Homeschooling Chronicles: Tips For Sleep Deprived Days
- Jauné
- Mar 5
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 1
Balancing between fits of giggles and near-tears is my daily struggle when my kids decide to play hide-and-seek with the Sandman. Imagine my tired brain, which normally runs on 4 to 6 hours of sleep, now trying to function on even less! How do I handle this chaos while managing homeschooling all day?
First, I’ve adopted a preemptive strike: effective communication. I gather the troops and announce, 'Hey, fam, I'm running on fumes today. Interacting with me this morning might not be in your best interest! But if you must—which you little people will—you’re more likely to get the snappy, forgetful, and less-focused version of myself, mmm-kay?'
This works like magic for my eldest daughter—she gets it. The littles, though, couldn’t care less. I can practically hear their unspoken thoughts: 'Sounds like a you problem, Mom.'
As for my husband, who deals with the kids less than 30% of the school days, he has no clue why I’m the curmudgeon. So, as for the success of this method? Let’s just say my success rate drops faster than a lead balloon. Still, batting one out of four isn’t too shabby."
Secondly, I’ve learned to cut myself some slack. Homeschooling isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon (emphasis on 'marathon'). On days when my mind and my natural Type A personality can embrace this mindset, my mood shifts—it’s okay if I’m not Supermom today.
So, when sleep is elusive, I switch gears to what I call a 'flex day.' Instead of introducing new material, we reinforce what they’ve already learned. Sometimes that means worksheets; other times, I let their tablet take the wheel. Yes, you heard that right—my secret weapon is the tablet.
To be clear, they don’t just run off to some dark corner of the house and pretend they’re learning. We sit at the table together, and I run the show. The tablet becomes the honorary teacher, and I’m simply the assistant. No more stressing over the next assignment—I just roll with whatever the app throws at us. It’s like having a co-pilot in the cockpit while I catch a mental breather.
As for the apps that have become our saving grace:
Duo ABC – This app requires your child to record their reading, which is a big plus if you want them to work on pronunciation or increase their volume.
Reading Eggs – Great for overall math and reading skills, all wrapped in a fun interface.
IXL – I recommend this tool for testing your child’s abilities, as the curriculum is based on national standards. It’s not a game, but it’s a solid resource to gauge where they stand academically.
Splash Learn – This one is more fun for kids while still providing learning opportunities. It’s not necessarily an easy tool for picking up new skills, but with some extra parental support, it can be effective. Keep in mind, my opinion comes from working with autistic kids, and even then, results may vary.
I Know It – This is a new favorite of mine. It doesn’t feel as smooth or polished as IXL, but it does focus well on key SOL (Standards of Learning) concepts.
Remember to go easy on yourself during tough days—don’t make things harder than they already are. This isn’t our only responsibility; we took on this role out of necessity. In remembering that need, we have to pace ourselves and give ourselves grace. Ignore those who criticize—they’re probably not doing it themselves. And for those who offer shallow understanding or empathy, take their words with a grain of salt. We are amazing and however long we can do this role, we are amazing to be taking it on!
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