Balancing Work and Homeschool

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Real Schedules from Working Moms

By Tricia Goyer

The alarm goes off at 6:00 AM. Before your feet hit the floor, your mind is already racing: Did I answer that client email? Do we have ingredients for lunch? Did the third-grader actually finish his math yesterday, or did he just hide the book under the couch?

If you are trying to juggle a job and homeschooling, you know the unique tension of living in two worlds at once. You feel like you have to be the perfect employee and the perfect teacher, and most days, you feel like you are failing at both. I have been there. In fact, I’m still there.

A Story from the Homeschool Trenches

I remember past years of my writing career. I had a deadline looming for a new book, a toddler who needed a nap, and older kids who needed algebra help. I felt guilty when I was writing because I wasn’t teaching, and I felt guilty when I was teaching because I wasn’t writing.

One afternoon, I looked around my living room. It was a disaster. My kids were building a fort out of sofa cushions, and I was frantically typing on my laptop in the corner, trying to block out the noise.

I whispered a prayer that I think many of you have prayed: “Lord, am I cheating my kids?”

It was then that I realized something that changed everything: My children don’t need a mom who does everything perfectly. They need a mom who models how to work hard and love well.

As I shared in my book Balanced, “I’d look around and see my friends pouring 100% of their lives into their kids. I felt I was giving my kids the short end of the stick. Instead of sitting outside working on nature journals, my kids were with me… folding baby clothes or babysitting at the crisis pregnancy center that I helped to start. Instead of taking art classes at the museum, my kids were reading or building Lego forts while I worked at my computer.”

But you know what? They learned many things. 

• They learned independence. 
• They learned that work is a part of life, not something to run from. 
• They learned how to care for and serve others.
• They learned how to pursue their gifts and talents.
• They learned that their mom was pursuing a mission bigger than a comfortable life.

And today, as I see most of my kids grown and pursuing their own callings, I know that those “imperfect” years were actually training grounds for their future.

The Myth of “Balance”

The word “balance” implies a static state—like a scale that never moves. But real life is more like riding a bike; you have to keep moving to stay upright.

My Tip: Stop trying to give 100% to everything every day. It’s impossible. Instead, think in “seasons” or “windows.”

• Morning Window: 100% Focus on School. (Phone is away, email is closed).
• Afternoon Window: 100% Focus on Work. (Kids have “Quiet Time” or independent work).

A Sample Schedule for the Working Homeschool Mom

This is a realistic look at how you can structure a day without losing your mind. This schedule assumes a “work-from-home” scenario, but it can be adapted.

Set Up a Simple Homeschool Routine

You are not alone in this. Most seasoned homeschool moms agree that the “public school model” (6-8 hours a day) is not necessary for homeschoolers, which is the working mom’s secret weapon.

You don’t need to run such a tight ship that everything is scheduled every fifteen minutes, but you do need to set up and follow a routine. Nothing good ever happens by accident… Do not think you need to be in school for 6-8 hours a day. 1-2 hours for kindergarten to second grade and 3-4 hours for the other grades is plenty.

3 Tips to Make This Work Today

1. Use “Anchor Points”: Anchor your day around meals. Breakfast starts the school day. Lunch starts the work block. Dinner ends the workday.
2. Teach Independence Early: Even a 5-year-old can listen to an audiobook for 20 minutes while you take a call. Train them not interrupt unless there is blood or fire!
3. Ditch the Guilt: If you have to use a screen for an hour to meet a deadline, it is okay. Educational apps (like Khan Academy or PBS Kids) are tools, not enemies. 

You are doing a hard thing, but you are doing a good thing. You are showing your children that it is possible to pursue a passion and prioritize family. And that is a lesson no textbook can teach.

A Prayer for the Working Homeschool Mom

Dear Lord, I come to You today with a heart that feels divided. My mind is full of deadlines and emails, while my heart is pulled toward my children and their needs. I confess that I often feel like I am failing at both. I feel the weight of “not enough”—not enough time, not enough patience, not enough of me to go around.

Lord, I surrender my schedule to You. You are the God who exists outside of time, yet You have placed me specifically in this time, with these children, and this work. I trust that You do not call me to a task without giving me the grace to sustain it.

For my work: Please give me focus and clarity. Multiply my efforts. Let me be efficient in the hours I have, so that I can close the laptop with a peaceful heart. Thank You for the provision this job brings to our family. Help me to see my job not as a hindrance to my homeschooling, but as a way to model stewardship and diligence to my children.

For my homeschool: Help me to prioritize connection over perfection. When I am stressed about a deadline, grant me a gentle spirit with my children. Remind me that they are more important than my inbox. If the house is messy or the lessons aren’t perfect today, help me to accept Your grace and let it go.

For my heart: Quiet the voice of guilt that tells me I should be doing more. Silence the lies of comparison that tell me I am damaging my kids. Remind me that You love my children infinitely more than I do, and You are teaching them things through this lifestyle—independence, resilience, and teamwork—that a textbook never could. When I am weary, be my strength. When I am overwhelmed, be my peace.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"Establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:17)

Moving from “Knowing” to “Living”

We talk so much about the importance of story—understanding where we come from and where we are going. But when it comes to God’s Word, the most important part of the story is how it changes us right now, today.

I’ve found that there is often a big gap between knowing what Scripture says and actually living it out in our daily chaos—whether that’s in our parenting, our marriages, or our work.

That is why I love the Life Application Study Bible.

Unlike traditional study Bibles that focus heavily on history or geography (which are great!), this Bible is specifically designed for heart transformation. It doesn’t just fill your head with facts; it connects the dots to your daily life.

How it works:

The magic is in the notes. There are over 10,000 of them, and they take you on a 3-step journey:

1. Look Back: Understanding the verse in its original context.
2. Bridge the Gap: Seeing what it means for us today.
3. Take Action: Practical ways to apply that truth right now.

For the Whole Family

Since we are all about creating a culture of faith in our homes, I love that there is an edition for every age. From the Boys and Girls editions that help preteens ask “Is this okay?” to the Student and Teen editions that tackle real-life issues, and even a Chronological edition for those who (like me!) love to see history unfold in order.

If you are looking to “Focus Forward” this year—not just in reading words, but in letting those words rewrite your life—I highly recommend picking this up. Grab your copy here!