Are there any parents here that are homeschooling that are single parents? I just started homeschooling my daughter this school year due to some mental health issues and I was planning on doing it throughout high school. However, my husband filed for divorce last week. Which puts this in limbo.

I'm just curious how difficult it is to do as a single parent. I'm having trouble figuring out all the logistics.

While I am not a single parent, I do feel that you will be able to homeschool through highschool if your child is motivated and wants to be a self-directed learner.  I am so sorry for your recent troubles.  I hope that things will work out for you soon.  I have recently read a book called homeschooling our childern unschooling ourselves.  It would give you some ideas for your childs education.  Anything by David Albert would also be good.

I'm so sorry to hear about your difficulties.Ouch !  I will pray for you.

Here is a link to a board for solo homeschooling parents. They also have one for working parents that homeschool.

http://homeschoolchristian.com/forum/forums/forum-view.asp?fid=34

When I lived in Michigan, one of the moms at my homeschool co-op was a single mom.  She had pulled her son out of school because he was missing too much for medical reasons, and it was easier to keep him on track at home.  I don't remember how old he was, but I think he was about 13--old enough for her to leave him home alone for periods while she was at work.   I do remember that they were loving homeschooling.

If there are other homeschoolers in your community (or a homeschool co-op), don't be shy asking for help.  Lots of homeschool moms would be happy to help another one if they only knew what was needed.

Wish I could offer you more! 

Although I'm no longer homeschooling now...my son is grown...I was a single parent when I home schooled him from the middle of 6th grade through high school graduation.  It was a time when home schooling was not very accepted, and, in the county where I lived, there was no one else doing it.

My husband had died suddenly, and my son (the youngest), who already had issues with the public school and some teachers, went through some hard times with what the counselors called Separation Anxiety.  He was afraid that when he went to school, he'd come home to find me gone as well.  He refused to go any work for the teacehrs and eventually refused to even go to school.  Home school was our compromise.

It wasn't easy to do as I also had to get a part-time job after my husband's death, but it was the very best thing for my son.  The biggest issue was getting him to accept me as "teacher", not just "mom."  Discipling himself to make that transition was important, though.  And I tried to make lessons a part of our everyday lives, like math in the grocery stores, science when we walked in the woods, and so on.

I tried, at first, setting aside an hour for each subject each day, but we'd just get into something and the time would be up.  So, I switched to one subject each day; that gave us more time to fully explore things. I found lots of free places to go for field trips...museums, library events, craft shows, historical sites, anything that got us out and seeing and learning new things. Eventually, he had all the subjects he needed, passed the annual assessment tests, and I did up a diploma for him, which was valid because I was legally a school. He graduated at 16.

However, because, as I mentioned, home schooling was stil the red-headed stepchild back then, I also had him take his GED tests in case any college ever questioned the home school diploma.  He's now married and a new dad, he's got an associates degree (and worked for the NC Zoo in the education department), and intends to go on for his BA as soon as his wife finishes her MA next year.

A side benefit was that I had to work at keeping one step ahead in order to teach him, and I found I enjoyed learning.  I went on to get my BA in English when I turned 52 and then my MA in humanities at the age of 54, and I'm now a college professor!!

Thank you all for the information, suggestions, and sharing your stories. My daughter has enough social and emotional issues that the public school is not a good environment for her. Academically she is extremely intelligent, but socially and emotionally she can't seem to survive the public schools. The problem is, I would definitely need to get a part-time job and even though she is 15 she cannot be left home alone. She has ADHD, ODD, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression. Her issues are bad enough that we've had to have her in residential treatment in the past. So, it isn't a matter of me not being able to let go.

I just need to figure out a way to get some help from someone.

Thanks again for the posts!