How to Homeschool Your Children When You Have a Chronic Illness and Pain

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I have homeschooled through pain, exhaustion, and days when getting out of bed felt like an accomplishment. After more than 33 years of homeschooling and raising twelve children, I know firsthand that homeschooling doesn’t always look the way we imagined it would.

When you live with chronic illness or pain, some days go according to plan. Other days, even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. You may wonder how you can possibly teach your children when you are struggling to get through the day yourself.

I want to encourage you: homeschooling may still be possible, but it may need to look different from what you originally pictured.

You don’t have to recreate a traditional classroom in your home. You don’t have to complete every lesson exactly as planned. And you don’t have to do everything yourself.

Over the years, I learned to adapt, use available resources, and find ways for my children to keep learning even when I wasn’t feeling well. Here are some of the things that helped our family.

Homeschooling When You Can Barely Get Out of Bed

My children grew up knowing that Mama had a headache. Some days were better than others, but there were many days when the pain and exhaustion left me bedridden.

I still wanted to be present with my children. One thing I did was move my bed into the living room so I could be near them while they worked on their lessons.

Was it the picture-perfect homeschool setting I had imagined? Not exactly! But it allowed us to keep learning while staying together.

If you have days when you can’t sit at the table teaching lessons, think about what your children can do independently. Depending on their ages, they might read a book, listen to an audiobook, complete a math lesson online, write in a journal, or work on a project.

You can also read aloud while resting, listen to educational recordings together, or talk about something your children are learning.

Some days, you may need to set aside the planned lessons and concentrate on what is manageable. That doesn’t mean you have failed. It means you’re adapting to the circumstances you have today.

Let Go of the Idea That Every Homeschool Day Must Look the Same

When I first began homeschooling, I ordered curriculum that I thought would take my children from kindergarten through high school. I soon discovered that my children had different learning styles and needed different approaches.

I spent countless hours creating lessons and writing out lesson plans for each child. Homeschooling looked very different then than it does today!

Over time, I learned that being willing to change the plan was important. That flexibility becomes even more valuable when you’re dealing with chronic illness.

You may need to shorten lessons, spread assignments over several days, or rearrange your schedule around appointments and periods when you have more energy.

Instead of measuring your day by how many boxes you checked, focus on what your children actually learned.

Some days, you may accomplish your original plan. Other days, reading, a little math, and a meaningful conversation may be enough.

You can return to unfinished work when you’re able. Your homeschool doesn’t have to follow someone else’s timetable.

Make the Most of Independent Learning

One of the biggest helps for our family was discovering resources that allowed my children to learn without needing me to teach every lesson personally.

When you’re feeling well, you may enjoy explaining a difficult concept, working through a lesson together, or helping with a project. When pain or exhaustion takes over, having resources your children can use independently can make a tremendous difference.

Depending on your children’s ages and abilities, consider:

• Online lessons: Children can watch or listen to instruction and complete assignments at their own pace.
• Books and audiobooks: Reading can continue even when you don’t have the energy to lead a lesson.
• Educational documentaries: Watching a documentary together can introduce a topic or reinforce something your children are studying.
• Independent practice: Math exercises, handwriting, spelling, and other familiar assignments may be completed with less direct help.
• Hands-on projects: Building, drawing, cooking, gardening, and other practical activities can provide valuable learning experiences.

You don’t need to use all these ideas. Choose resources that fit your children, your budget, and your family’s needs.

Independent learning doesn’t mean leaving your children to figure everything out alone. It means building a routine and choosing materials that allow them to make progress when you need to rest.

Don’t Be Afraid to Use Online Homeschool Resources

When we began homeschooling in 1993, our options were very different from what families have today. I remember using Algebra videos on VHS tapes when my oldest son reached a point where I needed help teaching math.

Today, families have access to online courses, video lessons, digital books, printable worksheets, and complete homeschool programs.

These resources can help you provide instruction in subjects that are difficult for you to teach, especially when your energy is limited.

Here are a few programs my family has used over the years. Availability, features, and pricing can change, so check each program’s current offerings before enrolling.

