CM 2 Episode #6 Sarah Ruth Owens, Can You Really Homeschool and Work From Home?

CM 2 Episode #6 Sarah Ruth Owens, Can You Really Homeschool and Work From Home?

Links and Resources:

Show Notes:

SaraRuth Owens, Balancing Homeschooling and Working from Home

Description: Because of Covid 19, most of America is having to navigate the waters of balancing homeschooling and work. Perhaps you are considering continuing to homeschool and wondering how to keep working. Or maybe you are currently homeschooling, but need to bring in extra income. Either way homeschooling and being a working mom don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In this super practical episode, SarahRuth Owens discusses finding balance and managing your time as a working homeschooling mom- because ALL homeschooling moms are working, whether it is a paid position, volunteering, caring for an elderly parent, or managing a home.

Meet SaraRuth:

SarahRuth is wife to Jonah, and mama to three wild boys. She grew up in urban areas(NYC and Miami, primarily), has traveled to 46 of the states domestically, and 17 countries internationally. Currently she is living at the base of the Appalachian trail on the Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina border.

SarahRuth is a standard enneagram 7 which is highlighted in her diverse roles as doula, homeschool mom (recovering public educator), social media moderator for The Peaceful Press, Creative Team member of Run Wild My Child, Free Forest School director, full time ESL teacher. Her interests include chasing waterfalls, hand embroidery, camping, devouring any and all books, crocheting, and making sure her kids have on clean underwear.

Photo:

Resources:

Free Play Toys:

Magnetic Blocks

https://amzn.to/3eW0Etk

Brain Flakes

https://amzn.to/2Uo0B1n

Engineering Blocks

https://amzn.to/3cLiIVi

Wood Blocks

https://imaginationsunbound.com/collections/building-block-collection/products/deluxe-mixed-imaginations-unbound-mahogany-wood-building-blocks

Melissa and Doug Castle

https://amzn.to/3cR1J4k

Quote:

Our aim in education is to give a full life. We owe it to them to initiate an immense number of interests. Life should be all living, and not merely a tedious passing of time; not all doing or all feeling or all thinking - the strain would be too great - but, all living; that is to say, we should be in touch wherever we go, whatever we hear, whatever we see, with some manner of vital interest.

Charlotte Mason, School Education pg 135

Verse:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24 | NIV

Show Transcript:

Julie -

Welcome to the Charlotte Mason Show. A podcast dedicated to discussing Ms. Mason's philosophy, principles, and methods. It is our hope that each episode with leave you inspired and offer practical wisdom on how to provide this rich, living education in your modern homeschool. So, pull up a chair, we're glad you're here.

Today's episode of the Charlotte Mason Show is brought to you by Medi-Share. Find out more about this affordable Christian alternative to traditional health insurance at medishare.com.

The Charlotte Mason Show would like to thank their sponsor, Operation Christmas Child. Many of you have packed gift-filled shoeboxes, but the journey of a shoebox doesn't end there. Discover how Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts lead evangelism, discipleship, and the multiplication of believers and planting of churches at SamaritansPurse.org/makedisciples.




So hello everyone. Welcome to the Charlotte Mason Show. I'm your host, Julie Ross, and I'm here with Sarah Ruth Owens. Hi, Sarah Ruth.

Sarah -

Hi Julie!

Julie -

Thanks for being on our show today. Sarah Ruth reached out to me with this brilliant idea of talking about homeschooling, but also, being a full time working mom, and working from home. And I thought that is what we need to talk about, because, nowadays everybody's working. A lot of people are either working and homeschooling or they're working from home and homeschooling. Or they're considering, with everything with covid, maybe not sending their kids back to school. Which is kind of up in the air in a lot of states. And homeschooling them, but they're like, okay, how can I do that and actually help provide income for my family and work, and balance everything and not go crazy.

So, it's a very important topic. So, thank you for offering to talk about that today. And I know a lot of people are gonna be excited to talk about it. So, before we get started, can you just tell us a little bit about yourself and your family?

Sarah -

Sure. Thanks for having me, Julie, thank you so much. My family is just a little family, compared to many homeschool families. We have three sons, Blaze, Brave, and Beniah, and they are seven, five, and three. So, right now, from the viewpoint of most people, we're only technically homeschooling one, but my five-year-old and my three-year-old do jump in often and I do some preschool activities and early kindergarten stuff with them. I also have a mother in law who does not live with us, but lives five minutes away, and I would certainly call her part of our family. She helps us so much. And makes it easier for our lifestyle, to mesh well.

Julie -

Yeah, and that's a good point. I know several people who have inlaws that are close by, or other family, and they are able to homeschool and work because of that. So, yeah, that's definitely, it definitely helps, so that's something we can talk about in a little bit, the strategies, a little bit later.

