Single & Homeschooling? - Page 5

[Dar]

Originally Posted by sandybemt

Kudos to you Dar..Id love to learn more!

Thanks. I've done a lot of different things over the years - when Rain was small I worked for a charter school that served homeschoolers as independent study students (in California), so I was able to basically sign up a bunch of my homeschooling friends and bring Rain with me while I met with them - she played with the kids while I talked with the moms, and then I did paperwork at night when she was asleep or otherwise engaged. I've also bartered work for rent (on a farm) and supplmented that by selling on ebay and amazon. When Rain was old enough to be on her own more I started teaching for a test prep company - 2 or 3 hours at a shot - and still later I started substitute teaching some days, and she'd stay by herself (although the owners of the farm were around).

Now I'm in grad school, which is nice and flexible. We live in a city with great public transportation, so Rain gets herself to and from her community college classes (except at night, when I drive her - she auditioned for the school play and got in and they rehearse after dark). I get a decend stipend - we're not rich, but we're frugal and can live on it.

The first steps to finding out more about homeschooling would be to check out our homeschool forum here, Learning at Home and Beyond - there are a number of single moms who post there - and also checking your state laws here. A lot of the laws seem more onerous than they really are, though, so talk to people from your state to find out what's really required, too...

Good luck!

Dar

[dylan]

Wava

Hey, I'm single and finally able to homeschool my 7th grader, because of this nifty program sponsored by K12, some states don't have it yet so you'd have to check k12.org. We're in Washington, so it's wava.org for WA virtual academy.

It's an online academy. Kids have their own teachers, a fantastic curriculum and the flexibility of homeschooling. And as a working parent, it's my dream come true. Smaller kids would need an adult, or "learning coach" but as my daughter is in middle school she can pretty much do all of it on her own, sparing my checking up on what she's doing online and helping with anything after I get home in the evenings.

It's awesome!

[Satori]

Originally Posted by dylan

Hey, I'm single and finally able to homeschool my 7th grader, because of this nifty program sponsored by K12, some states don't have it yet so you'd have to check k12.org. We're in Washington, so it's wava.org for WA virtual academy.

It's an online academy. Kids have their own teachers, a fantastic curriculum and the flexibility of homeschooling. And as a working parent, it's my dream come true. Smaller kids would need an adult, or "learning coach" but as my daughter is in middle school she can pretty much do all of it on her own, sparing my checking up on what she's doing online and helping with anything after I get home in the evenings.

It's awesome!

You should probably warn her that they will literally send her an entire self contained classroom amount of supplies I remember when our stuff showed up last year and I nearly freaked out. I didn't realize they would literally be sending an entire library of books, arts and crafts, science equipment, everything. Only thing we had to supply was paper and pencil

[dylan]

Oh, yeah...we got it all! Loads of books, the microscope (very cool!) and art supplies. She loves it, and so do I, even though the teacher manuals are still sealed in plastic...!

I just can't believe the difference in her attitude. She happier than she's been in a LONG time!

[blessedbysunshine]

Great Thread

Hi all,

I posted in the Learning at Home and Beyond area and was referred to this thread. It's taken me a couple of days to get through it, but I read every single post!!!


I'm another mom who is really hoping and praying to homeschool. My child currently goes to a private school, but I'm really not loving it. Aside from the cooperation from dad, I'm also concerned about working and having somewhere for him to be if I have to continue working outside the home. I make a pretty decent income and have great benefits, so the thought of replacing that doesn't seem easy. And doing it from home isn't an option as part of my job is helping people with thier PC problem. I kind of have to walk around and deal with stuff physically, so I k now that kind of job doesn't totally lend itself to being done off site.

But anyways, I don't feel that fear and trepidation about doing it because I know that we can. I'm already my child's proven best teacher. : He is 6 now and has been brilliant since age 2, lol. Okay, maybe not brilliant but he is a smart, smart little guy and we just know each other well. He loves to learn stuff and I love to teach it too him!!!!!!! So, it frustrates me to have him in the big school machine getting more and more bored with education because they way they have to do it just sucks the life out of you! Grrr....

Anyways, I just wanted to add a really late thanks for all the posts about the topic. Very inspiring.

[Pariah]

I was so surprised to find this thread! I thought I was crazy to still want to homeschool despite our divorce looming in the future. But I still want to...when I was younger, I did most of my time in private school (not a bad experience, but not good either), a brief stint in public school (horrible experience), and ended up homeschooling (love, love, love it) my last two years of high school.

