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From the Editor: Trusting God as Provider for Our Lives
by Lisa A. Baker
The issue of providing for the family is one of the hugest hurdles to overcome when a homeschooling parent becomes single or when a single parent decides to homeschool.
When I became a single mom I wondered if I would have to give up homeschooling so that I could go back to work. It only took days for God to speak to my heart on the issue. You see, the work we undertake as believers is work we are called to do by God. He who has knit us together in secret has designed us for work that will bring Him glory by demonstrating His power. Often the work He calls us to is work much bigger than our abilities. That is certainly true of homeschooling while also serving as the tool of provision for your family. In those dark, confusing days after my husband left, God reminded me that He had called me to homeschool. That was the work He had called me to do. I submitted to Him and told Him (a little skeptically) that if He had called me to continue to homeschool, I would do so if He would provide for us.
Five years later, He is still providing for us, and I am still homeschooling. Every year in the spring I begin asking Him if we will do it again for another year, and every year so far He has clearly directed me. It seems our family is on the verge of changes this year. In past years we have cared for little ones in our home during the day as we have schooled. This year we have only one little girl a couple days a week, and it will not bring in enough to pay the bills. Oddly enough, this past weekend, the Lord seemed to be opening some doors to new things. While I don't know how that will turn out, I do know that God has surprised me in some of the ways He has provided, and I am actually a little eager to see where He is taking us.
Homeschooling and providing for your family ARE possible, because we serve a God with whom all things are possible. In this issue we will look at some of the unique ways that parents have chosen to work so they can school at home. As you read about all the possibilities, do so prayerfully and ask God what He would have you do. Remember that the people behind His provision are just the tools, even if that person is you. He is the provider--Jehovah Jireh. Trust Him with the direction.
Apples for the Teacher: Making Work and School Work
by Lisa A. Baker
I've often said to people that homeschooling as a single parent just requires enough creativity to earn income from home. Actually that's not completely true. Homeschooling as a single parent requires hard work--lots of hard work. There are no ideal homeschooling families, but when we visualize what the ideal family might look like, it is typically the picture of the father working to support the family while the mother stays home to care for the children. Of course, we all know that in real homeschooling families there are variations and many of them don't look like this ideal at all. As a single parent, though, the math just doesn't seem to add up. How can a person work enough to support her family and still have time to do the full-time job of educating her children as well?
Our culture follows a general assumption that if you work hard, you will earn money, and then you can have a nice life. There are rules established about how you follow these steps to reach these goals. For instance, to find a job you look through want ads, send out resumes, and go on interviews until you find the right one. Hopefully you will find a job that pays enough of a salary that you will be able to pay the mortgage and put food on the table, leaving a little left over for fun as well. The problem with this equation is that it often fails to include the God who created the work in the first place. As a single homeschool mom, one of the most discouraging things has been when people impose this model on me, pressuring me even subtly to put the kids in school and go back to work. I've even been "instructed" with 1 Thessalonians 3:10 where Paul admonishes the Christians in Thessalonica not to allow those who will not work to eat.
Indeed, work has been a part of God's plan for us since the beginning of creation. Adam and Eve were created to work; however, their fall into sin made work hard. Because of the fall, there is rarely an easy way to generate income. It is important to remember this when we are looking for work to do as single parents, or as we are working. When the days are tough and we feel tired, when the lesson plans seem to be falling apart, that's actually the norm. It's all hard because of sin. However, God created us for a purpose here on earth. The work He gives us, while hard, is designed to bring Him glory.
A huge part of the purpose and work He has already given us to do is the caring for and training of our children. Because He understands how monumental this priority task is, I believe that God longs to provide in unexpected ways for those of us who are trying to raise children alone. Yes, some of that provision might come from some form of employment, either as we work our own businesses or for someone else. But I also have lived watching for ways that God wants to provide for me without my own effort, and He has not disappointed me. In fact, His generosity often surprises me.
As you seek ways to earn income for your family's needs, don't succumb to the lie that you are not working if you aren't employed. Anyone who homeschools can testify to the work it takes just to do that. If you must work for extra income, find something that allows you to continue to fulfill your responsibilities to your children. Be careful not to rush ahead of God, following the model that men are created to earn money. Most of all, look for God to provide beyond your wildest expectations. He has promised to be a father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow. Trust Him to do what a father and husband would do.
Schoolhouse Store Spotlight: Summer Ideas
Be sure to check out the Summer Ideas category (right there on top) at The Schoolhouse Store for some great summer finds! We've got lots of great crafts, activity ideas, and games. We even have a Pirates and Charlotte's Web Project pack so you can learn along with the current movies. Check out these amazing old-fashioned Bubble Clocks and Coolers. They're sure to be a hit.
Remember, whatever you find, large or small, it always ships FREE from all of us at The Schoolhouse Store!
Parents Helping Parents: How Other Parents Work
by Lisa A. Baker
Here are some ideas that readers are sharing:
"I have a website ministry and would love if you could include it in your next issue about earning money and still homeschooling as a single parent. Using Internet income is my favorite way to earn and continue to homeschool because I'm at home anyway."
