J. Michael Smith, Esq.
President

Michael Farris:
The number one desire of nearly all homeschooling moms is to have a husband that is highly involved in family life. Gentlemen, it does not matter to your wife how you help her relieve her load, so long as you do so.

A homeschooling mom has two major areas of responsibility: caring for a home and teaching academics to her children. Her husband can help in either area.

A husband can do the laundry, go grocery shopping, or cook a couple of dinners a week. Or a husband can help his wife with academics by giving spelling tests or grading a few assignments.

One of the most important things that a dad can do is to ensure that his wife gets a regular break in her schedule. My wife, Vickie, has gone for a walk virtually every day of our marriage. Before our older kids could babysit, it was my responsibility to watch the kids while Vickie went for a walk. That mental and physical break has been a tremendous part of her success as a homeschooling mom. Dads, provide babysitting assistance so that your wife can take the breaks she has more than earned.

One gadget that is a must for homeschooling families is the plain old answering machine. Buy one for your wife and encourage her to use it to minimize interruptions during the school day.

Finally, don't forget to verbally encourage your wife on a regular basis. I'll guarantee she'll like that.

I'm Michael Farris.