I had such an incredible experience homeschooling and I want to give that to our son. My husband was also homeschooled and is very much for it, so hopefully that will keep it from becoming an issue of debate as the divorce process moves forward...

I just know I'll have to work full time (high cost of living area, but this is where I'm from and all of my friends, family, and support are here, so moving isn't an option), and I want to go back to school (because I love learning) and I need to go back to school (because I'm being told that my degree is pretty much worthless). So, to take on all of that, plus homeschooling...I'm nervous. But I know I can do it...my mom tells me all the time that when I have it set in my mind to do something, I do it. Much to her dismay at times! But I think that is a good thing, and that's what keeping me firm in this decision. I need to do the best for my son, and for myself so I am able to provide him with what he needs and to be happy myself (because I tend to run myself ragged thinking of everyone else except myself, and that's also why our marriage fell apart).

Okay, I've rambled enough! I'm going to keep checking back here and hopefully join in the discussion and learn from you experienced mamas...

[BelovedK]

Bump

[Captain_Crunch]

[darien]

Hi everyone. I've read the entire thread, but I'm still feeling despair. Can I get some advice, please?

I am not single, but I want to be. My stbx is a crappy husband and dad. He got us over $20,000 in cc debt buying himself junk. He pays the bulk of our bills, but spends the "extra" on himself every month. We have no savings, emergency fund, college fund. He has a bit of life insurance and a 401K. I have nothing. I have been a WAHM (home childcare) and hs'ing our dc (12 and 4) for the past 5 years.

I got in to grad school, but couldn't go, because I got no aid, we have no money. I have been reading want ads and networking, to see if I could get ft kids for home childcare. With this economy, there's not much, even for someone who's experienced and well-recommended as me.

I could possibly cobble together some babysitting, but I'd be working my butt off and earning a pittance. I'd have no $ to go places with my dc and no free brain cells, either, if I was carting around a bunch of little kids. Seems like this would defeat the purpose of hs'ing, if we're just trapped at home, but together!

I'm a teacher, by trade, so I've been looking for a teaching job I could take ds4 to, and ds12 as well, if possible. I have an interview with a good private school this coming week. Both dc could go there (assuming they were accepted). The salary is not great, but-- even if I paid full tuition for both dc, I'd still be earning almost as much as I earned doing home childcare!

I really don't WANT this job, or to put my dc in school. But, I can't move out yet. I have no money, no family or (good enough) friends around to take me and the dc in. Stbx will not leave on his own, nor will he be helpful voluntarily. : I doubt we could sell our house-- there are many nicer houses in our neighborhood that have been on sale for a year!

Am I missing something? What do I do?

[darien]

bump

[singin'intherain]

This is a tough situation, but take a deep breath and remember that other people figure it out, and you can too! Some people do choose to suck it up and stay because their situation offers more stability for the kids. But if you want to get out, and make that your priority, there has to be a way.

I was a sahm for 10 years. I left my ex two years ago. No way was there enough money for us to split up and support two households. I got into subsidized housing with the kids. I know it's really hard to sell a house right now, but if your husband has enough money to pay the bills and buy stuff, he can probably pay your mortgage and child support. The big bills are housing and food. I had to seriously compromise on the housing part. Can you move in with family temporarily, share a house, get on section 8, or into a subsidized apartment? If you have a good chance of getting into grad school, you can probably get enough financial aid to eke by, once you're on your own with little/no income. Get food stamps and medical, if you qualify.

My kids have always homeschooled, and the last thing I wanted to do was put them in school following a divorce. I go to school full time, and just use my financial aid to fork out the money for excellent child care. I pay a nanny $10 an hour while I'm in class. She takes them out, plays with them, helps them with projects, etc. They're unschooled, so for us the main thing is having that attentive, creative person around to help them with what they want to do.

Just try to look at one problem at a time. That way it won't be so overwhelming. And remember, too, that your husband has to pay child support based on his income. His cooperation would be nice, but it's not necessary.

[darien]

Thanks, singin'intherain!

I've been sucking it up for years, and probably would have continued, but stbx is being so irresponsible with our "family" money. He's not willing to change voluntarily, so I'll let the judge talk to him about taking financial care of his kids!

He has "enough" money to pay bills and buy stuff because he's NOT paying off his cc's, and I take care of a good share of our expenses and am very frugal. I'm very leery of depending on cs from him.

