Homeschooling-again?

Well, my kids have asked once again if they can be homeschooled. It breaks my heart to hear them ask me to be homeschooled when I think I can't do it for them. A lot of the parents in our district are going to be homeschooling next year, mainly because they are closing at least one more school after already closing two this year. A lot of parents are coming to me for advice, asking me questions about how to get started, the right forms to fill out, and even about cyberschooling. I have no problems answering their questions, but I feel heartsick knowing they will be doing it and I will not. It is currently quiet enough around here for me to get my work done, but often times I find myself thinking about what they are learning in school, what they would be learning at home, all while I am typing all of this nonsense. (not the blog, my work.)

I keep trying to think of ways to manage my time better so that I can work and home school at the same time. The only problem is that it's not about time management, it's about noise level. And everyone knows that three children, one of them being five, are not quiet. See, it's not like I just need an hour of quiet time per day. I would need probably about four or five. I know that time-wise this could be achieved. It could be work alone time, special projects time, computer time, TV time, time for them to build with Legos, play-do, grandma time, etc. If they were quiet enough, they could all sit around the table doing various things, play outside while I use my laptop outside (in the warmer weather), play in the next room over. But the noise. And the distractions. Mommy can i have a snack. mommy can i have a drink. mommy, can i use the computer. mommy can i, mommy will you, mommy, mommy, mommy.

I love my kids, which is why I put them in school. I couldn't get any work done with them home and I was getting madder and madder trying to finish at night while they were sleeping, waking up unrested and starting the whole thing over again. I guess summer will be a good trial. I can't afford child care, so they will be home the two summer months and I am still supposed to work. gosh, I have no idea how to do this!

Please be in prayer with me over this. I feel like God never took homeschooling off of my heart, but I have no idea how to do that and work. I need to make money - for those of you just starting out on my blog, I am a single mother. Their father gives me some child support, but nowhere near enough to cover everything. So somehow I would have to make it work.

If you got this far, thank you for reading my ramblings. Until next time!
One Christian Mom

PS - if you somehow manage working and homeschooling, leave me a note and let me know how you get along! :)