Even though homeschooling can work well for single parents, you might wish that you had more time to spend at home with your children. You could speak with your employer about a more flexible work schedule, consider telecommuting, or look into establishing a home business.

Support from Employers and Coworkers

If it's your hope to stay employed in your current job, speak with your employer about your career goals, as well as your educational goals for your children. Have a plan firmly in mind before approaching your employer. Stress your desire to continue contributing to the good of the company. Offer to arrive at work an hour earlier and work through your lunch hour. As a result, you could leave two hours earlier than normal and have extra homeschooling time in the evenings with your children.

Not surprisingly, the workplace can be similar to conventional schools. Much time can, unfortunately, be lost or wasted in a normal workday. What may take eight hours for some to accomplish can be done by an industrious person in four hours.

Time at work is often lost by waiting for others in meetings, taking breaks to chat about the previous day or night, gathering around the water cooler to discuss favorite television shows or movies, gossiping about employees in various departments, and taking more breaks to chat about the upcoming day or night. Each of these breaks interrupt the productive flow of the day. A worker who avoids these time-killers and focuses on work can accomplish as much in a four-hour day as the worker who spends eight hours at work, but who stops to talk or take breaks throughout the day.

Observant employers and coworkers can recognize the person who is willing to work hard, who focuses their mind and their skills on the job at hand, and who honestly does a good day's work. As a result, you'll often win their support and admiration when you can accomplish as much as you do in a day, and still mange to educate your children, too.

Telecommuting and Working from Home

If it's simply not possible to shorten your normal workday, suggest telecommuting or taking work home a few times each week. You may be able to work from home on Fridays, or even a couple days per week. If your place of business is computerized, you can access files from home via PCAnywhere, GoToMyPC, or other remote access programs. Imagine how much time you would have with your children if you had an extra day or two at home each week!

Taking Children to Work

Several homeschool parents have successfully taken their children to work with them. This works well for parents who have a separate office within the building. Your child can sit at her own workspace and complete lessons, occasionally asking questions or getting input from you. You can take your lunch break together and follow it with a nature walk before going back to the office. In the afternoons, she can read, draw, or work on home-school projects. Depending on her age, she may be able to assist with simple duties around the office.

Flexible Job Possibilities

Your lifestyle may not be suitable to a regular nine-to-five job. If you'd prefer to have more control over your hours or to work at home, here are some moneymaking opportunities to consider:

• Home daycare

• Tutoring, music, or art lessons

• Substitute teaching

• Medical transcription or data entry

• Graphic or web design

• Copyediting or proofreading

• Newspaper routes

• School-bus driver

• Errand-running or catering service

• Home, party, or wedding organizer or planner

• Sewing, alterations, or laundry services

• Office cleaning service

• Home health aide

• Discovery Toys, Usborne Books, Pampered Chef, or Avon