How to Get Free Time as a Homeschool Mom
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Being a homeschool mom is a full-time job. There are lessons to plan, books to read, papers to correct, boo-boos to kiss, laundry to wash, appointments to schedule, meals to cook, floors to vacuum, and bathtubs to scrub. The list goes on and on, seemingly forever! Being a teacher and a mom can make it hard to get free time as a homeschool mom.
Honestly, it can be exhausting. Sometimes we just need a few quiet minutes to tackle a goal or sit in the quiet. It can be hard to get free time as a homeschool mom, but it isn’t impossible. These are the ways I am able to get free time to recharge and tackle personal goals.
How to Get Free Time as a Homeschool Mom
Wake Up Earlier Than Usual
This tip works best if you are naturally a morning person. I wake up most weekdays at 5:00 am. This gives me time to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, take care of a few blog tasks, go to a gym class, and get ready for the day before my kids even get out of bed. By getting some of my own goals crossed off while my kids are sleeping, I can give them more of my attention later in the day.
Getting out of a warm bed can be tough. I use my Fitbit as my alarm clock. It vibrates right on my wrist, so I don’t wake anyone else up. I also set out my clothes the night before. Everything needs to be on autopilot until I have my first cup of coffee.
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If your kids seem to know when you wake up and want to join your early mornings, it is okay to put a few boundaries in place. You can require them to stay in their rooms with a book or quiet toy until a certain time. A clock that changes colors when they are allowed out of their room can help you get a little free time as a homeschool mom. You can also allow them out of their rooms, as long as they spend the early morning hours playing independently. Another option is to ask your partner to take over any potential childcare duties in the early morning hours a few times a week.
Pair Up with Other Homeschool Families and Take Turns Teaching
Some years we have teamed up with a few other families to teach art and geography. One mom prepared and taught the lesson to all of the children. The other moms could help, chat, or escape for a few minutes of quiet. It was a win-win. The kids got to see friends, work together in a group, and the moms got to take turns having free time.
If you have 4 homeschool families in the group, create a rotating schedule. Each week, 1 person is the host and lead teacher, 1 person is the assistant, and the other 2 adults get to leave for 2 hours. If you meet weekly, this means everyone gets 4 hours of free time as a homeschool mom.
Switch Off with Your Spouse
Sometimes the hardest parts of the week are the times we aren’t teaching because school time is consistent and follows a predictable routine. My daughter is old enough to babysit for a short time now, but when my kids were younger, my husband and I took turns taking breaks. Every once in a while, I would run out the door as soon as he got home from work. Sometimes I would go to a coffee shop, the library, to meet friends, or even to just wander the aisles of Target in blissful silence.
The key to making this work is to remember that just because your spouse isn’t with the kids during the day, that doesn’t count as a break. The parent that works outside of the house needs free time too. Getting free time as a homeschool mom requires teamwork.
Enroll Your Kids in an Extracurricular Activity
Extracurricular activities can be well worth the expense, especially if you can arrange for all your kids to be in class at the same time. This year my son is in a tumbling class at the same time and location as my daughter’s pottery wheel class. I love that hour of the week because I am almost guaranteed time for a hot cup of coffee and a good book. That one hour break leaves me refreshed and ready for the evening.
Homeschool enrichment classes can be just for fun, or they can be academic. The traditional elective activities can be easy to find, but it can be more difficult to find academic enrichment classes. To find these opportunities, ask local friends if they know of anything for your child’s age or grade level. If you are in the Raleigh, NC area and are homeschooling a kindergartener, check out Strong Foundations Homeschool Partnership.
Establish Daily Quiet Reading Time
When I was a classroom teacher, every day we would D.E.A.R – Drop Everything And Read. I do this with my kids at home too. This is one of my favorite ways to reset the mood when everything is too loud and chaotic. Everyone chooses a comfy spot and dives into their favorite book. I love to read, so I frequently drop everything and read with my kids, but I could also use that time to recharge and take a break in another way too.
While we frequently have quiet reading time during the day, we always have family reading time before bed. 20-30 minutes before bedtime, the entire family finds a cozy spot in the living room and reads. It is a nice relaxing way to end the day.
Put on an Educational Show
Some days the only way for a homeschool mom to get a break is to turn on the television. Putting on something educational is a way to use the electronic babysitter without guilt. Thankfully, Netflix is full of educational shows for a variety of ages. We like the Magic School Bus and documentaries on a variety of subjects.
I hope these ideas help you find free time as a homeschool mom!
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