Linsey Knerl - Homeschool Hacks: How to Give Your Kid a Great Education Without Losing Your Job (or Your Mind)

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Copyright 2021 by Linsey Knerl

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First Tiller Press trade paperback edition April 2021

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Interior design by Laura Levatino

Cover design by Patrick Sullivan

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Knerl, Linsey, author.Title: Homeschool hacks : how to give your kid a great education without losing your job (or your mind) / by Linsey Knerl.

Description: First Tiller Press trade paperback edition. | New York : Tiller Press, 2021. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020056601 (print) | LCCN 2020056602 (ebook) | ISBN 9781982171155 (paperback) | ISBN 9781982171186 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Home schoolingUnited States.

Classification: LCC LC40 .K59 2021 (print) | LCC LC40 (ebook) | DDC 371.04/2dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020056601

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020056602

ISBN 978-1-9821-7115-5

ISBN 978-1-9821-7118-6 (ebook)

For Sam, and the eighteen years of bedtime stories you never once complained about reading

I f youve picked up this book (or maybe received it as a gift), youre already homeschoolingor at least strongly considering it. Maybe, like so many parents who found their educational support system crumbling during COVID-19, you had previously assumed home education wasnt for you, especially if you were happy with your school. Or maybe its been percolating for a whilean issue with bullying, lack of personalized special ed resources, or a general feeling that theres something better out there.

However you came here, Im glad. This book was written to welcome all homeschoolers and those who want to know how to support their homeschooling friends and family. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly brought new attention to a method of learning that had already been growing in popularity. The observations and advice in this book can be applied by both those who are brand-new to homeschooling and those who have been doing it for years. These tips will work for lifers (those who plan on taking it from K12) as well as those just trying to get through the semester. And I hope they can also help explain why homeschooling works, so you can share them with grandparents or family members who want to play an active role in helping your children succeed but arent really sure how.

Why me for this book? Ive been homeschooling for well over fifteen years. In fact, its the only way my kids have been educated. In 2007, I began writing. It started as a hobby, then became a side gig, and finally blossomed into a full-time career. Just a couple of years later, my husbands career was a casualty of the recession, and we decided to put all our energy into establishing our homestead and growing my business. And its a good thing we did, too. While its had its ups and downs, the writing business has not only supported our six kids but given us the opportunity to watch them grow up close.

Has it been easy? Absolutely not. In fact, I never try to sell homeschooling as the easy choice. Like most of the decisions weve made based on our values or our goals for our family, its been very hard at times. Homeschooling while running a business has sometimes made me feel like Im not doing either one particularly well. On my worst days, I worry that Im not spending enough time working with the kids. I also see how some of my peers are making more money than I am because they can spend all day writing books or selling pitches or producing podcasts. Its so hard not to compare ourselves to others; its a natural human response to any challenging scenario.

So what drives us to keep at it, even though its a difficult balance? While I cant always say that my business is better off for our homeschooling, I can say that our homeschool days (and my kids in general) are better off because of our business. Here are just a few of the highlights:

• My daughter, infant son, and I got to explore New York City as part of a media tour. We experienced the parks, museums, and food while I built industry relationships. (This daughter will be graduating college with a degree in media studies soon.)
• My son celebrated his sixteenth birthday on a plane en route to a conference where I was speaking in Washington, DC. We saw the National Archives up close before visiting our state senators office and finished with a tour of the Justice Department. (This son is finishing high school with a desire to learn more about law.)
• Our entire family drove to North Dakota for a workshop I taught, stopping along the way for picnics in small parks, views of buffalo, and incredible photo opportunities of the Badlands. (Is there anything better for a lesson in geology than seeing these majestic rock structures in person?)

Over the years, Ive spoken at dozens of events. Ive covered hundreds of news stories. Ive shared thousands of product reviews in my blog posts. And Ive had my kids with me every step of the way. I nursed babies in the back of board meetings and taught lesson plans in car rentals and took my older kids to catered dinners while teaching them how to behave around tiny food plates. All these life lessons couldnt have happened if we didnt have the business, and if my husband and I werent determined to use it to help them see more of the world.

Weve always done our best to show our kids how hard work and an honest business can present new and exciting opportunities. Theyve also seen how times can be tough when youre self-employed. They know about taxes and working on weekends and that Mom and Dad are the ones who pay for the M&Ms in the hotel mini bar (so dont touch!). They see the fruits of our labor every day, from when Im working on deadline with an article at 2 a.m. to when my husband lugs home the groceries and lumber for a DIY project at the end of every week. Theyve watched me cry while recovering from my sixth cesarean section while working up the energy to call a source about an upcoming story and helped Dad create amazing soups and sauces in our kitchen to keep me nourished. They see the delicate ecosystem that business owners like us maintain every day. Its been amazing.

Whether you read the book straight through or start with the chapters that speak directly to your current situation, I encourage you to give every section a try at some point. Ive done my best to share universally applicable truths so that single parents can find common ground with married couples and civilians can find inspiration from those serving our country, for example.