Hey , hey , mamas , welcome back to Conquering Chaos A Mom's Guide to Self-Care Insanity . I'm your host , sydney Crow , and today we have Charlotte Jones . Charlotte Jones lives in sunny South Africa next to the ocean , with her husband , neurodivergent twin boys and two mini dachshunds . She's been a working homeschool mom since 2017 and absolutely loves it . As a coach . And the creator of my Little Homeschool and the Strike a Balance podcast for working homeschool moms , she helps new working homeschool moms figure out the messy beginning so that they can take their first steps to feeling confident and supported . Welcome , charlotte .
Speaker 2Thank you so much . It's wonderful to be here today .
Speaker 1I'm really excited for this podcast . So you are my second homeschooling coach mom that I've had on the podcast and I'm just so intrigued by this because homeschooling for me always feels like this kind of unattainable goal . Both my kids love the socialization . I love the break that I get . I always find that summer is our hardest season of life , when we are not in routine and not in schedule . But the idea of being able to travel and have that freedom and independence is like this maybe one day goal I have out there . So I'm sure you are going to have loads of information for me and anybody else that is considering this . So why don't you just take over and tell the listeners kind of who you are and what you're all about ?
Speaker 2Sure . So , as you said in the bio , I am a coach and I'm specifically for working homeschool moms , which is quite a kind of different thing , and let me tell you a little bit why that is . So when I started out in 2017 , I would go onto social media and I would see all you know homeschool moms with these , you know wonderful lessons and outside all the time , and I was like my homeschool doesn't look like that at all , because when you have to work and homeschool , it's a whole different ball game . And , that being said , so many women are work . You know who are homeschooling or considering homeschooling have to work as well . So that's why I was like you know what I want people to feel , like you know that they are seen and that they can manage to do all these things to work and to homeschool at the same time .
Speaker 2And , yes , it is definitely intimidating at the beginning . I totally get that because it is a lot to take on . So if you're a working mom and you're like , okay , I'm going to add on this extra , like really , really huge thing into my day , a lot of moms are like , oh , I'm not sure if I can do that , but it is definitely possible . It's definitely possible , it's definitely attainable and I would love for you to know , like as somebody who may be considered it in the future what is like the thing that's really intimidating you . I think that would be a good starting point that I could kind of address that particular doubt .
Speaker 1Yeah , I mean I think you kind of hit the nail on the head there . It's the time right the six to seven , sometimes eight hours that my kids are away . I get so much done and then I feel like I have more time to be with them when they are here and so it's trying to figure out , like how do I fit in their homeschooling lessons and still have the , maybe the mental break that I need be able to get to the gym , do all the things that I do when they're at school and I'm able to work kind of around that and not find myself kind of working until midnight every single night while they're sleeping .
Speaker 2Yes . So all those are really really very valid doubts and I totally get why that could potentially put you off , but there are some ways to overcome that . So I think , first of all , I know you talk a lot about mindset as well , so I think the mindset has to be right before you go into something like this . Homeschooling has to be a priority for you , because you're always going to find time for the things that are important to you and obviously you find the energy for things that are important to you and so like for us .
Speaker 2We started homeschooling because my kids had a really , really traumatic time at school . So you know , that's always been my why I'm like you know their neurodivergence . They were bullied and I was like , no , I don't want this . So that's really given me a lot of motivation . So I think motivation is definitely one of the really like key elements of being able to fit it all in Okay . So that's kind of the mindset part , key elements of being able to fit it all in Okay . So that's kind of the mindset part . And then , practically , so I think something that is that people don't realize maybe if they haven't homeschooled , is actually the amount of time that you need to homeschool . So obviously you send your kids to school for eight hours . So you kind of , and maybe you went to public school and you're like , okay , so eight hours is like a homeschooling day , six hours is a homeschooling day , but the actual book learning , where you have to be like super , super present , is only , it's like a maximum of two hours for , like , grades nine to 12 .