"My answer to prayer on this issue has been a home business sharing healthy living technologies. A desire of my heart with this is to help other moms to be enabled to be at home, and many have been able to do so with this company. Anyone who needs more income, whether part or full time, I want to invite to take a look at this business opportunity that has been changing our family's lives for the better!" -- Nola
"I homeschool my two teenagers, ages 15 and 18. To earn extra income, I am a home healthcare nurse at night, three times a week. Also, the three of us clean an office building three times a week and it is done together as a team. It's a great way to build that family bond and shows the kids that a family that works together ... stays together. My daughter bakes gourmet dog biscuits in her spare time and the local plant nursery sells them in their gift shop. The local vet puts them in her office, also. My son works three days a week at a fine food grocery store. Sometimes it just means a busier schedule for us all, but it is a great sense of accomplishment when we all have jobs and can help each other out. My son's job gives us a 10% discount on food, too. Used school books get sold online. I hope some of these ideas help other single parents make ends meet." -- Carol
Send other suggestions, comments, or questions to Lisa Baker at SingleParent@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.
Nuts and Bolts: Resources for Working from Home
by Lisa A. Baker
- Don't react hastily. I purposed in my heart not to make moves unless I was sure it was what God was leading me to do. He has not failed me yet, and He has always made His plan clear. Also I have seen numerous occasions where a hasty reaction to an opportunity proved to be a costly mistake.
- Pray for ideas. Search out God's plan for your work and He will bless it. Watch for answers to your prayers, but watch carefully, because sometimes they are not what we expect.
- Look for opportunities to minister. Much of my work from home has also had a ministry aspect to it. Often God keeps us home so we can serve others from home in ways we couldn't if we were in an office all day. Childcare, sitting with an elderly person, housecleaning, working at a church, and tutoring can all be ways to blend work with ministry.
- Use what you know. Explore opportunities in the areas you are gifted or interested in. Use the opportunity to work to further the things you are passionate about.
- Network. Ask other people for suggestions. Often other people are looking for someone to hire to work for them or have ideas you haven't even considered.
- Research your business ideas. Include interviews or short-term apprenticing if possible with someone already working in that field, even if your niche is a little different.
- Understand the costs, the time demands, the market, and so on. Know what you're getting yourself into.
- Consider the unusual. Find a unique niche in the area in which you are interested.
- Study business. Read about running your own business or working from home. Get all the information you can.
- Get counsel from people who know you. Ask them to advise you on strengths and weaknesses that will affect you choice of work.
- Shop around for assistance. Are there grants, loans, individuals, or free or discounted education to help you get started? Again, be cautious so you don't end up in debt over a business that's not making money, but research your possibilities.
- Avoid going into long-term debt. Trust that if God wants you to start a business that requires capital, He will provide the needed start-up money.
- Look for ways to work as a family. Family businesses are educational by nature. Give your kids a vision of teamwork in the venture, both in working the business and in working around the house to enable you to have time for earning income.
- Avoid things that seem too easy. Be wary of offers that sound too good to really be profitable.
- Prepare yourself and your home. Setting your home in order, training your children to carry on the work of the house, and developing a routine that allows hours for work can all help with the transition once you find employment.
- Expect work to be work. You usually can't work a few hours a day and make full-time money.
- If you run your own business, have business cards! Word of mouth can bring in business, but having a card for friends and customers to pass on will spread it faster.
- Seek out help for your weaker areas. Find someone to help with the financial end or with marketing. Barter or trade for services.
- Resist the temptation to neglect your family and other commitments in order to start your business or keep it running. Trust God to meet your needs. Do what you can, and then be still for a while.
- Be willing to lean on someone else. Share a home or resources with another single parent. Work together with someone to create a successful business.
- Give back to God from what He gives to you. I have watched children without pay, used hard-earned money to support other causes, and rearranged my work to take "time off" so I could occasionally serve others. I believe it all belongs to Him--my time, my resources, my abilities--so I cannot go wrong in generously giving of what I have.
Some of the following resources can help you explore ideas for working from home:
Home Based Christian Single Parents: an online resource to help single parents through issues of homeschooling solo, including tips and suggestions on finding work from home.
Working & Single Parents - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling: This site has many links to articles and ideas for working from home. Be cautious though. I've not investigated every link.
Information in a Nutshell: Writing and Publishing, by Felice Gerwitz, is a new book to help aspiring writers and editors get started quickly in their field. You can order it from the author.
"How to Get Started as a Freelance Writer" is an article by Mary Jo Tate at her blog dedicated to sharing tips for writing as a career.
Making money by writing is harder when you write books than it is writing for magazines. Kym Wright has a course to teach all you need to know to write for magazines at www.kymwright.com.
Ideas for working from home--an ongoing list of ideas of businesses you can work from home. Visit www.HomeschoolBlogger.com/cmphotomommy.
For article submissions, questions, suggestions, or comments please send them to
Lisa Baker at SingleParent@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.
©2007 A division of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.
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