You’ve probably thought: “Do people really homeschool and run a business full-time?” The answer is yes though it’s messy, imperfect, exhausting, and rewarding in ways you can’t always predict.
When I decided to homeschool my children while growing my own ventures, I knew the tradeoffs. I wanted the flexibility to travel, to prioritize our family’s rhythm, and to raise my kids outside the four walls of a classroom. But living it day to day has taught me so much about discipline, boundaries, and the meaning of freedom.
In this article, I’ll share:
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What a typical day looks like
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The biggest challenges (and how I survive them)
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Strategies that work (so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel)
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Mistakes I made (and what I’d change)
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Why, despite it all, I still choose this path
A Glimpse into Our Day: Business Calls + History Lessons
Some mornings, I wake up before dawn to write, prep lessons, or check emails while the house is silent. Then my kids wake, and the homeschool day begins math, reading, nature walks, music, history.
Sometimes I teach directly; sometimes I outsource online classes, tutors, video lectures. While they’re working independently, I step into my “work mode” client calls, marketing efforts, administrative tasks.
Afternoons might be a field trip to a museum in a new city. Or a hike through a forest if we’re traveling. Or virtual meetings from a café in a small town.
Evenings are often reserved for family, reflection, reading together. Then late at night, I might go back into work mode again submitting proposals, editing, planning.
It’s not rigid or perfect. Some days overlap. Some tasks spill. But having flexibility lets us turn a regular day into exploration, learning, and living.
The Hard Parts (Yes, There Are Many)
If homeschooling + entrepreneurship were easy, everyone would do it. Here are my biggest pain points so far:
1. Attention split
My mind is always juggling two worlds. One moment I’m explaining fractions, next I’m planning marketing strategy. It’s easy to feel fragmented.
2. Guilt & pressure
On days when business work steals focus from lessons, guilt creeps in. On days when kids need more attention, the business lags. The tension is constant.
3. Logistics while traveling
Finding reliable internet, managing time zones, packing materials, ensuring kids have what they need academically all while being mobile is a challenge.
4. Socialization & peer exposure
Kids miss out on daily interaction with classmates, sports teams, extracurriculars unless you plan it intentionally.
5. Burnout risk
Because you’re always “on,” boundaries blur. Overwork, exhaustion, and burnout are real threats unless you guard your mental health actively.
What Works My Strategies for Staying Sane and Effective
Over time, I’ve developed practices that help us hold balance. Below are the ones I lean on most.
Block scheduling + time batching
I divide the day into blocks: school time, business time, travel time, family time. I batch similar tasks (emails, content, admin) into concentrated windows. This helps me switch mental gears.
Hybrid curriculum + outsourcing
I don’t reinvent the wheel. We use a mix of:
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Online courses or video lectures
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Local tutors or co-op classes (especially for STEM, arts)
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Project-based learning (travel becomes the curriculum)
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Independent reading and self-guided work
This reduces my teaching burden and gives kids exposure to different instructors.
Theme days & mini-projects
Once a week we choose a theme “nature day,” “architecture,” “story writing,” “local history walk.” These give structure and break monotony.
We also pick mini-projects that align with business demands. For example:
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A child helps me with email marketing by researching newsletter content
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Another catalogs photos from our trip and draws maps
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A third helps with basic bookkeeping or data entry
They gain real skills, and I get help (even small).
Set hard boundaries & self-care
I schedule “white space” time when nothing else is allowed: reading, reflection, nature. I commit to sleep, movement, mental rest.
I explicitly decide not to do business work during certain blocks (meals, family time, morning lessons) else those times get eaten away.
Use travel as a classroom
One of the biggest benefits: travel is education. Museums, local cultures, language immersion, geography, history all become living lessons.
We extend trips intentionally, staying in one place longer so the kids can settle and learn. We make friends through local communities, co-ops, meetups.
Community & network support
I lean heavily on homeschooling networks: local groups, social media forums, regional co-ops. These give social outlets for kids and emotional support for me.
I also lean on professional networks fellow entrepreneurs who understand the tradeoffs and can cover when I need a breather.
Mistakes I’ve Made And What I’d Do Differently
No path is perfect. Here are missteps and regrets:
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Underestimating administrative load — homeschooling has record-keeping, curricula planning, scheduling that eats time. I wish I bought better tools earlier (apps, planners).
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Trying to replicate school culture — I once tried to mirror traditional school routines too strictly. It drained both me and the kids. Better is to lean into our style.
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Not batching early enough — I wasted mornings switching tasks. I should’ve embraced early batching when we first started.
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Failing to delegate — There were tasks (meal prep, cleaning, grading) I held onto too long. Getting help sooner would’ve freed mental space.
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Neglecting parent time off — I didn’t take breaks early enough, and I paid in burnout. I’d schedule rest days intentionally now.
Why I Do It (And Why It’s Still Worth It)
Despite the difficulties, here’s why I stand by this path:
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Freedom and flexibility — We can pause a trip, move our classroom, take cultural detours. Travel isn’t a side-guilt, it’s integrated.
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Deep family connection — I see my kids’ growth daily. I share their learning, joys, struggles.
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Personal alignment — It’s closer to my values: autonomy, experience, meaning over conformity.
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Learning by doing — My kids see entrepreneurship, risk, creativity firsthand, in ways no textbook can teach.
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Resilience & adaptability — For all of us, this approach cultivates flexibility, curiosity, and comfort with uncertainty.
Freedom Isn’t Easy But It’s Worth It
Homeschooling while running a business is a challenging act of balance. It’s often messy, unpredictable, and exhausting. But it also grants freedoms most people never taste: the ability to travel, learn deeply, adjust the pace, and live intentionally.
If you’re thinking of doing the same, know this: you won’t get it perfect. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll wobble. But periodic reflection, strong boundaries, community, and willingness to iterate can keep your compass north.