Speaker 2If your kid is small , it's like 30 minutes a day . So the book learning aspect , you don't need to spend so much time with them and I think that's quite a like an aha moment for a lot of moms because they're like , okay , I can manage two hours a day , but if I have to think of managing like working for eight hours a day , sleeping for eight hours a day and then homeschooling for eight hours a day , I mean the maths just doesn't work yeah , absolutely anything else .
Speaker 2So that's the one thing , and then also , I think , the idea of so you've got the motivation , you don't need to homeschool that much . Then it's also kind of unlearning all the things you know about education . So we know that it , or we feel that education should happen . It's at certain times , like , let's say eight until three , like let's say eight until three , but you could I mean there's so much flexibility that you could be homeschooling , you know , at weekends or early in the morning , or if you work shifts , you know in the day or at night , and things like that . So I think it's just being open to all the possibilities and kind of unlearning all those things that you thought were education . So we call that de-schooling and that's a really , really important part of kind of starting your homeschooling life .
Speaker 1Absolutely . I mean , especially because I was raised in like a specific system and my kids are in that system , and so I love that you do , you learn and and really just kind of break that down , because it is kind of like old habits die hard , right , and so having to break those and relearn a whole new system , I think that that's absolutely amazing , and the time is so small compared to what I thought it was , so that's really good . Another thing that kind of holds me back is the fact that I do have a neurodivergent daughter and I and both my daughters actually have modified learning plans , and so , being a neurodivergent mother yourself , how does that play into homeschooling ?
Speaker 2Yes , that is . I know it can add an extra , extra layer of intimidation . I totally get that . But so I guess it kind of goes to the school system In South Africa . The school system is not set up for neurodivergent kids , so it was kind of the only option we had . But I don't think it's just us . I mean , I know many people in the US as well have a very similar experience where , like , the schooling system just wasn't able to accommodate their child . You know , it just depends specifically where you are in the country . It's much like here where you are , you know what school , how much you can afford , all those kind of things . So homeschooling was a really , really , really good solution for us . Schooling was a really , really , really good solution for us and my kids have thrived because they the school situation was just too much .
Speaker 1There was too much noise , exactly , totally overwhelming .
Speaker 2You know they had to . You know you have to tick all the boxes and meet all these milestones and if you don't , you know there's something wrong with your child . They get othered and things like that . But we can offer them like support and education and in a way that suits their learning style . And yeah , so that's . It's really really worked out very well for us , and I know many , many people with neurodivergent kids to have very similar stories as well .
Speaker 1Okay , and do you have specific programs or resources so that we , like , as a non-teacher , figuring out what systems work ? I feel like would be a lot of trial and error . Do you find that that's your experience ?
Speaker 2Absolutely .
Speaker 2And I think you need to be open to that trial and error , though , as well . And , like I said , you know you're unlearning all those kinds of things maybe kids use like workbooks or whatever , but the thing is , nowadays there are so many options out there it's almost like it's like too many options . Okay , so it's like it's a really good time to homeschool , because there are just so many things out there to help like , and if you can kind of de-school yourself of what education should look like , then you can start creating this learning environment that's really going to work for your child . That's going to work for you as a working mom , as a busy mom , as a mom who needs time as well . So , yes , it could be online . We only do online books .
Speaker 2I don't know there are co-ops . There are . You know you could have a tutor . There are so many options out there . I think , yes , trial and error , and you have to be open to that trial and error as well , because it can take some time to figure out what works . But once you do and once you test , if you're open to testing and tweaking , you can really create something like amazing for your child . That's really , really going to help them to thrive . That's going to suit them , that it's , you know . That's just going to give them everything they need in terms of education .
Speaker 1I love that so much . Yeah , I mean , you've definitely given me a lot to think about . So when you're working with moms and kind of getting these programs started , what does that look like for you ?
Speaker 2well . So I think the important thing is it's like so I , I do a kind of one-on-one and I think the important thing is that everybody's situation is like really , really unique . So you need to kind of get into that aspect of coaching . I think it's really because , you know , it's like a working mom who's homeschooling , it's a homeschooling mom who wants to start working . It's , you know , somebody whose situation has changed . It's somebody who has little kids , somebody who has , you know , high school kids , which is a whole another ball game as well . So there's just
so many things . I think it's really important to get into the unique kind of story of each working homeschool mom and then to just give her the tools to feel confidence . And a lot of it is mindset stuff , like , and , like I said , I know you , you work a lot with my mindset is such a huge part of of doing something which is , I guess , in theory , quite unusual or maybe quite strange , you know out of the box .
