Single Parenthood and Home Schooling

Single parenting is hard. If you are a couple with kids, think of how tough it is to lose weight and double this. Single parenthood has its pro’s and con’s.

The upside to being single parent

Its pro’s include absolute autonomy.  You do not need to confer with anyone when it comes to decisions making about the kids.  You can impart the values you think they should have, teach them what you know, and basically arm them how you think is best.  You are not limited by another person’s thoughts or opinions when it comes to work hours, kids of work, how much you get done or not done around the house.  You are completely free to think of the best possible path for yourself and your kids.

The downside to being a single parent

The con’s include the fact that you have to do all this on your own and this means it is on you to mold these precious beings into happy, healthy, and productive people when they grown older.  It is on you to make sure that they eat at least three square, healthy meals, are schooled properly, are taught what they need to know to function and be independent.  You have no help when it comes to keeping house and home, paying bills, or acquiring assets.

Can a single parent home-school?

All this said, it is hard to imagine how to fit home schooling into a single parents plan. I guess it would all depend on what kind of support system the single parent has. I have heard that in other countries, single parents get a lot of discounts and even financial help from the government.  For some countries apparently, health care and even schooling is free.  I do not know this for sure or as a fact. What I do know is that in my country, single parenthood is hard.

Here, to manage in maintaining food, shelter, health care, and schooling, a single parent needs to either ask for help from better off relatives or have a really good, high paying job, with lots of benefits. Otherwise, single parents work long hours, some with two or more smaller jobs on the side. Some take on night work to make the most of the higher percentages in wages.  And almost all who do it on their own have very little time to spend at home.  And to think that there is no real day care system in my country so kids left at home are often cared for by extended family or a paid, stay-in nanny.

Home schooling, from what I have seen requires one main element- the parent’s time and presence at home to oversee the educational development of the child or children.  How is this to be done when the parent is out of the house?  The recommendation here then is to have a guardian, like an aunt or grandparent take over the teaching.  Is it as effective as the parent doing it?  Home schooling would be a financially lighter and educationally better choice for single parents.  It is cheaper to home school and you have control over what your kids learn, how they learn, etc.  But can it be done for single moms like me?

In a situation where the parent has little time to spend at home, is home schooling still an option?  If so, what is the work-around for the lack of availability?

Catherine

Catherine is a first time momma to a rambunctious toddler. When she isn’t soaking up all that motherhood has to offer, you can find her blogging over at Plunged in Debt where she chronicles her and her husbands journey out of debt. You can also follow her on Twitter.