Now, how did you hear about Charlotte Mason or wanna incorporate that into your homeschooling?

Sarah -

Yeah, so I have a Bachelor's in education and part of my schooling was to study philosophies of education. So, during my undergrad, we had to study Montessori and you know, go through all the child development people, and then all the philosophies of ed, and so that was my first introduction to her. Yeah, yeah. I didn't know that I loved her back then. When it's presented in an academical way....it's a little different, you know?

But as I started having...actually, before I even had my kids, I started tutoring homeschooled students, and some families were paying me to kind of homeschool their kids, like, three days a week. And so, I was exposed to Charlotte Mason in action. These families were using a living, you know, living book ??? And then I fell in love. I was like, this is exactly what I want to do. So, I started reading the books as I was pregnant with my first.

Julie -

Oh wow, that's amazing. What a great start.

Sarah -

Yeah, it worked out great.

Julie -

Yeah, it's kind of my experience, like, when we first got married, the church had like a women's Bible study and the people that ran the nursery were like, high school homeschool kids. They had like a homeschool co-op that was also meeting at that same time. And so, my firstborn was in the nursery and she had colic, and so pretty much, I was in the nursery every time, instead of actually going to Bible study. But it was really God's will, because I got to meet all these homeschool high school kids and I'm like, these guys are amazing. Like, I want my daughter to grow up to be like you guys. Like, you're not...and I wasn't teaching to 'em, like, you're not like the students I've taught before. I want...you know...so that's really cool that you got to see it firsthand. I really...it...just the contrast. You can see so much clearly when you're around families that are using this philosophy of homeschooling in general.

So, have you always worked in homeschool, or is that something recent?

Sarah -

Yes, I started working full time about three and half years ago. I had worked part-time since five years ago. So, yeah, our homeschool journey started with me working.

Julie -

Okay. Okay. And can you tell everyone, like, what...have you always done the same kind of work, or what kind of things do you do.

Sarah -

Yeah, I currently teach online ESL and I do about 35, 40 hours a week right now. There've been times I do it 50 to 60 hours a week. But I love it, you know? If it's something you love, it's easier...???

Julie -

That's a good point, to find something that you enjoy doing. And it doesn't always feel like work. Yes. That really does help. Yes, you've been able to do that and stay home and homeschool. And I know some people, they might not need to work full time, they might just need something kind of supplemental. And I do feel like I...I was telling you earlier, several people who do the ESL online tutoring, it just seems like that's a really great fit to be able to be at home doing that, earning supplemental income, but also being available for your children as well.

So, let's talk about some of the challenges that can come up if you have some personally, or if other people you've known...what are the challenges of working from home and homeschooling?

Sarah -

I think, primarily, the three that came up in my mind were time ??? I mean, one thing I wanna say, because, you know, maybe somebody's listening to this and is like, I don't work from home! Psh! Turn it off. But this episode isn't for me. But truth being, moms all work.

Julie -

Yes. Amen, sister.

Sarah -

And even...

Julie -

We just don't get paid for that work!

Sarah -

Yeah. Even if you're not getting paid, you're cleaning your home, you're organizing life, you are maybe some of you are helping your husbands with like, small parts of their business but you're not paid and you don't consider it working.

Julie -

Or volunteering at church. That takes up so much time.

Sarah -

Yeah. Running a Bible study for others. So I really think this is about ??? mothers as a whole because the working mom may have some separate issues but, I mean, all of us are working, and with Instagram, and the groups people run now on Facebook, there's a lot of time spent in those things too. You have to learn to manage all of those.

So time. Yeah. I think ??? If we can get on top of that, we're winning. Balance. Which is, I guess a partner with time, but, balance of...I feel like that was a motion. Balance of your heart, you know. Balance of your own interests. Being able to find time and ability to give yourself time to read your favorite books or time to crochet. Even though you're a working person. So sometimes, you know, you're like, oh, I've worked and I ??? with my kids during the ?? So I don't deserve to read this novel, or you know, I shouldn't take this moment to go get coffee with a friend. But that balance is really important.

Julie -

Oh yes, it's so...that push and pull is so real and that mom guilt of like, oh, I should really be playing with Play-Doh right now, but I have to send these five emails. And then I feel guilty and so now I'm gonna go play with Play-Doh, but what I really want to do is like, go and read a book, but I can't do that because I gave up the time playing with Play-Doh to go answer the emails. And yeah. Finding that balance is like all these spinning plates are exhausting, but if you don't take care of yourself...I've just run myself to the ground so many times, unfortunately, by not making myself a priority. And then all the other things really do flow in place. I love that.

