Homeschooling While Working Full-Time: How We Make It Work
How do we work full-time and homeschool?
One of the most common questions I get when I mention we homeschool is: “Wait… both of you work full-time? How does that even work?” And usually I encounter all kinds of misconceptions that are holding families back from giving it a try.
But truly, it’s a great question—and one that requires way more than the casual answer most people want to hear. So, let me break it down, because if you’re considering this path, I hope our experience helps you see what’s possible for your homeschool. First, we really need to change our mindsets on what homeschool needed to look like, it was not just school at home. In homeschool, you do not need to educate your child for 7 hours a day, during the working day Monday-Friday. We found that four days of school for about an hour a day, Thursday through Sunday worked best for us as Monday and Tuesday were busy work days for us. If you would like to know more about finding and setting up your rhythms and schedule check out this blog post.
Here are the three things we keep front and center that enable us to homeschool:
Intentional planning. As you’ll see below we very carefully structure our day to accommodate our family needs and work needs. We invested a lot of thought into which educational approach to take, on which days and during which times of the day. This upfront work has been a tremendous help to us.
Flexibility. I don’t know about your job and family, but here things rarely stay exactly as we plan them. So staying flexible while trying to hold the kids routine as much as possible is paramount.
Teamwork. My husband and I cover for each other. We both know the schedule inside out (thank you technology) and can step in for the other at a moments notice when a meeting randomly pops up 6 minutes before we need to get the kids onto the next activity. The kids are also part of the team. We need help from them in keeping things running smoothly, and surprisingly they take a lot of pride in being helpful.
First, Our Privilege
Before I dive in, I want to acknowledge upfront that our setup isn’t possible for everyone. Two things make it significantly more manageable for us:
We both work from home. This gives us the flexibility to shift schedules and be present when needed.
We have an incredible homeschool community. In fact, this was a huge factor in why we uprooted our family and moved last year. The support and connection we have here make a world of difference.
Our Daily Homeschool + Work Rhythm
One of the best parts of homeschooling? Total Time Flexibility! Unless you were homeschooled, you have probably never experienced this and let me tell you it is a game changer. How this shows up in our family most prominently is our mornings are no longer rushed and stressful. Since we’re not bound by school start times, our kids get the rest they need, and we structure our days in a way that works best for our family - and we have way less meltdowns now.
Mornings: Focused work for parents, Co-Op for kids
☀️ Early Work Hours (5:30 AM - 8:30 AM):
We both wake up before the kids and knock out some work for the day. We also use this quiet time to align on our schedules for the day— and where we might need to adjust.
🥞 Breakfast & Family Connection (8:30 AM - 9:30 AM):
My husband makes breakfast while the girls get ready. We eat together, snuggle on the couch, and read a book before starting the day.
🏫 Co-Op & Forest School (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM):
Monday, Wednesday, Friday → Our kids attend a homeschool co-op until noon. Tuesday → They spend a full day at a forest school, which allows us to fully focus on work.
Afternoons: Independent Learning & Work Catch-Up
🥪 Lunch & Quiet Time (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM):
Lunch is casual—usually eaten at the breakfast bar with music playing. The girls like this quiet reset after their busy co-op mornings.
📚 Reading and Game Time (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM):
After they get some time to decompress and get food in their bellies we find our girls are really looking for some family connection time so we make sure to put phones down and prioritize them for a bit. Usually this is with books and silly games, outside as often as possible.
💻 Independent Time+ Nap (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM):
Our toddler naps while I catch up on emails and handle anything urgent for work. Our 6-year-old works on her independent learning basket (simple, engaging activities she can do solo). She also completes small chores: making her bed, putting away laundry, tidying up the playroom, and of course - playing!
Evenings: Dedicated Homeschooling & Family Time
🌿 Outdoor Play & Work Calls (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM):
The girls play outside and have a snack and we rotate who is working or watching based on how busy we were that day. We found we can’t dive into lessons without spending some time reconnecting after independent time. Sometimes, this is our baking or gardening time. Sometimes it’s extended family time if we will not be homeschooling after.
🏡 Homeschool Block (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM):
Yes, we do our core homeschooling in the late afternoon! We homeschool Thursday through Sunday, which gives us the flexibility we need during the workweek.
🎭 Extracurriculars & Family Fun (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM):
Both girls do dance and gymnastics. Our 6-year-old also does fencing and cello. If there are no activities, we spend this time doing crafts, playing games, or reading together. And of course eating dinner. We involve both children in the prepping and clean-up of dinner.
🌙 Unstructured Play & Wind Down (7:00 PM - 7:45 PM):
The girls get free play time before bed—sometimes it turns into family playtime, but often, it’s just magical to watch them together. We always read again before bed, both girls get to pick their own book that want read to them and I have one chapter book we are reading together related to our studies. We cuddle together in the big bed for this and it is the perfect ending to our day.
The Planning That Makes It Possible
To make this work, we have a huge family spreadsheet that maps out every responsibility—who’s working, who’s homeschooling, who’s doing pickup, and when we need to shift things around.
Some days are really tough. But most days? They’re incredible. Honestly, our time learning together is one of the best parts of our day—something we genuinely look forward to. Yes, some days I log in to work on the weekends. Yes, sometimes we do homeschool on Sundays if we’ve had a busy week. But the trade-offs are worth it. One of the biggest mindset shifts we had to make was that homeschooling while working full-time isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention, flexibility, and making the most of the time we have together and recognizing that the “most” will look different from day to day.
If you’re thinking about homeschooling while working full-time, I hope this gives you a glimpse of what’s possible. You don’t have to do it like we do—but you can make it work in a way that fits your family.