Home ed and mums having enough time for themselves

[EggyBreadAndBeans]

I check in on this board every now and then, as we are interested in home ed for ds (2 years 4 months) and I get re-inspired each time I pop on here.

But - selfishness confession alert - I wonder about having enough time for me if I home-school. Before realising home ed existed as an option, I had this idea that I would throw myself into nurturing 110% during the early years and then rediscover me and my interests once ds started school; there are things I'd like to do, which I thought would be fairer to work on once ds is at school (which I guess confirms the theory that school has essentially become daycare with an educational flavour).

I thrive best on regular time on my own, pottering, thinking, with the house/garden just quiet. And time for creativity, hobbies, my learning - without which, I start to kind of switch off; like I'm running out of battery power. I don't have enough "me" time now, with ds with me almost all the time - as he presumably would be if we home-schooled. So how could I create regular - generous, even - Mummy time, as part of the home-schooling experience? What do others of you do to restore yourselves?

If you can convince me it's possible, we'll home-school! Well, if we can persuade ds of the merits of home-schooling: at the moment, he's desperate to go to school - hmm ...

Thanks. EBAB

It's not a lot better when they are at school, 6 hours a day doesn't give you much time at all and you are tied to specific time frames.
My guess is if you want time out somebody has to come and help you, at least you can decide when they come home eding.

ok, I completely agree with you EBAB. Here's my 2 cents

1. time to yourself is vital, I agree completely. I go nuts without it. I also need time with adults. I need this time, its not a luxury, its essential to me to function. The only time in my life when I have veered close to depression has been when I've been at home all day with an (admittedly constantly screaming) baby and a toddler.

1. My ds is 3, and I also have a 15 mo dd. I am finding that both are actually very good at amusing themselves. Quite often I just refuse to entertain them . They have to be bored and then learn to sort themselves out. I actually think this is good for them. At these times I get at least some time to just potter, though its not the uninterupted time I need.

1. I have made good friends in the HE community. When the kids are all ready (none of them are comfortable away from us for long yet), we will start doing playdates, as much to give each other time as anything else.

1. Dp takes the kids out at least one day a week, and that is my study/potter/whatever day.

I did a bit of TEFL a few years ago and was shocked at how draining it was-it wiped me out! having my kids with me all day every day is like that, tbh.

I think what you are saying is incredibly common, I have heard it a lot, but people do find ways round it.

hmm

thats not massively helpful is it? hmm.

Hideehi and Filly - thank you.

Hideehi - interesting point about choosing Mummy time, and having control of it, unlike in the rigid school system.

And Filly, it's comforting to know others feel this way. I don't want to be overly selfish - I do worry about that - but my mum put herself out for my brother, sister and I so much that even now, she doesn't do anything for her; I don't think she knows what makes her tick anymore. I never know what to get her for Christmas! My partner and I worry about me going down the same path, so I do obsess a bit over creating "me" time.

Your dh having your kids for a day a week made me smile. My dp has our son for a morning (9.30am-noon ... two-and-a-half hours) a week, and thinks he's a saint! Time to jack that time up then.

Helpful tips. Thanks ever so.

EBAB