Homeschooling During Quarantine Is One More Burden On Single Working Moms

Our lives, in every way, are incredibly uncertain these days. Many of us don’t know what lies ahead for our country, we’re worried about jobs disappearing once the quarantine is over due to the sinking economy, and we’re unsure of how long we’ll be able to keep paying rent.

And with a nationwide shutdown, of course, comes millions of kids staying home from school for (most likely) the rest of the school year — meaning millions of parents have had no choice but to take up homeschooling. The transition to homeschooling is bound to have its fair share of bumps in the road, especially when the transition was somewhat involuntary. But I can’t help but think: single working mothers must be facing extraordinarily challenging circumstances right about now.

Being a mother is never a simple job, and doing it all alone makes it all the more demanding.

Single Moms Already Have a Lot on Their Plate

I have a lot of respect for women who’ve taken it upon themselves to not only single-handedly raise their children, but also possess the stamina to act as the sole breadwinner of the household. Being a mother is never a simple job, and doing it all alone makes it all the more demanding. Throwing mandatory homeschooling into the mix too is certainly strenuous — especially when these mothers are already scrambling to navigate working from home in order to put food on the table. I mean, is homeschooling as a single working mom even realistic?

How Single Moms Can Tackle Homeschooling

The very thought of homeschooling as a single working parent would strike fear into anyone’s heart. And while it’s probably one of the most difficult paths you can take, it’s not entirely impossible — especially when we’re able to redefine our idea of school to accommodate an arduous work-from-home schedule. 

We’re able to redefine our idea of school to accommodate an arduous work-from-home schedule.

With homeschooling, “school” is in session whenever and however it’s most convenient for you. So if you work in the morning, that’s the perfect time for the kids to get some quiet reading in or to go outside to play before school is in session later in the day. Furthermore, your children’s school week doesn’t necessarily need to follow a Monday through Friday structure — unconventional times calls for unconventional schooling! Perhaps seeking insight from fellow single working moms embarking on the adventures of homeschooling, like the one in this article, may prove to be helpful.

You Don’t Need To Do It All Alone

Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding homeschooling is that it’s always isolating, leaving kids and parents without community or support systems. While that can become a reality, it certainly doesn’t have to be.

Homeschooling moms are actually really big on community — most likely because they know better than anyone else just how lonely being at home with the kids can get. And in times like these, it’s especially important to give and receive support from moms in similar positions. Checking around for homeschooling support groups will ultimately be a huge help and lifesaver.

Why Homeschooling Is So Good for Kids (and Moms)

I myself was homeschooled for four years and I know numerous families who also went the homeschooling route, so I can confidently speak on its noticeable benefits. Kids who were homeschooled grow much closer to their siblings and parent(s), leading to a deeper understanding and respect for familial bonds. They perform better on standardized tests, and they learn the power of self-motivation at an early age — something they’ll need later on in life as they begin their careers.

Homeschooled kids grow much closer to their siblings and parent(s), leading to a deeper understanding and respect for familial bonds. 

Closing Thoughts

While many single working mothers are feeling hopeless during this quarantine with their jobs disappearing and their kids home from school all day, homeschooling doesn’t have to be the death sentence it may feel like.