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Would you recommend other people try office schooling if they have that flexibility?
Yes, definitely. For years, I told my daughter I couldn’t homeschool her because I wasn’t a teacher. It wasn’t until I connected with other homeschoolers on Facebook that I realized I could do it. I am so glad we decided to take a chance and try it out.
The most important thing in making office schooling work for the business has been having the staff to delegate some of my work to and having a large enough office for both of us to fit . Also, the fact that I don’t have a lot of walk-in customers allows me to have a child in a professional environment. I am very particular about maintaining an environment that is professional. I make sure all evidence of kids, school, dog toys, etc., are hidden when we have guests. There are times, although rare, where she is instructed to stay in her office while someone is visiting because I don’t feel that it’s appropriate to reveal to that particular person/people that we are homeschooling here.
The most important thing in making office schooling work for your child has been learning how she will thrive. I am still learning and will probably continue to learn for many years. It’s working, but it’s not perfect. I think there is a better way for us, and I will continue to try and find it. I want her to love to learn and want to do school. I hope that will happen one day.
The most important thing in making office schooling work for you has been scheduling alone time. I used to have a lot of alone time in my office at work every day, and I no longer have that. Different people need different amounts of alone time. I find that I value my yoga nights, girls nights out, and going to the grocery store alone even more now that I am homeschooling because she is always with me. I miss being able to go out to lunch with a girlfriend during the day or being able to stay focused and be very productive at work.
But it’s all worth it! My daughter is worth all of the sacrifices. I have to say, it is much easier to homeschool than I thought. I was really nervous, but I’m so glad we decided to try it. Many people tell me that they don’t think they could do it. I recommend that they try it out for one year, and they will probably be very surprised at how successful they can be.
Do you plan to continue homeschooling at the office in coming years? Yes, we plan to keep homeschooling as long as it continues to be what is best for us. I hope to at least continue through middle school. High school intimidates me because of credits and transcripts, but I realize that VaHomeschoolers has a wealth of resources for me when I get to that point. We love having my daughter at the office with us. We feel that she is safer, she’s receiving a good education, and we have an amazing family life!
What changes might you envision in your office schooling as your daughter gets older?
I’m hoping for more independence and a desire to do her school work without me making her. As she gets older, I imagine she will work more hours as an employee and be able to contribute to the business in major ways once money becomes more of a motivation.
How do you think a child's age or personality might affect whether office schooling is a good fit?
My daughter is pretty laid back. I would think that if she had more energy and had difficulty being calm and quiet, it probably wouldn’t be a good fit. Also I think that a kindergartner, first, or second grader would be more of a challenge due to the demands on the teacher/parent at those ages. The older the child gets, the more they should be able to accomplish on their own so that the parent can work.
Any other comments?
Many people tell me that they wish they could homeschool their children. My response is, “You can!” I would encourage everyone to try it. It’s wonderful, and I believe it is so much better for the children. School can be done anytime, day or evening. It’s definitely possible to work and homeschool!
A popular speaker at homeschooling conferences, business groups, and parents’ groups, Jeanne Potts Faulconer homeschooled her three sons in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Virginia for twenty years. Holding her Master of Arts degree in Communication, Jeanne conducted portfolio evaluations for Virginia homeschoolers for evidence of progress for many years. Jeanne is a former college faculty member, former editor for several publications, news correspondent for WCVE, and former director of Brave Learner Home. She is the contributing editor for TheHomeSchoolMom newsletter and writes the popular Ask Jeanne column addressing homeschool parents' questions here at TheHomeSchoolMom.
OMG ITS ME ON THE PICTURE Wow, I just clicked on this article and it’s me on the first pic from 4th grade. My mom, Angie sumited pictures of me and that was quite a shock. It’s working great and I’m 12 going into 9th grade and I’m grading at 15. (My office isn’t rainbow anymore but I still have the rug and my hair isn’t red anymore either. I chopped it all off and dyed it brown. That’s so cool!!!!
Hi Brianna,
Yes, that's you in the picture! Your mom's interview about how your family has homeschooled has helped a lot of people think about how they might be able to make homeschooling work. I ran into her at a conference last weekend and loved seeing her again. Wish I could have seen you and your new hairstyle!
Happy Homeschooling,
Jeanne
I happened upon this page in an effort to prepare myself to "office school" my daughter starting in 5th grade (she is currently in 3rd). We have a very similar set up, two family owned businesses where my husband and I spend most of our day hours, etc. I loved reading this because it is very similar to what I envision for our family in the next year or two. Thank you for sharing your experience.
So glad you found the article. Let us know how homeschooling works out in conjunction with your family owned businesses. I think it's actually sort of retro in a way, hearkening back to a time when families worked, lived, and learned together.
Good luck!
Jeanne
Thank you so very much for addressing this topic! I too am embarking upon the office schooling dynamic. However, my office is mobile. Therefore, my children get the benefit of traveling alongside as we work, learn, and explore together. Our unschooling-ish approach merged well into this new chapter of homeschooling in most ways except for math and science. We are now utilizing online resources to tackle these subjects and better manage our time and goals. It can be done! It takes creativity, flexibility, and a willingness to reimagine the possibilities.
I love that article. I thought I was alone in re-imagining my homeschool aspirations and my desire to continue work. Of course, we are working on it and adjusting as well. I do feel that my children, like myself tend to be more focused when we remove all of the comforts of home. We do not have a lot of foot traffic and own our own business, but the office is cleaner and it must remain that way. We are not in pajamas, which does something to prep their mindset somewhat. I absolutely love it and could see being a progressive employer that allowed employees to homeschool their children in the office as well (IF we had an entire basement level to customize). It would be similar to breastfeeding at work, on-site nursery or telework. Just another policy that would serve as a value add for the next generation workforce.