Speaker 2Yeah , exactly overcome societal , societal expectations , overcome expectations from your family , unlearn all the things that you think education should be , and then just like being brave enough to take that step , accepting if you mess up because it's going to be messy . That's why I talk about , like the messy beginning it can be so messy everything you know , to forgive yourself , to learn , to have a growth mindset , to be open to , like you know , just learning and learning and self-development and yeah , so I mean that's all those kinds of tools I think are so important when you know , when you're trying to help a mom take that first step so she can feel confident , so she can feel supported .
Speaker 1Yeah , absolutely so . In terms of like geography , you and I probably couldn't live further apart from one another . Does that play into your ability to coach women , or do you help them like anybody all over the world ?
Speaker 2everybody all over the world because I think the the doubts okay . So obviously everybody has a very unique situation , but the doubts are very similar . People are like I can't do it , I don't't have time . You know , my partner says no , society says this is the wrong way to do it . You know , I doubt that I'm able to . For example , you know , homeschool are motivated . If it's something that you really really really want to do , that you can do it . And here are some tools to figure out the time to . You know , to work on your mindset , to overcome those doubts and things like that .
Speaker 1I love that . And so when you get started with women , what like ? How long are you working with them ?
Speaker 2Well , it really depends . It really depends because I think it's . It really is like I don't have a set program . I'm so flexible because I think , like I said , everything everybody's has a very unique situation . Sometimes somebody will just be like , hey , I just want half an hour to like talk this out . You know , and I mean sometimes that's all somebody needs . I'm like , you know , take , I think you've got this all to take a leap of faith . But sometimes you will need a bit more support , you know , because things often change . You know the first , like it's the first , let's say , zero to three years , can be really tough . So during that time , you know the beginning is tough , and then maybe those three years can also be , as you're still trying to find your groove and things like that , and it can get frustrating , like why is this not working yet ? You know it's a , yeah , it's a , it's a process , definitely , and women need support along that journey . Amazing .
Speaker 1Yeah , I mean , I think that that's really wonderful and , like most things in life , there isn't a one size fits all , so it's great that you can accommodate that and work with people all over the world , so I think that's really cool . You get a really big insight as to the different school systems and what those kind of geographical maybe setbacks or hold downs are , so I think that's really cool . If you had one piece of advice for the moms out there that are either in homeschooling or considering homeschooling , what would that be ?
Speaker 2well , I would say , if you okay , I have quite a few , let me just okay .
Speaker 1Yeah , I mean feel free to share a few yeah , sure , okay .
Speaker 2So I think the important , the one of the most important things , is to be really really open , and it can be hard . I mean it's easy to say you know , be like open to everything you know , unlearn everything you ever knew about school . It can be hard , but it is such a vital part to having a successful homeschool because it means that you can do things that seem unusual or strange to you but that really really work for your child and that really mean that you can , for example , work and homeschool at the same time , that you can fit homeschooling in your life . So be really , really open . And then I think , like tons and tons and tons of self-acceptance . Self-love is also important , because it can be hard , it can be tough and you're going to mess up sometimes , but you know you are doing an amazing job if you've decided to do this and you have to give yourself some grace definitely .
I mean it's definitely important when the when the world kind of shut down and we got a little taste of homeschooling and I had to wear those teacher hats . I know it's very , very different and I you know , when you're trying to follow somebody else's curriculum and their lesson plans and you're wearing a parent hat and a teacher hat at the same time . So I get that it was very different . But I feel like that definitely played into a lot more of my hesitation because I was like I don't want my kids yelling at me over school stuff when I'm not technically their teacher . So I think a lot of grace and just self-love is a very important tip . So thank you so much for being here , charlotte . I really appreciated getting to know you and hearing your insights in this , because it definitely is on my radar for sure . So thank you guys for tuning into today's episode where we help you conquer the chaos one day at a time .