I started a basketball club for my son right before he turned 13. I was 9 months pregnant at the time, and stressed out. I wasn’t able to get more than a handful of boys to participate, 3 of them from the same family, and the baby was born the week after we started the club!

All of the basketball club mothers were so sweet about carpooling, and very grateful that we held the club. They all had at least 4 children, and understood the whole new baby thing. I still dragged myself out to the club as soon after the birth as possible. It may have been as soon as 1 week, knowing me.

One of the mothers had 7 children, including 2 sets of twins. She remembered her twin newborn days, when she couldn’t leave the house for just about a year. She didn’t know how I was running around so soon after delivering.

I find fresh air helpful in postpartum. I feel so grubby and sub-human staying in the house all the time. I do think I should have given myself more time to rest. It was hard trying to be all things to all the children during that time.

Last summer, I called the basketball club mother of 7 to join us at the park; most of her children were boys, including two the same age as my youngest son. She joined us a few times, and she was expecting.

She gave birth to baby number 8 this fall, and stayed home for a few months. I saw her tonight with her whole family at her son’s basketball game. She sat with me, and we were so happy to see each other. Her baby was so alert and beautiful–their second girl out of 8 children. My baby, almost 2 now, was very excited to see the baby. I asked the basketball club mommy how homeschool was going with a new baby. She said that she wasn’t getting much done, but was encouraged by another mother who told her to lower expectations during the baby year. “You’ll catch up,” she finished.

I thought about that. Then I remembered that I had a new baby the first year I started homeschooling. I was pregnant the second year, and had a new baby the year after that. And so on. I have been either pregnant or lactating the whole time I’ve been homeschooling. So I think I know a thing or two about homeschooling with a new baby:

1. You get school done when you can. One year we crammed in as much school as possible before the birth, took a few weeks off after the birth, and then finished school for the year a few weeks later.

2. Get outside with the children as much as possible. There’s something about the sun on your face that drives the dark hormonal emotions away.

3. Wear a sling. You can comfort the baby, nurse, and teach pretty easily with a sling.

4. Share the baby. Sometimes an extra pair of hands comes in really handy, even if those hands are young.

What are some of your tips for homeschooling with a new baby?