Sarah -

Yeah, I'm a better mom if I take the, you know, few minutes to read the chapter of my book. Or to go grab the coffee for an hour with a friend. Or even just go on a walk by myself. I have the energy, and I see it all time you know? What you pour in and what you allow God to pour in, and what you allow other to pour into you, when you have a full cup. Whew! ??? to minister to your family.

Julie -

And I think some people are maybe considering, like I said, working from home and homeschooling for the first time. Or, they've already been homeschooling, but now, with the economy and everything, they might need to add in more income. But they're like, I can't add in anything else. Like, our plate is so full, if I add anything else, it's all gonna tip over, right? But I think something happens, like, you... and I don't know how it works...it like, magically shifts and you're, like, able to put the pieces...and it's all so it goes back in the cup. I don't know.

Sarah -

Yeah. I think you're absolutely right. Those shift. You know, if you're in a family that both parents aren't working, or both parents are working for themselves. Like, in my shoes. My husband works in his business with his brother. I work for online ESL, but technically, I'm an independent contractor. So, I can make my own hours and have some flexibility. So, those pieces start to mix, where my husband reduce some hours, or he started working in the afternoons more, or...and even if things are rigid, I have a friend up North, who pulled her kids, actually, when everything happened. As soon as they put everything digital, she saw the mess. I mean, she just saw how chaotic it was and she's like, this isn't for my first grader. But she still had to work and she was working at home. And she just told me that her and her son just had a heart to heart. You know, cause her hours were such, and she said, son, when I'm doing my job, like, that's your you time and she made him a list. And he knows what he can do. And she knows what she can do. And it happened for them, you know? You're right, it will fit together. It just might take three to six months to find that grow.

Julie -

Yeah. ??? I mean, you're like, oh, a first-grader, they're too young. But, like, you can, if you are prepared, right? And you have...we could talk about this a little bit more in a minute, but if you have those routines, that they know what their expectations are, and I think that's the key, then even little five-year-olds can go for an hour or so and do something productive. Yes. ??? But I mean, even when they were, even when they gave up their naps, I had an hour of room time, and we just kept that routine, you know? And now they're teenagers, and now they love being in a room by themselves. I'm like, why can't three-year-olds love being in a room by themselves as much as sixteen years olds, cause that would make things so much easier.

But, you know, that structure was always there, you know? And so, then it allows you to have time, but they think...for me, same thing. I'm like, okay...and I think it's good for kids to see that. I really do. I think it helps with that entitlement and the whole world revolves around me thing that...children just naturally have that, right? Something like, your kids are weird if they feel like that, believe me. But no, mom has to work. I provide for our family through my job. These are the hours I work. And they need that consistency too. So when you know when six o'clock comes, mom's gonna come out and make dinner and we're gonna be together as a family for the rest of the night.

But that, you have...I tell my kids, I'm like, if you're not bleeding or on fire, and my door to my office is locked, don't come in.

Sarah -

Exactly. We've had that conversation and mine are only seven, five, and three. I'm like, you can be in the room playing silently, but you can't come talk to mom right now. It's not gonna work.

Julie -

Yeah, but it's a great life skill and I do think they see you as, you know, this is what we do in life. Like, we work and you have to learn to balance it all, right? And it's not like a separate ??? for my family. And it kind of reminds me, like, before the industrial...I'm gonna go into my history soapbox here...but before the industrial revolution, like, that's what families were, they lived and worked very close to home. So, maybe we'll all come back around to that.

But yeah. The balance there is so important. But, and you talked about time management, but we really didn't go through it. Do you have any tips or suggestions for how to time manage your life, please?

Sarah -

??? I am the wrong woman.

Julie -

Okay. So I just, I had people over this weekend, we talked ??? for like five hours. But I have my oldest daughter is a seven, so I ??? Yes, totally can understand where you're coming from.

Sarah -

Last year, Julie.

Julie -

There's always more options. ??? What else can they add on to my life to make it more fun?

Sarah -

I have ideas.

Julie -

That's hilarious.

Sarah -

But, as far as time management, I guess what I would say is, in my mind I kind of, you know, I don't want things off rigidly. There is ebb and flow. But I have my little zones, so, there's a work zone and I don't let it bleed into my son's lesson time. Even if there are some pressing things, I have to learn to say, okay, but that's during my office hours. Like, that is...and those people can wait until tomorrow morning. Like it's their world ??? And I'm a mom, and my son's lesson time is important and valuable and this is my dedicated time for that, you know? And not that they stay in these...you know, pushy little boxes. Cause they don't. My kids know I teach. They even know some of my students. So, there can be some flexibility, but time management, to me, looks like making sure to prioritize correctly in the times you have. So, not typing up an email on your phone while your son is, you know, spelling his ABC words or doing a problem independently. But, giving him your attention in that time.

