I really want to HE my dc but I work full time and my dh works part-time, is it possible?

[3Ddonut]

I've got a really strong inclination to HE the children but I need to work, I work three nights (as I find this is the best balance between work and home) and my dh does 2 14 hour days, we need to work, although I think that dh may be able to drop half a shift a week.

The other real problem we have is that our dd is very happy at school but I really want to HE them, I have a few reasons, which are similar to lots of others, mainly I love the freedom of HE, I like the family to be together, the one-to-one (or three) aspect, the whole school set-up, in particular the SATS and other exams. We recently saw dd's teacher and she said that she doesn't 'fit in' with the other kids (she's 5 ) I think that my ds will benefit from HE aswell, he's only 4 but can be quite hyperactive.

I'm meeting a lot of resistance from everyone, although dh and I are on the same page.

Basically, I'm wondering, if you, who do this now, think that it's possible with the working and if it's advisable to take dd out of school even though she enjoys it and is doing really well.

And...(!) the school my dc attend is recognised as a 'good one' and I am happy with the teachers and the set up but we're out of area and if the kids want to go back to school, I doubt that we'd get back into that one......help!!!!!!!

btw, I've just skimmed over our reasons for wanting to HE, for simplicity as this isn't the focus of my OP, the reason we didn't HE my dd from the start (although this was our intention) was because we asked her if she wanted to go to school or stay home and she wanted to go to school, I wouldn't take her out if she wanted to stay.

It should be possible if your DH only works 2 days a week. If you can organise your shifts so that one of you is at home when needed. Could DH take more of the work load, as in up his hours per week, so that you could reduce your hours? Is there grandparents etc. to babysit on those days when you need to catch up on your sleep?
You will get resistance, families always oppose new idea's.
Concerning your daughter, what aspect of schooling does she like. Is it the structure (knowing that on thursday mornings it swimming etc), the socialisation (lots of friends), does she think its expected of her and doesn't want to be the 'odd one out'? All of these can be compensated for or bettered with Home Educating and just need a bit of forethought.
You could try schooling your DS and see how it goes, he may enjoy it, or he may be totally miserable there. Just because it is classed as a 'good' school does not mean it is going to be the best way to educate your DS.
Most of the people who Home School with more than one child tend to (not all of course), HE all of their kids, as what is the use of HE'ing and still having to do the school run for the others, or sticking to school holidays when you want to go away. Having one in school and one HE'ing does tend to take away one of the advantages of Home Education, which is the flexibility to do what you want (within reason) when you want to.
I know I have'nt answered any of your questions directly, but maybe I have given you some direction in which to go towards answering your questions.

WRT your daughter wanting to stay at school...how much does she know about what will happen day to day if you would be HEing? Has she met/played with any HEd children? Might be worth finding a local group to meet up with & see how much she likes it so you can have a better idea if she will like being HEd...or maybe start out HEing your DS & see if she wants to join in?

She's been saying today that she would like to 'stay home and do school with Mammy and Daddy' but I'm not sure that she's not just saying it because she knows it what I want to hear! She says that she 'just loves learning' which of course is lovely to hear.

She thinks that she will miss her friends and 'small world' role play, she understands that it wouldn't be easy for us to recreate the small world stuff but is already working out how to catch up with her friends!

I could work our shifts so that the kids would be looked after so that I can sleep they regularly spend a night a week out anyway but with HE it gives us that bit more flexibility.

We're going to give the Easter holidays a trial run of HE'ing to see how it works out.

Thanks for all your replies.

Do any of you HE'ers work and HE now? and if so, is it full time?

Many home educators work-some from home, some part time around their partners hours.
I work part time around the home education.

I know of a few home educators who have started businesses from home-some sell things on ebay etc.

A great many of us seem to have down shifted in some ways to make do on less hours and pay.
We gave up new cars-or even reasonably new cars quite some time ago but have managed for instance.
We don't go on expensive holidays-but then not having to go in school holidays we have used Sun newspaper holidays and Travelodge deals and then of course there are the home ed camps and gatherings-which are a means for our children to meet lots of other home educated people and have a cheap holiday too.
I like to spend time with like minded people as well.

Trouble is Julienoshoes, that's how we live now on two almost-full-time wages!!! It would have to be dh who reduced his hours as I earn more, but as I said, I do nights and I think between us we should manage but dh isn't so sure, we're so busy all the time, but I'm sure that's partly due to the fact that we have to be at school three times a day! We're downshifted as much as possible!

I usually get at least an hours break at work and I think that I could spend that time researching and planning things for the kids, I think that if we pull together we can get the housework done and make this fun for the kids. I just wondered what your oppinions are as you are already HE'ing if you think that it would be a possibility or if I'm just looking at it all through rose-tinted glasses.

I find that weekend days are much less stressful and the kids are in a better frame of mind, my dd comes home from school tired and grumpy and takes herself off to her bedroom until teatime, whereas this never happens on the weekend. The rush to get out, tea done, bathed and bed just isn't there at the weekend and I think it's better for all of us, I could live like that all the time and the kids seem excited at the idea of doing 'school' at home, although I have to keep reminding them that this isn't a game!!!!

Sorry this is a bit rambly, I've got all sorts of ideas and plans rattling around my brain!!!

I'm liking the sound of those camps Julienoshoes, sounds like fun, are they on on a regular basis for all HE'ers or are they organised by your local group? Where are you btw, if you don't mind me asking?

If you can imagine the weekend all the time. That is what it can be like. You don't need to 'teach' for 6 hours a day as HE'ing is much more intensive being 1:1. ATM as DS2 seems to need a bit of direction we are doing about an hour a day of directed learning. As he's dyspraxic, we find that he can only take in so much then he switches off, so that is when we stop. The rest of the time he plays games, does gardening with me, helps with a bit of the housework. Goes shopping, sings, plays music, watches TV (into the National Geographic Channel ATM), goes to scouts, talk to friends through the computer from all over the world, in fact he is learning to be less bored. He doesn't need me to provide him with 'things to do' all the time anymore, in fact I don't think I've heard a 'I'm bored' for weeks.

It all sounds too good to be true really I'm really excited about it (as I was before dd started school) but it's always going to be their own choice, ds is looking forward to joining his next class and dd says she wants to stay at school today.....I don't know if this will happen or not, but I'm hoping!

Where are we?

Home Educating in Worcestershire
grin

The we go to camps that are organised nationally and locally.

We have just booked one that is near to Monmouth, right on the river and we'll be doing lots of kayaking, walking, cycling and a treasure hunt, the 7ish-12ish (very roughly) age group seem to spend hours in the woods building dens and we'll be having a philosophy debating evening as well for anyone that wants to join in.
This one is organised by a group local to us, but we will also be going to HesFes and Peak Camp.
There are others being organised by home educators-you'll find some of them advertised in the EO newsletter later in the year i suspect and also on the main HE lists.

sorry to gatecrash, but i'm trying to find some info about the EO open day thats coming up in london and also about home ed camps which i'd like to try out.
i can't find anything on google - any tips on where to search?
thanks

workstostaysane
contact me through the info@ link on the local website and I'll help as much as I can.

Worcs HE

It looks fab doesn't it, I'm miles away too!