October 22, 2025 – Homeschooling and Working: Finding Balance

Mercy Every Minute

Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor

I Don’t Have Time for One More Thing

I can easily be overwhelmed with homeschooling, working from home, mothering, homemaking, and ministering. There have been many times where I have lamented in tears, “I can’t get it all done. I can’t do this anymore.” Sometimes I just need a moment with God’s ear. I tell Him that I am overwhelmed and then He reassures me through His promises in His Word. Sometimes, He brings a solution to mind, and sometimes He brings help, and sometimes He just creates scenarios where He clears my calendar. He is a Good manager of my time when I offer it to Him.

You can require even the littlest ones to help you. Yes, it may be messier for awhile, but eventually they will grow up to be stress relievers instead of stress inducers. Employ your children to help you in your ministry or business. They will be learning more than books can teach them. A family working together is a powerful force. 

Some days will balance well as you work from home and the kids are sitting next to you or learning independently. And some you will feel like you have dropped so many balls, you feel more behind at the end of the day. But, having those children home with you is more rewarding than having a spotless house and a checked-off list (it’s a nice dream, though!) 

Purpose to seek God, especially when you feel you don’t have time for one more thing. He will be your strength in weakness, and in His wisdom, He will show you the most important tasks of the day, and will give your life back the balance it needs.

If you work and homeschool, you are going to face days that are off balance. Don’t let them deter your determination and conviction about homeschooling. 

~Deborah

Resources:
We have a three-part video series on Homeschooling and Rest and a six-part series on Communing with God in the Busyness of Life. Find them here:

The Old Schoolhouse ® Magazine – The Trade Magazine for Homeschooling Families

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5TWofhiBb0ly4dyMSQA9_T3gvNS3fcAW

(Copy this link to share this article with a friend.)

Experience Trevecca at preview days on November 15 or March 28. Discover a Christian university in the heart of Nashville! trevecca.edu/visit 

Stephanie Morrison

See Your Purpose of Working While Homeschooling

(Copy this link to share this article with a friend.)

About the author

Pursuing her calling to help parents enjoy the responsibility of educating their children, Steph works with select clients in the home education industry and helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses from home. She and her family are perfectly placed in the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada. She loves being a homebody and building up her permaculture property. Learn more about Steph at: www.CreatingWorkandPlay.com.

Kristen Heider

When the To-Do List Never Ends

Homeschooling while working—whether inside or outside the home—can feel like an impossible task. Yet with preparation and prayer, it is possible to thrive in both.

Preparation lays a solid foundation. Having books, supplies, and a general plan for the year makes the daily routine smoother. Still, no matter how well-prepared, you’ll need patience. Some days will run smoothly; others will leave you drained. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4).

Flexibility is essential. A lesson may take longer than expected, or a work deadline may shift your plans. Don’t be discouraged if schedules change. What matters most is consistency in moving forward. Assistance also makes a difference. Involve your husband, grandparents, or older children when possible. Homeschooling doesn’t have to rest on one person’s shoulders.

Prayer undergirds it all. Ask the Lord for wisdom and strength daily. “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3). When you lean on Him, He provides what you need to balance both roles.

As for the working side, it helps to choose employment that supports your family’s homeschooling vision. Be honest with your employer about your commitments while maintaining integrity in your work. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23).

Homeschooling and working may never feel easy, but with preparation, patience, flexibility, assistance, and prayer, it is possible to create a rhythm that allows both to flourish. Remember—you don’t carry these responsibilities alone. God equips you for what He has called you to do.

(Copy this link to share this article with a friend.)

About the author

Kristen is a housewife and mother to three, having worked at a national park site, a metropolitan zoo, and as a history teacher. Kristen blogs at A Mom’s Quest to Teach, where she relates her family’s learning experiences. Her site is a regular column, covering elements of teaching, crafting, and all the roller coaster rides that entail being a mom.

Sherri Seligson

Balance is Unrealistic—Go with the Flow

If you’ve ever seen a log rolling contest, you know that balance is something that takes intense exertion . . . and eventually everyone falls off the log. It’s the same way with balancing homeschooling and working. Something will slide if you try to balance it all. To make things sustainable, it needs to be more like riding in a boat on river rapids. You paddle as best as you can, but Jesus is the guide in the back of the boat steering you in the right direction.

Navigating work and homeschool first starts with relying on the Lord. Prayerfully consider the important, valuable things as you create your schedule. Look at the week as a whole and be creative. Every day doesn’t have to look identical. What are your goals for work? What are your goals for your homeschool? How can you meet those goals in a non-traditional way?

For work that requires your full attention, do this during nap/rest time, early morning or after dinner. Do as much work as you can alongside your children as they complete independent work.

For school, consolidate: many subjects can be done with all ages, adjusting assignments by ability. Have olders read to youngers or help them with spelling words and math facts. Set time to work with each child as best as you can; if not daily, then perhaps three days a week to give them assignments to do on the off days.

Reach out to other homeschoolers who work to get ideas about how they organize their days. But most importantly, ask the Lord for direction. Navigating work and homeschooling can be done, but it’s done well if you let Jesus do the steering.

(Copy this link to share this article with a friend.)

About the author

Sherri Seligson, M.Ed. is a 21-year veteran homeschool mom, marine biologist and author of Apologia’s science courses, instructional videos, and more. Sherri loves encouraging moms and teaching families the wonders of God’s creation. www.sherriseligson.com; Facebook: SherriSeligsonAuthor; Instagram: sherriseligson 

Growing Healthy in Third Grade on SchoolhouseTeachers.com is ideal for working families. These short, purposeful lessons on safety, hazards, and first aid fit neatly into a balanced homeschool rhythm as children learn how to respond to everyday situations they may encounter.