Julie

Yeah, that's being present with where you're at. Yeah, that's really good. What is your schedule, or does it vary?

Sarah -

Well, our schedule is a rhythm. Essentially, I or most people are gonna leave now when they hear this. I get up at 2 every morning.

Julie -

Oh, my word. ??? Wow. That is amazing.

Sarah -

But I also go to bed like a grandmother. So, I'm usually in bed by like 7:45 at night.

Julie -

I would hope so.

Sarah -

But it works for younger children. You know, cause my kids are young and so an appropriate bedtime is around eight-ish. So it's working in this season. We may have to adapt later.

Julie -

Yeah, that's the key too, yeah. You're never gonna set a schedule that you're gonna follow every year of homeschooling. It doesn't exist. At least, I've never seen it in my life. We change every year, our rhythm and our teens up, cause your kids are gonna grow, you're gonna grow. Life happens, right? Yeah. So. That's the point too.

Sarah -

Yeah, so I get up and I work about 2:30 in the morning until 9 or 10 am. And I just shifted my schedule, and that...you know, talking about change, I just shifted, I'm only working a four day week. So, 2:30 to 9 or 2:30 to 10. And then, the other days, I actually have some other jobs. I might do that, and, I work with some organizations that do homeschooling and so. Sometimes I'll feed in some time in the mornings, so for that, just as if I was teaching online. So, we do breakfast as a family and enjoy morning time together most days around 9. Then we...my boys will actually go outside for a few minutes while I, like, brush my teeth. Till I'm human again.

And I'll call in my eldest for his lessons and we do more of his formal lessons. He's still young, so ??? about an hour to do anything that I would sit with him for. And then we typically actually head outside. I'm a huge advocate of that. Charlotte Mason fits so well. She talks about it so much, so we just, we tend to hit a trail or go to waterfall, or you know, most of the time, three or four days a week, we'll spend the rest of the day outdoors.

Julie -

That's fantastic.

Sarah -

So you're not invited to my house. Cause it's ??? I'm not ??? to time management. I don't fully clean my house, you guys. You know, if you come over, my bathroom is a boy's bathroom.

Julie -

And we all know what that means.

Sarah -

And my sink is probably full. But I've prioritized what matters and that is, having income for our family to be able to live the life that's important to us.

Julie -

And that's the key too, is like, priorities, and just taking...what is really important to me. So, and you can't do it all. So something has to go. So, it's like, okay, and I...you know, so in A Gentle Feast, I had to go, okay, what do I really like to do? What am I actually good at? Or what are things that other people could do that I could pay them to do because I'm really, actually not really good at that part, right? And I'd rather be spending the time doing the things I really love and growing that part, then doing things that drain me. But also that relates, not just to business, but to running your household as well. Like, I hate cleaning my house. Hate it. And, but, I love a clean house. So, it creates this, like, constant stress in my life, of not cleaning, and you know, and then when it is clean, but then I wait, I spent all this time doing something I hated and then I feel really exhausted but then it's clean. You know?

And so, yeah, so a couple years ago I was like, okay, how much money do I need to make to hire a cleaning lady? Like, how much extra every month, and then I figured it out and I was like...the best decision I've ever made in my whole life. I was like, this has relieved so many...I mean it would take me hours and in six hours, she has the whole house done for like, a week. I can make...yeah, last a week or two, still looking kinda like that. You know? And just doing daily stuff that... the chores that we all do daily, you know? And I was like, this is the best thing ever. I stopped grocery shopping, and I think everybody does this now, but before covid, you know, this was like two years ago, I started like, the online grocery pickup. Grocery delivery. I'm like, there's things...cause I hate grocery shopping too. I hate to shop ??? But, you know, to take that time to think, okay, what am I actually really good at, and it feels like you're just a great mom of getting your kid outside and that's so important. And having this great family time, and that's a priority for you. That's one of the values that you have, right? And so, taking the time to invest in those things, and then letting the other things ???, hiring that help, or letting those things go. Like, just, you can't do it all. you can't.

Sarah -

Yeah. I'm, like, embarrassed that I just admitted my house was ????

Julie -

Well, gosh darn it, that, girl...there's so many things that I have let slide cause I ??? I don't care right... Oh my gosh. So we don't, we don't. We totally, like ???? I hate shopping. I'm like yeah, you know, it looks fine. ??? Like, go to Goodwill if you need some more stuff, you know? Like, yeah, I just... It's just priorities right? And you have to take the time to think them, because you can't. And you will burn out trying to do it all. And it looks like everybody else is doing it all, but we're all just...cause you only see so much on Instagram, right? Because most people I know, they have success in one area, it's because they've given up on something else. So.

