by Theresa

I homeschool.  I also work part-time.

I was a stay at home mom when my girls were little, but prior to homeschooling our girls went to public school for 3 and 5 years respectively.  During that time, I took a part time job at our local library.  When we made the decision to bring the girls home to learn, I thought about quitting my job.  When I approached my boss, she said that she admired me for taking the responsibility of my girls' education and would work with me and would like for me to bring the girls to work with me.  I am very fortunate to work in an environment that not only allows this, but is actually a mecca for homeschoolers.

The Downside
Despite my boss's wonderful attitude and willingness to work with me and allow my girls to come to work with me, there are times when I read blog posts and think how we could be spending this time in outside classes or with friends; how we could be more relaxed in certain areas of our curriculum, not trying to get everything done in three days, if I didn't work; I think of the field trips we miss out on.  I don't work for the money, so there have been times when I considered quitting my job.

The Benefits
But then I think about how my girls look at our library as their second home.  They are very comfortable in the library.  They know and interact comfortably with the entire staff.  Their ideas are sought on everything from books kids' their age may like to read to programs that appeal to kids' their age.  They share lunch and jokes with various members of the staff.  They help patrons find newspapers and have read to elderly patrons.  They have learned volunteerism.  They are part of conversations on everything from politics to special needs children to meeting the demands of the unique population in our town.  They help me pull inter-library loan holds and have a general knowledge of the Dewey Decimal system.  They interact with the kids who come in after school.  And they see me as someone other than just their mom, someone who is valued for her contribution to something other than our household; they learn that women are valuable, smart contributing members of our society.  Although I chose to stay home with my children, I do think it is important that girls feel confident in their ability to one day work outside the home.

I love my work and my girls know that.  They know that I value reading and that I find it incredibly gratifying to help a child find a book and hope that book may open up that child's mind to a lifelong love of reading (my girls have also recommended books to kids with the same hope).  I know all of the lastest titles of juvenile books and when they will be released; my thoughts are sought on our collection.  I have been able to purchase homeschool materials for our library consortium.  I am able to run educational programs that appeal to both homeschool and public school children.  My girls attend the programs sometimes while at work with me and they have volunteered to help with programs, giving them a huge sense of accomplishment.

A running a booth at our Summer Reading Kickoff: One World, Many Stories!

How We Make It Work
When we first decided to homeschool I heard that the first year is a lot of trial and error and everything comes together in the second year.  Everything is coming together for us now, we know what works and how to make things work.  Last year I worked two afternoons per week and crammed as much learning in in those mornings as I could.  It worked ok, but we always had one eye on the clock.  This year we have managed to figure out a way to do independent work and outside classes on the days that I work, thus leaving the other days free for extended exploration of a particularly interesting concept (we tend to work best when we don't have one eye on the clock).  We could also explore a park or go on a field trip or enjoy a playdate those afternoons.

 This year I work one full day and one afternoon.  This year the girls are using notebook planners similar to mine where we write down their assignments and outside activities.  When I am at work the girls do independent work: Daily Grams, math, writing and copywork; they write in their journals and they read an assigned section or sections of Story of the World and write their summary.  They do this in a Quiet Study room of the library and it takes 2-3 hours.  Then they are free to explore the library, peruse the shelves, pick books of interest and curl up on a cushion and read.  Or they help create decorations for the children's room or try out the crafts for Storytime and help me make samples.  They help me find the inter-library loan holds or they interact with staff and patrons.

One of the many fantastic programs my children attended while at work with me!

When my parents return from their summer home, my mom will pick the girls up at the library in the early afternoon (this should give them time to complete their independent work in the morning).  The girls will go to my mom's home for sewing lessons and then she will bring them to piano lessons and I will pick them up at piano on my way home from work.  On the day when I only work in the afternoon, the girls have choir, youth group and Bible study at church and I can easily walk them over to our church on my break.  Since they are able to do their outside lessons on the day when I work, we  don't  "eat up" our free days with outside lessons and classes.  This will allow us to spend the other three afternoons taking interesting art classes or with friends or on a field trip or at homeschool knitting group.

My girls are viewed as the honorary staff members of our super-fun children's library staff!

I am so fortunate to work in an environment that is so conducive to not only learning but homeschooling.  Sure, there are restraints on our time, but we have found ways to work it out.  Even if I didn't work, my girls would need time to do independent work, they would take sewing and piano and be part of choir and youth group and Bible study at our church, by finding ways to fit these things in on the days when I work, it doesn't seem like my work (which I love!) limits us from pursuing other activities on the days when I don't work.