10 THINGS I’ve learned about Babies while homeschooling

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When I first started homeschooling I had 3 children under the age of 6 and one on the way. I jumped feet first into homeschooling and didn’t completely know what I was doing, I just knew God called me to this place and I was DOING IT!

Over the years I’ve added 3 more babies since those early days of homeschooling. While having a baby while homeschooling isn’t easy, it IS possible.

One of the wonderful benefits of homeschooling is, you are in charge of the school year schedule. That means, if you are due to have a baby in October, you can take the month of October “off” and readjust to the new baby, REST as much as possible, and just enjoy being a family. And don’t worry, your children will still be learning. Please, give yourself the freedom to know that deep in your bones.

We are going to start this list with… You just got home from the hospital and you are a homeschool mama.

What should you do?

1. SCHEDULE REST

If you have children under 8, organize a helper ( or spouse ) for at least 1 – 2 weeks to help you adjust to hormonal change, breastfeeding, bring you meals, and to get a lot of sleep

💡One helpful tip is to set up a little island for yourself with all the things you need to take care of you and your baby. Mine was a recliner with books, diapers, wipes, lanolin, phone charger, and lots of water.

The urge to do too much is THERE but please, even if you feel great, remind yourself that as a busy homeschool mama, you need your body to be cared for so you can care for others down the road. Right now, your recovery is so important. Your body is going through changes that you can’t see or feel sometimes but it really is. So, schedule REST.

2. EASE INTO YOUR NEW ROUTINE SLOWLY

When your help is gone, ease into your new schedule slowly with minimal expectations. Take the time to write out a morning routine and that’s it. When it comes to academics stick to teaching math and reading. For children under 8 your school time should last only about 1 hour. Depending on when YOU feel up to it. Maybe you will feel ready to teach that one hour when your husband is home or you have a helper around. In my ten years of homeschooling with babies I have found it most helpful to finish “school” after breakfast. As your children get older, you will have more academic goals, but still, the rule will apply: After a baby, the academic pressure should be minimal. Strive for 1 solid hour with children under 8 and 2 solid hours with children 8-12.

3. On really hard, sleepless night days…Just read a book for school and that’s it

Plan for days that homeschooling just isn’t happening, and be OKAY with that! This is one of the reasons I inspire moms to make their homes an educational environment, your home is a life-giving learning center.

On those days when you can barely keep your eyes open, just read a book for school and rest as much as possible. Taking care of a baby all night is enough pro-active work for you, so during the day: read, serve meals, and rest.

4. Make the most of the days that you feel good!

As the days go by you will wake up and feel a fog lifting! Yay! I love those kinds of mornings.

First, don’t spend it on social media, it will rob your time.

Whatever “thing” is driving your crazy the most do it on this day. ( laundry, school work, bathrooms, kitchen cleaning…etc)

Whatever it is, wake up and accomplish it! You will feel SO MUCH better after that one “thing” is complete.

After one particular exhausting birth and the postpartum period, my laundry was the THING that was driving me insane. I couldn’t get ahead. Then one day I finally got some sleep and felt amazing. That was the day we all worked on getting the laundry back to where it needed to be. I felt such a relief! 😊( and my children learned valuable life lessons)… We use a flip fold to teach the children to fold shirts properly. This is fun for them and after they get the hang of it, they don’t need the folder anymore.

5. Take vitamins.

I have never mentioned these vitamins in a post but I KNOW these have made a huge difference in my life so I will share them today. Supermom vitamins! You guys, these things have made a huge difference in how I feel or have felt the last 7 years. In fact, when I run out of them I can tell a huge difference in my energy levels. It is a high potency multi-vitamin with spirulina and green superfoods. I took these vitamins through my entire pregnancies as well.

6. Get ready in the mornings!

Getting ready in the morning will refresh your spirit and mind. Just those few minutes taking care of yourself in the morning will make your entire flow better. Even to this day, I still make it a priority to get dressed and take care of my hygiene in the morning because it mentally/physically prepares you for the day ahead. Trust me: A shower will just make you feel better!!!! 💜

7. Fewer commitments

In my first year homeschooling, I signed up for WAY TOO many (great) opportunities. Yes, those programs we enrolled in were excellent, but they were not worth my mental health. Every single day except Thursday we were running out the door. Even though the activity was only 2 hours or less, getting everyone ready and out the door was exhausting. My rule of thumb: Only say YES to one day per week out of the house. ( remember, you will have an additional day needed for grocery shopping…errands)

8. Laundry

I mentioned earlier how easy laundry can get out of control. One way to stay on top of laundry is to switch loads between subjects you are teaching. For us, we have to do 3 loads per day ( 8 people ). If you only have 1-2 per day, try to switch loads between Math and Reading classes. Fold and put away all the clean laundry BY lunch time. Make that a challenge. Always have laundry put away before lunch 😊

9. Mama, nourish your mind

If you have followed me for any length of time, you know I always encourage mamas to read as much as possible even if you don’t like it.😊

We are not your “everyday” type of woman. We are warriors at home. We need to be sharp and grow in knowledge. We pursue wisdom and have a vision for what our homes can be. You will feel stronger and able to “weather” hard times when you are fit for the battle. Guys, some of the hardest days have been redeemed because I remember something I’ve read.

10. ROUTINES

There is an ongoing debate on the topic of scheduling babies, I would rather advocate for adding a routine into your day. Just as seasons have a routine, your home was designed to THRIVE in routine. A routine will be your servant. When your three year old knows what’s next, life is easier. I always suggest starting with a morning routine and adding more as you are able. Your baby will be happier with a routine in place. Routines add focus to your day.

If you feel “stuck” at home and need support, encouragement, and help to establish a thriving home…

Daily Rhythms of Home is an online course FULL of videos, worksheets, and a community to help you achieve a home that is THRIVING.

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