Sarah -

Yeah. It's just life. I think that's how life works, so, I think being purposeful about it, like you talked about, is really wise. You know, if you're about to step into homeschooling, and a full-time job or a part-time job and this is new to you, I think you nailed it Julie, I think writing down a list of what are the things that make you come alive? What is the family culture that you desire? What are the, you know, top three things you wanna see happening weekly and daily in your family? And then, what are the things that are draining you? Look at that list and say, which parts can be hindered off, which parts do I have influence over? So make time for this 20-hour week job, or 35-hour week job, or whatever it is.

Julie -

And it might not be that you outsource a domestic duty. It could be outsourcing some of your homeschooling. So, looking at classes, looking at family members. Like it doesn't always have to be somebody you pay for, right? You can barter with another homeschooling mom. Like, I'll watch your toddlers for a couple hours. You can go to Target if you'll help tutor my kid in math. Like, you know, being resourceful and saying, like, for me, it's math. I'm just gonna be honest. I hate math. I hate teaching math. And so, the summer, I was like, we have a few things that I want us to...concepts I feel like we need to catch up on and just do a little bit more work over the summer on, and so, I asked my daughter, I'm like, do you have any teenage friends who are really good in math who would wanna come over for an afternoon and help the kids do their math? They're gonna do it with a teenager who's cool, right? You know? But ??? that much cause they're teenagers too.

Sarah -

They're actually gonna learn math well.

Julie -

Exactly. Right. Yes. So, it's like...but, again, what are the things, like, no one's ever gonna take history away, cause that's the subject I love to teach and read about, right? But like, if there's things in your life, that you're like, hey, I don't really like to teach that. Be creative. You could outsource homeschooling as well. And if you're new to homeschooling, you might not know what's available in your area. You know, go on Facebook. Look for groups in your area and ask or start posting questions about co-op classes or resources, and it can be tempting to do too much, right? And you're never home. But, it is a resource that we have. There's so many resources now, for homeschooling. But you can outsource and that does allow you opportunity to work as well. Like, I travel ??? my kids are at a co-op class or something too, you know.

Sarah -

Yes. And knowing that you're not replicating the classroom environment is really important. Like, you're new in this. I think there's this feeling for all of us, whether we've done it for years or been exposed to it for years or not. Like, am I doing enough? Am I ???

Julie -

I have two grown kids and I'm like, I'm failing. Yep. I do it all the time.

Sarah -

But in the end, I tell myself all the time, I'm like, I'm not competing with public school. It's a totally different beast. You know, homeschooling has its own thing and your children will learn so long as you're providing the materials. But it doesn't have to be meeting the standards of your state. ???

Julie -

You don't have to sit in a chair for four hours, right? Yeah.

Sarah -

There's freedom in that. School can happen at bedtime. I mean, people think I'm crazy, but I have told moms who are stressed that they have a 9 to 5 job, and that they're thinking of pulling their kids, I've had these conversations with them where I"m like, if you don't have time during the normal school hours, send your kids to grandma's house. It's okay. Especially with, like, under middle school. Let them play at grandmother's. They will be okay. When you have dinner, read a poem. You know? Talk about current events, you know? At bedtime, have a basket beside their bed with their living books, or with whatever books you've chosen. With a math book, you know, there's great resources. ???

Julie -

Oh, bedtime math is good too, yeah. ???

Sarah -

Yeah. And then on Saturday, you can have a formal lesson. Cover a skill. Cover a master. Cover a reading. You know, these things can be done in a not typical way.

Julie -

Yes. That's a very good point. Yeah. We have to...you have to look at it creatively. And it can be hard to think outside the box if that's kind of what you've been used to, but in order to work from home and homeschool, sometimes you do really have to be creative. And I know tons of moms who are nurses and they have kinda weird, 3, 12, schedules and you know. They're always constantly shifting around with their school. I know people who bring their kids...that the mom will take the kid to her work one day, and the kid's doing some work nearby her. And then the dad takes them another day. I think with covid, a lot of people have actually tried to have this kind of system already kind of going already, because they had to, right? And they didn't really have a lot of...now my schedule's kinda the opposite of you. Where I usually start school at 8:30. We go to lunch. Then during lunch, you know, I always do reading and some tea time kinda subjects during lunch. And then they have their hour of quiet time. And then, if they're finished with their work, they can have an hour electronics and then they're outside for the rest of the day. So that gives me from like 1, 2 o'clock, until 6 o'clock. That's my office hours. And then I try to fit it in, you know, like I said, if there's a day where they have a co-op class in the afternoon, I'll work that whole entire time, or something like that. And I do, on the weekend, sometimes, depending what we have going on. Try to get in a few hours. But, like, making it work with the schedule that you have, but keeping that, this is my time that I'm working and you're doing your thing.




