Daily Support
Staying at home is a big job all by itself, but to add homeschool to the list right beside the cooking, cleaning, shopping, and dog walking really adds up to a busy day! When you stay at home, you work at home - even if you don't get paid for it. This means your work doesn't stop until you fall asleep at night and that you never get a break from the house or the kids.

So, you want to be supportive to your stay at home spouse? This doesn't always have to mean checking school work or teaching spelling words. It can also be cleaning up after yourself, letting her take a walk ALONE! and maybe even doing the dishes after dinner for her.

Many working parents also participate as the teacher's aid or tutor for the struggling homeschooler. When your child gets help from you instead of their normal teacher, they benefit from a person with an entirely different perspective and that could be all they need to get over that educational hurdle they're struggling with. Keep in mind that every homeschool situation will be different and finding what works for you will take a little trial and error. Here are some ideas, besides tutoring, that will keep you active in your children's homeschooling:

• Drive your children to their extra curricular activities or a friend's house.
  
  
• Host a homeschooling group activity twice a month
  
  
• Pick up craft supplies on your way home or the needed gallon of milk!
  
  
• Talk with your homeschoolers about what they did today and what they learned
  
  
• Maybe even plan a couple of fun homeschool activities after work - like an experiment or a scavenger hunt!
  

As a homeschool mom, I know that if you just take the time out of your day to listen to your wife vent all her homeschooling fears and daily frustrations with an open heart, it'll help her feel supported. No matter how small of a task it seems... it helps!

Feeling left out?
Feeling left out of the homeschool experience is a common and unfortunate problem that most working parents must face. Unfortunately, there is no magic solution to this problem. Talking to your spouse and sharing your feelings will help you both. If you’re the one doing the homeschooling, try to share as much as possible with your husband or wife. Take pictures of the fun stuff and be sure to have an important role ready for them to fill if they want to. Be sure to ask for their feedback as far as curriculum and scheduling decisions go. This will help them stay up to date and involved in what the kids are doing.

Here's the bottom line - If you want to feel involved you have to be involved! Taking a hike, hosting an activity, or going to the local zoo are fun ways to educate without cracking a book. Use your imagination and just have fun with your homeschoolers!

How to be Your Child's Role Model
Whether you realize it or not, you're an important role model to your children, even if you’re not teaching the lessons. However, really coming to terms with this is another issue. Those little eyes and ears observe everything you do and say, using your actions and reactions to difficult situations as examples.

Read the rest of this Article for more ideas and a fun Trait Building Activity!

Happy Homeschooling!


Kristi

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