Inside you’ll find: Time saving tips for busy frazzled moms such as yourself.
“Mom, can you help me put on my shoes?”
“Mom, the cat snuck out!”
“Mom, we’re out of peanut butter!”
“Mom, what does ‘Delinquent’ mean?”
Being a homeschool mother means that you claim many roles, including chef, teacher, secretary, librarian, referee, maid, friend and teacher.
It’s a lot. And it’s overwhelming.
Make your life easier with some of these simple pointers and helps!
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Know What’s Coming
A little preparation can go a long way. Have a set time every week where you take a quick glance at all the subjects your students will be covering. Write down anything that requires set up or extra materials. Print out and gather any common supplies so you’re not hunting around when all the kids are clamoring for attention.
I’ve found that having an organized school room has made this task rather enjoyable! I use portions of this free school planner so I can see what is planned for each subject, as well as an overview of the week and month.
Every night I do a two minute scan again so I remind myself of what will be happening the next day. That way we’re ready to get started first thing in the morning.
Cook Ahead of Time
I’ve been learning some things about myself these past few months. While I enjoy the idea of cooking and I LOVE eating, I don’t actually want to spend time cooking. Like, at all.
Of course, that doesn’t really work with reality because of finances and health.
So my alternative???
Cook on the weekends when someone is home to keep the kids out from under my feet!
I like to make some healthy breakfast foods that can keep for a few days. Think muffins or protein bites.
Then, once a month, I make some freezer meals. It only takes an hour or two, but knowing I have tons of healthy quick options in the freezer is WELL worth the time. I have used the “Chicken and Beef Dump” books. There’s tons of variety and it’s well organized. Even printable labels with instructions!
It’s been a BIG improvement to not have to worry about meal prep on a daily basis. Give it a try! You won’t go back!
Get Help with the Cleaning
Cleaning is pretty much on the bottom of my priority list. But still, if I don’t keep on top of things, chaos reigns and there’s imminent danger of drowning in our own filth! So to keep the dust bunnies at bay, I do three things.
First, I’m trying to get my kids to help. They’re still young and tend to make more of a mess than if they hadn’t helped. But eventually, I know it will pay off.
Secondly, I bought a Robot Vacuum Cleaner. We’re a bit sensory bin crazy, so there’s always little bits and pieces stuck to the bottom of my feet. This little guy keeps things looking SO much better and as an added bonus, my kids are so fascinated by it that it can double as a babysitter/entertainer!
And last, and for some reason I’m afraid to admit it, I’ve hired a house keeper. Once a month I know that my bathrooms are actually clean. Trust me, there’s still PLENTY for me to do. It’s more for my peace of mind, knowing that we won’t have some strange fungus growing somewhere or a dust bunny so large that it can smoother us in our sleep.
Yup, my house is clean 12 out of 365 days!
Cut Down on Errands
The biggest time suck in our family is errand running. Something about getting three kids in and out of carseats, stopping for the occasional potty break, etc etc. Oh, and it SERIOUSLY messes with nap time!
Trips to the store are of course inevitable, but to cut back on the amount, I’m trying to do three things.
First, I keep a running list on my phone of things that we’ve run out of. Ketchup, lightbulbs, you name it. But now the random stuff won’t slip my mind while we’re at the store. Big time saver.
Second, I have a bag in the trunk of our car that I fill with things that need to be returned to various people or stores. That way, if I’m near by, I’ll have it there and ready to go! Yea!
Third, I’m trying to have a well stocked gift cabinet. A couple of generic kids toys and mom favorites like natural soaps and such can work in a pinch when you’ve forgotten a birthday or need a thank you gift.
So while you’ll still be pulled in a million directions, hopefully some of these ideas will help you streamline and save time. Being a homeschooling mom is a lesson in balance. You are juggling a lot, and things won’t always get done. But you’ve made your kids the priority and that, is awesome!
Roxana Patterson says
Theses are great tips .Will be sharing with my homeschool Facebook group