Today's episode is brought to you by A Gentle Feast. A Gentle Feast is a complete curriculum for grades one through twelve that is family centered, inspired by Ms. Mason's programs and philosophy, and rooted in books, beauty, and Biblical truth. You can find out smooth and easy days are closer than you think at AGentleFeast.com.




Was there another child?....??? time management and balance. I just wanna make sure I didn't miss something that you were wanting to talk about.

Sarah -

Planning. I have planning in there. And you solved all those problems for me.

Julie -

I solved all it. Nice. ??? How did I solve them all again? I can't remember.

Sarah -

Well, there's this curriculum I use. And it's called A Gentle Feast.

Julie -

Oh! I get you. Okay. Yes. Planning your homeschool out. I get you. Okay.

Sarah -

Sorry, I wasn't clear.

Julie -

Oh, you meant, like, planning out your family schedule. I was like, wow. I'm awesome. So.

Sarah -

Well, you kind of did. I mean, you got that big piece for us, and that was my biggest concern as I knew I was coming into formal education with mine. You know, it's real easy to do the preschool years and work, I think. Especially if you're working from home. Open-ending toys thrown on shelves and rotated and you're golden. Lots of outside time. But, as I came into the formal years with my oldest, I was like, now what? Like, I mean, cause I have done lesson planning. I was a public school educator. I did private tutoring for homeschool families. You know, I've helped run co-ops. I get the quantity of work involved in making sure you're fitting all the books and all the important things together to create a curriculum. And I knew I was capable. But I felt very overwhelmed at the thought of trying to pull it all together. So I looked in Ambleside, I looked at the Peaceful Press materials. I looked at Simply Charlotte Mason materials. You know, I just...Yes, I looked at SonLight. I looked at all.

Julie -

Finding something that works for you all. And yeah. Because planning is a huge piece. And yes you can do it yourself, but it'll save a ton of money, right. And some people are just...that's their favorite thing. So, if that's your favorite thing, great. Do that. And invest...

Sarah -

Don't clean your house.

Julie -

Don't clean your house, right. Something's gotta go. Whatever what it is, right?

Sarah -

Just go wash your husband's clothes.

Julie -

Yeah, just tell your husband's, after listening to this podcast today, I've decided I need a housekeeper and I'm gonna let her do your laundry. You can write to Julie at... no, I'm just kidding. Don't have him send me emails.

How do you handle, like, when you're trying to work and homeschool, and there's gonna be interruptions. Because, we're all together. And we talked a little bit about that, but just kind of preemptively having the conversation, right?

Sarah -

That's one of the main things. And I credit Charlotte Mason for habit training. Because I think that that flows beautifully into this. And the boundaries with your kids and you know, if you begin in the early years, and if you didn't, there's no hope for you. No. I'm just kidding. There is hope always.

Julie -

Cause I'm 43 and I'm still learning new habits, cause gosh darnit, I still have a lot to work on.

Sarah -

Yes. Right. But, if you begin with them in the early years, if you know to do that, then when you create something new, it's easy to implement the same habit. So, you know, if my children have been taught that mom and dad are talking and when mommy and daddy are talking, and the bedroom door is closed, you're to stay in your room, or you're to play. And we'll be out in a moment, unless you're throwing up or bleeding, you know? And so, once they've learned that rule, it can, you know...and I say rule, I mean like, generally. But it can translate to other areas, so now my kids know, if I'm at my desk in my, you know, teaching classroom, have my headset on, mommy's working. So I can come in the schoolroom and I can play. I have my work station for my full-time job set up where I can see my children playing ??? But my son, we have an art table right here. And we have a piano, which they are not allowed to play during this time. Like I said, I play with fire. But they have Montessori trays, they have open-ended toys, so they'll scurry down here at like 7 am, and I have two or three hours of work left. And they've just learned that, you know, I get a three-minute break in between every class, so I can kiss babies and send them back off to play. And they've also...I've mastered "the look."

Julie -

Oh yes, that's very important. I tell my kids that too, I'm like, don't make me give you the mom look.

Sarah -

Exactly. Yeah. My kids will roll my eyes if I say that. But I, you know, if I glance around at them and I just stare...you know, sometimes that's enough to help remind them. When I'm doing jobs that require a live person, you know, not teaching a class, but maybe I'm talking to a duo client, or typing up a blog post, you know, I write a few blog posts. My kids can interrupt me more in that, but I've still tried to teach them to respect...I think there's something to be said for respecting the people in your home. And teaching them to do that as they get older, for their siblings. If their sibling says, you know, I'm reading this book and it's really interesting to me. I just wanna sit and read, then they should know not to interact that sibling. So it applies to me now. I'm typing up a blog post, and maybe I'm sitting on the couch. I let them know, like, hey guys, mommy's gonna work for a few minutes and then gonna play, duh duh duh duh duh...I'm pretty stringent with my response to them when they come interact. I'm pretty consistent in my, I'm sorry I can't right now, go ask dad. Or, I'm sorry, I can't right now, please go finish playing.