My most immediate problem is that I need a job NOW, because my pt job ends in 2 weeks, and I had to defer grad school for a year. I've been hoping for a great WAHM job to appear, but no such luck.

You've given me some food for thought.

[singin'intherain]

The good thing about getting child support collected through the state is that it comes first. It may take some time, but he can't just say he can't afford to pay you. The judge isn't interested in cutting him some slack because he has cc bills, either. Racking up cc's is an option; supporting your kids is not.

Do you make money with your part time job, or is it mostly going for child care, anyway? I've had luck making extra money cleaning houses. Is that a possibility for you? It's not fabulous, but you can make $10-$15 an hour depending on where you live. Is your 12 yo old enough to watch your 4yo? Maybe it could be more workable to run out and do a 2 hour job, leaving the kids at home, than to work eight hours and have to get a sitter. I've always thought gardening work would be fun, too, but maybe that's just me. I've done child care before, and that really is a brain squeeze!

Good luck!

[butterfly1976]

We've always homeschooled. I clean houses for a living part-time. We got behind a bit on hsing this year, so this summer we'll be playing catch-up I think. Does a single mom ever stay caught up on everything? LOL Anyway, it can be done, it's just not always easy.

[Satori]

bumpy since we have questions about it again

[MaWhit]

Originally Posted by MaWhit

I'm a single mama homeschooler, too. My kids are 8, 6, and 4 and we've homeschooled all along, and have been on our own for 3.5 years. I received child support for the first couple years, but haven't for awhile.

Right now I work from home (writing and publicity for 2 different companies, plus some freelance work), and attend college (working on my last year of my B.A.--grad school to follow) and the grants and loans help out.

Previously, I've worked in a gym childcare, done lots of babysitting, had a paper route, done mystery shopping and other odd jobs, helped a paraplegic artist in her home, and more.

We live frugally, and my house payment is low. I barter where I can, and visualize everything working out, even if I don't always know how it will.

Quoting myself from a year ago.

The kids are 9, 7, and 5 now and things are still going well. Still no child support, but I have more WAH writing jobs requested than I can accept, I'm in graduate school pursuing my Master's (online), and one of my volunteer positions turned into a paid one. (Director of Children's Religious Exploration with the local UU fellowship.) I've also started a non-profit cat rescue and am now a (minimally) paid director. In addition, I'm selling my house and buying "down" so that I won't have a mortgage.


Following your passions really can work.

[Jyotsna]

I wanted to say that I'm still homeschooling the kids, going on my 3rd year with them. It is never easy, as I have to work hard to find clients and make money, but since I can do the business end out of my home, my parents are willing to watch the children while I go to births or do postpartum care.

My son is in 7th grade this year, and I think he needs some Math tutoring. I've got an appointment with Kumon. Have any of you used Kumon tutoring with your kids?

Otherwise, we are following the live and learn approach.

My kids are 13, 9 and 9. Anyone else?

[Satori]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

I wanted to say that I'm still homeschooling the kids, going on my 3rd year with them. It is never easy, as I have to work hard to find clients and make money, but since I can do the business end out of my home, my parents are willing to watch the children while I go to births or do postpartum care.

My son is in 7th grade this year, and I think he needs some Math tutoring. I've got an appointment with Kumon. Have any of you used Kumon tutoring with your kids?

Otherwise, we are following the live and learn approach.

My kids are 13, 9 and 9. Anyone else?

I never have, they sound really expensive though. There are tons of free online resources and lots and lots of videos if those work for him. What level of math is he needing help with?

[rubelin]

Well, our school's charter didn't get through the school board in time so we're homeschooling this year. I go between being thrilled about it and being a complete wreck about it. Our school was a constructivist, project-based program and I'm very much an "unschooler" so I'm not worried about academic stuff but I have to work full time (at home) and it's so hard to get enough done when the kids are home all day and at night I'm usually too tired to sew a straight line . We have a small co-op with other friends from school who are also homeschooling this year and the idea is for a couple of parents to take on different days of the week so everyone can get enough quiet time to work but it's very slow to get started. We'll probably be signing up with a virtual charter school to get some funding for curriculum stuff, but otherwise doing it on our own.

Joytsna, there's a great math book series that several friends have suggested called "Life of Fred" http://www.stanleyschmidt.com/FredGauss/index2.html Check out the samples from the books. They're written really fun and witty (even a bit sassy) but are very precise and not just fluff. If your son is a reader, he might really love them. I'm getting the fractions and decimals books for my 9 yr old.

[darien]

Bump!