SchoolhouseTeachers

SchoolhouseTeachers has been a resource for our family, offering courses and materials across a variety of subjects and grade levels. Having multiple subjects available in one place can help simplify planning when you don’t have the energy to search for every lesson separately.

Explore SchoolhouseTeachers to see what is currently available.

CTCMath

Math can be a challenging subject to teach, especially as your children reach higher grade levels. We discovered the value of video-based math instruction when my oldest son reached algebra.

A program such as CTCMath can provide structured lessons and explanations so you don’t have to teach every concept yourself.

Visit CTCMath to explore its current courses and options.

Reading Eggs

Reading instruction can require a great deal of time and patience. Interactive reading resources may help children practice skills through a combination of activities and lessons.

Our family used Reading Eggs, and I appreciated having another resource available to support reading practice.

You can explore Reading Eggs to see whether it might fit your child’s needs.

Remember: You don’t have to purchase every program you find. Look for free trials, library resources, and options that fit your budget before committing to a new curriculum.

Create a Simple Plan for Difficult Days

When you’re living with chronic illness, planning for a difficult day isn’t being negative. It’s being practical.

Consider creating a short list of activities your children can work on when you’re unable to provide much instruction.

Your list might include:

• Reading independently for an age-appropriate amount of time.
• Completing a familiar math lesson.
• Practicing spelling or handwriting.
• Listening to an audiobook.
• Working on an ongoing project.
• Reviewing previously learned material.

Keep the list simple. You don’t need to prepare an entire second school day for when you’re sick.

For younger children, you may need to prepare activities ahead of time or ask an older child to help with a simple task. For older students, a checklist or weekly assignment plan may give them more independence.

The goal is to make those difficult days a little easier for everyone.

Give Yourself Permission to Rest

This may be one of the hardest lessons to learn.

When you have children depending on you, it can feel as though you should always be doing something. There are lessons to teach, meals to prepare, laundry to wash, and countless other responsibilities waiting for your attention.

But pushing yourself beyond what you can manage may leave you with even less energy for the things that matter.

Rest when you need to. Ask for help when it’s available. Let some household tasks wait. Look for ways to simplify routines rather than expecting yourself to do everything the way you would on a good day.

Your worth as a homeschooling parent isn’t determined by how much you accomplish while you’re in pain.

And if your illness means you need to change your homeschooling approach, use outside instruction, or seek additional support, that doesn’t make you any less committed to your children.

If your health or circumstances change significantly, check your state’s current homeschool requirements so your adjusted plan continues to meet them. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) offers a state-by-state guide to homeschool laws, including requirements for subjects, testing, and recordkeeping. It’s a helpful place to start when you need to understand the rules that apply to your family.

Remember Why You Chose to Homeschool

When I started homeschooling, I had a goal of educating my twelve children at home. I had no idea how much our methods, materials, and routines would change over the years.

I learned to adjust when a curriculum wasn’t working. I learned that each child could need a different approach. And I learned that sometimes the best way forward was to find a new resource instead of trying to do everything myself.

Chronic illness added another layer of challenges, but it also made flexibility essential.

Your homeschool may look different from the one you pictured before your health challenges began. That doesn’t automatically mean you’re doing something wrong.

Look at your children as individuals. Consider what they need to learn next. Find resources that help you meet those needs. And remember that a difficult day doesn’t determine the success of your entire homeschool year.

You don’t have to do everything today.

You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out at Once

If you’re homeschooling while dealing with chronic illness or pain, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to take things one day at a time.

Start by identifying the subjects that need the most attention. Find one or two resources that can help your children work more independently. Create a simple plan for difficult days. Then adjust as you learn what works for your family.

You may need to try different approaches before you find the right fit. That’s part of homeschooling, too.

After more than 33 years of homeschooling, I can tell you that plans change, children change, and families find new ways to make learning work. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin.

What has helped your family keep learning during difficult days? Share your ideas in the comments. Your experience may encourage another homeschooling parent who needs to hear that they’re not alone.