And I think that that's important. Consistency in your responses to them will create the environment you need to get your job done.

Julie -

Yeah. And that's part of habit training, right? Is that consistent response kind of thing. And in the routines really help. You mentioned, like, those open-ended toys. I would love if you could send me a few that I could put in the show notes...??? could look at those. And I have some even for...my son's nine. And I just have some too that he can go and use. Cause I might be working with one of his sisters. He's still, he gets his lessons done so much quicker than sometimes...??? at that age as well, so.

Sarah -

Absolutely. Mine will play for a good one to two hours with some of the...and we don't have anything super special, Julie, but I'm happy to send you...I mean, it's like magnatiles, and you know, little engineering...yeah. Yeah. Imagination runs wild with that stuff.

Julie -

And what do you think has been the biggest blessing of kind of working and homeschooling?

Sarah -

That's a great question.

Julie -

And that wasn't on my list of questions so sorry to just pop it on you.

Sarah -

No, I love it. I think it's a great question. Hmm. I suppose the flexibility it's permitted for us to you know...everything’s not perfect in our lives. But...

Julie -

Yours isn't perfect, either? I feel so much better!

Sarah -

Nope.

Julie -

Okay, that's good.

Sarah -

But we have this amazing ability and permission, so be it, because of me working at home and my husband working with his brother, to explore together, to go on vacations when we like, you know. And that's something I'd encourage people to do that. If you choose homeschool and working for yourself. I mean, I understand that some people must work for corporations, but if you're willing to take the risk, and you can find your niche there, then you just have such opportunities to create memories with your family. And pursue the life that you want while they're in your home, you know?

Julie -

And even if you do have, like a, regular job where you have to clock in, you know, you could take your...for us, it's been nice, as homeschoolers, you can take your vacations when other people are not taking their vacations.

Sarah -

Absolutely.

Julie -

So, South Carolina beaches in September are amazing cause it's still 80 degrees, but nobody's there.

Sarah -

We always go in September or October. We got to Hilton Head Island. We, you know, ??? we got to water parks, the indoor water parks. Have you ever been?

Julie -
We do too! ??? cause we love that place.

Sarah -

Yes. Pretty much everybody you meet, when you're going in January are homeschool families. Oh, you homeschool too?

Julie -

We should just be able to go, like, to historic sights and things when there's not big crowds and you know, it's just kind of you and them, and you can really have conversations with the people that work there, because they're not in a big huge group on a field trip. I always see, like, the schoolbuses coming, you know. And those kids are just so zoned out half the time. You know? Whereas if you're just like in a little small group with your family, you get to have those shared memories together a lot more too.

Sarah -

Absolutely. Yeah, that's true, because ??? and being allowed...you know my...like I mentioned earlier, my mother in law is local. And you know, I know not everybody has a good relationship with theirs, and ours isn't amazing. But she's a great woman. She has similar values to us. And our world view ??? my kids kept time with their grandmother. And it's not just an hour here or there. Or, you know, they actually go probably two or three days a week over there from two to four hours in the afternoon when school's over.

Julie -

Okay. Okay. And you work during that time too?

Sarah -

I do.

Julie -

Or take a bubble bath?

Sarah -

You know, oftentimes, I'll do the house. I go clean it. But I will manage some laundry and some dishes and you know, meal prep.

Julie -

That's super important too, yeah.

Sarah -

Yeah, so kind of things that I don't find time for, I'll use those two to four hours to make a few meals or a couple freezer meals.

Julie -

Okay. Okay. Yeah, that's a great point, yeah. Meal prepping is a huge help for me as well. So just to close, do you have any final advice or thoughts for moms who are maybe just considering working from home and homeschooling?

Sarah -

Yeah. I think finding people that you can talk to and ask questions is good. You know I have a lot of people send me messages on Facebook that don't even know me. Maybe they saw me in a group or liked something I do on Instagram. So, if you don't have somebody local, then find that person on Instagram that you're loving all their homeschool posts. Or find that person on Facebook that is constantly posting in a group and ??? And ask them questions about what's working and how things, you know, how things are coming together. I also think I would say sometimes it's just about doing it and risk is scary for some people. I'm ??? so risk it. ??? My poor husband is always like, I don't know. I'm like come on! We do have to come to a point where you just have to jump in. And you just have to say, we're giving this a try and it's not gonna tank us, even if it doesn't work out, we can go through a different door later.

