 7: Tied Up with Homeschool Testing? And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Free 31 Day Editable Menu Planner

How to Get the Free Editable Menu Planner.

This free printable is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my Exclusive Subscriber’s Only Library and you get this freebie too.

This is how you get access quickly.
► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you.
►3) Look for the automatic reply giving you the password to the private subscriber’s area. You should have it soon.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

IF you are already a follower/subscriber, find the MOST RECENT email from me and the password and link to the Subscribers Area are ALWAYS at the bottom of every email.

Day 10 Grocery Shopping, Cooking & Laundry And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
Dy 10 Grocery Shopping, Cooking & Laundry Oh My! 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp
home management binder

1 CommentFiled Under: 31 Day Blog Bootcamp for New Homeschoolers, Home, How To - - -, Organization, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: new homeschooler

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

August 27, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool schedule is our topic today. It’s day 9 Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year of the 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

It almost seems like an oxymoron to use carpe diem or to seize the moment and to plan ahead or schedule in the same sentence.

But that is exactly what learning at home becomes.

At first, your routine feels more like a taskmaster with very little room to seize the teachable moments.

That is normal because you are trying to find a schedule that fits your family.

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Sharing a tip or two on how to schedule your day, month and year will help you to learn to relax and know when to seize teaching moments.

Tips For Scheduling Your Homeschool Day

Early and first in the day is usually better for most young children.

 I will point out here that I did not say it was always good for the teacher, but  children learn better first in the day.

Tips for scheduling the day

In addition, each family has to decide what they consider “first” in the day for them.

For our family, we are up by about 6:30 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. so 9:00 is a good time to get started.

I know another homeschooler whose husband works until 9:00 p.m.

If they went to bed at 9:30 p.m., like my family, then her children would miss out on spending time with their dad.

Homeschool Schedule

She has adjusted her family “first time” in the day to 10:30 a.m. and that is when her school starts.

There are many times we have slept later and benefited, but in the long run, we get so much more done for the day when we get up earlier and maintain a good night time routine.

A quick but good breakfast allows everybody time to wake up and stay in a good mood for learning.

Pizza Party

Schedule lunch good for your family and it doesn’t have to be noon. Since we rise early and sometimes earlier than 6:30 am. we tend to eat lunch earlier. We prefer to eat around 11:15 to 11:30 a.m.

I will show you a schedules tomorrow that might work for you on how to balance home and school.

Tips For Scheduling For the Homeschool Month

No homeschool hermits allowed. I say this all the time — if it were left up to me, I would just decide to not leave the house for any planned activities during the month.

However, both the kids and yourself need a break.

Tips for scheduling the month.

(One of my earlier homeschool co-ops because we are still meeting in a home.)

A pace that has always been good for us through the years is to allow one field trip per month.

When the kids were younger, I went on more field trips because their academic requirements are less as they should be in the first few grades.

The older your children get the harder it gets at certain times to get away.

Plan ahead by looking at what events your local homeschool group have that are coming up.

Scheduling field trips

(The Mr. had off work that day, so I picked up my nieces so they could join us and we were out the door to NASA.)

In addition, we have planned many family outings when my husband had off work during the month. Try to plan for a least on opportunity to learn outside the four walls of your home each month.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.  It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

  • I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

Tips For Scheduling For the Homeschool Year

Many homeschoolers enjoy homeschooling year around.

When I first heard of year around homeschooling it made me exhausted to think about it, but that is only because I didn’t fully understand it.

I have several blog articles you can mull over too. Look here at:

  • What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 1
  • What is Year Around Homeschooling? Part 2
  • Homeschooling Year Round – Chaos Or Calm?

You will find that you have many weeks left over when you can decide to take off during the year.

Look at the year and ACTUALLY Plan.

When you refer to a calendar and put in days you want to take off, holidays and days you want to school, you are more likely to stick to your schedule. 

For example, you have seen the calendars listed on public school websites where they have days in service, holidays and student days off. Well—that is exactly what you need to do the first few years as you learn the rhythm.

I have created a form that helps you to do this. Look at how I planned one year.

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

By the way, after I update it each year, I keep the updated version at Step 5a. Choose Unique Forms JUST for You.

Perhaps you may want to take off one day per week to catch up on housecleaning.

I have schooled many years with a 4 day week because I enjoyed having a day where I was caught up on laundry, groceries and bill paying.

Deciding a workable schedule now frees your time for seizing unplanned teaching moments.

Scheduling brings freedom and that is why I use the words carpe diem.

Plodding along getting things done that you want to accomplish this first year of school will allow you the freedom skip a day or two of school.

Don’t miss a wonderful opportunity to see a traveling exhibit at the museum that is only in for a week or miss an opportunity to socialize with your homeschool group by watching a play.

Moments like that are treasures and bring a yearning for learning that will carry you through your journey.

Day 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Avoid being rigid and remember that living and learning will eventually become blurred.

No, you don’t have to give up your routine or schedule, just savor the moment.

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

  • 1 Learn The Lingo and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp (& free glossary)
  • 2: Homeschool Roots Matter and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 3 What is NOT Homeschooling and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 4: Confronting Relatives & Naysayers and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 5: The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round & ‘Round – So Get Off! And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 6: Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
  • 7: Tied Up with Homeschool Testing? And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Day 9. Carpe Deiem Scheduling 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp
comprehensive key
Year Around Schedule Sample

2 CommentsFiled Under: 31 Day Blog Bootcamp for New Homeschoolers, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: new homeschooler

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