Surviving as a Homeschooling Parent

I've debated whether to write this post. The subject does not directly relate to creative homeschooling. Then again, I'm coming to realize it's vitally important to homeschooling. So, I'm proceeding.

I'm talking about avoiding burnout as a homeschooling parent.

In my conversations with other parents, I've often said that homeschooling parents are in the deep end of the parenting pool.  We undertake roles as both caregiver and educator. As the title of the blog states, learning opportunities never really stop arising. And then, there is the laundry and grocery shopping.
 
I've been homeschooling formally for five years. In that time, I've gone from homeschooling only one precocious Kindergartener while his darling sibling napped in the afternoons to homeschooling three rambunctious boys, who are currently completing Kindergarten, third and fifth grade respectively. Probably due in part to their ages, I spend most of each day of the work week teaching or ferrying the boys to outside lessons or field trips. On weekends, I plan out the next weeks' curriculum or type of lesson plans for our charter. I also manage my husband's computer consulting business because I'm fond of paying our bills. And, as I said, somebody still needs to know what's for dinner and make sure the oil gets changed in the cars before angry red lights show up on the dashboard.

Over the course of those five years, I've come to realize that as all consuming as those aspects of my life could be, I cannot permit that to happen. I will never be able to go the distance as a homeschooling parent if I don't create some basic boundaries. Each person must figure out what is vitally important for her or him. I need to make time to exercise and to have a creative life of my own.  I purposely keep a gym membership so I must leave the kids at home. On the days when I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs (and, yes, I have them), I run it off on an elliptical. I also make time to write poetry, blogs and book reviews, knit for Project Linus, paint really terrible watercolors, and shoot out-of-focus photographs. Maybe I don't have a lot of time for those pursuits, but I keep trying.

The funny thing is as difficult as it is at moments to insist on that time, I come back in a vastly better place to parent and teach. I'm far more patient when I take time for myself. Furthermore, I often come up with creative solutions when I can get away and clear my head that would not come when I was in the heat of the homeschooling day. So, far from being selfish, I am actually tending my family by taking care of myself. And, on the days that I'm really pressed, I will even remind myself that I am modeling the healthy lifestyle and passion for learning and life I want my sons to have.

So, for anyone out there feeling overwhelmed and frustrated by homeschooling, I'd suggest stepping back for a moment and asking what you've done for yourself lately? It might not only improve your life, but also your parenting and homeschooling.,