Julie -

yes. It's not, you're not gonna ??? for the rest of your child's life.

Sarah -

Right. Right. So, a one year trial of homeschooling working from home isn't ??? destroy your family. So sometimes it's just about stepping out, I think, and giving it a try, and seeing how it works. Give yourself about three to six months. Summer's a great time to do it. Now is the time! Guys, we are not having a summer break. We are homeschooling.

Julie -

No! Take a summer break! No, just kidding. Everything's just been so crazy weird anyway. But yeah, I think you do...you're capable of more than you think. And your kids are capable of doing more on their own than we often think that they are. And it does make the balance really important.

Sarah -

The kids'll love the freedom they get.

Julie -

They really will. Yeah.

Sarah -

I mean, they will. If you have a kid that was in public school and you pull them and you find a way to do school shorter than the seven and a half hours at school, they will love the freedom they have the first few.

Julie -

Yeah, that's a great point. So, I always close with a favorite Charlotte Mason quote. Do you have a quote you'd like to share with us?

Sarah -

I have to pick one?

Julie -

I know, it's very hard.

Sarah -

I was thinking about, and I have five. This is the one I chose for today. This is my favorite today. Our aim in education is to give a full life. We owe it to them to initiate an immense number of interests. Life should be all living and not nearly a tedious passing of time. Not all doing or all feeling or all thinking. The strain would be too great. But all living, that is to say, we should be in touch wherever we go, whatever we hear, whatever we see, with some manner of vital interest.

Julie -

Oh gosh, I just love that lady. What made you pick that one?

Sarah -

Well, she's talking about a full life. And, if you're working full time ??? you are winning the full life ??? But you know, an immense number of interests, and one of the privileges of being a working parent is, if you are in a field that you're interested in, then you're filling yourself up in that professional side too. So, you're showing, you're leading by example for your kids. I'm passionate about education. I love meeting people from other cultures. So guess what. Mommy spends every morning helping Chinese children learn English. So I'm...you know, that's my interest. And so it's not a tedious passing of time. I'm leading them to understand that we can enjoy the things we're interested in and find ways, you know, to hear and to see and to breathe life, even into the things that are more challenging. Maybe you don't love your job, but the motivation is coming from the income, it gives your family more freedom to do what you want. And you're showing them in that way, you know?

Julie -

Yeah. I think that's great, a great quote for what we've been talking about too, because, it's thinking outside the box of what education can be. You know, she says education is a life. So, it's all the things that you're doing constantly as a family they're learning from. And so, it's not just what they're getting from a book, or what happens between these four hours when they're sitting at a desk. Like you said, if that flexibility in your schedule...because if you're always learning, then that can happen anytime. And so, it allows you, kind of, more freedom to work and make your schedule be a different...where it's not 8 to 2, you're doing school lessons all the time. You kind of have that flexibility and they're still learning immensely from the different opportunities that you have. And it does…the style of learning does give you and your children an extremely full life. And that's the goal. To not filling in a bunch of information, or doing worksheets or checking off boxes. It's enriching their lives. So, that's a great quote for what we've been talking about, so, thanks for joining us today. so how can people connect with you if they do wanna message you, like you mentioned, or read some of the things you've written?

Sarah -

I think the easiest thing is Instagram. I don't have an amazing blog. My life is pretty full, so I haven't mastered or eliminated anything to permit it. My Facebook is public too. I'm in quite a few homeschooling groups, so, I'm Sarah Ruth Owens and...yeah. I'm in the Peaceful Press stuff and I jumped off these...you can find me on Mountain Paws on the Instagram.



Julie -

Thank you for joining us today on The Charlotte Mason Show. I'm your host, Julie Ross, and I would love to meet you in person. All of the Great Homeschool Conventions have been rescheduled to 2021. Go to GreatHomeschoolConventions.com to find a convention near you.

But you don't have to wait until 2021 to experience the amazing speakers and vendors at the Great Homeschool Conventions. They now offer an online convention that you can find on GreatHomeschoolConventions.com.

Also, if you would like the show notes for today's episode, go to homeschooling.mom. If you would take am moment to subscribe to this podcast in iTunes and leave a review, I would greatly appreciate it. It helps get the word out about this podcast to our audience.

Thanks for joining me today. Until next time, may your home be filled with books, beauty, and Biblical truth.

A Special Thanks to our sponsors:

Medi-Share

Operation Christmas Child

A Gentle Feast

Great Homeschool Conventions


Previous PostCM 2 Episode #5 A High School Charlotte Mason Education Part II Julie H. Ross
Next PostCM 2 Episode #7 Family Life Shay Kemp Audioblog