Ways of Coping with Homework–Yours and Theirs

[left]If you have school-age kids at home, they will invariably decide they need help with their homework just when you have reached a critical point in your own essay or assignment with a deadline looming over you. My advice is three-fold:
1) Don't procrastinate yourself--This is by far the biggest and most helpful tip I can give your for your college career. All too often, it's much easier at the time to do anything except beginning assignments. You might tell yourself, "Oh, it's okay to just quickly check my e-mail before I start this," or "I'll just check my Facebook page," or "I'm just going to give Susie-Q a quick call, then I'm going to start the 25- page essay on the history of toenail fungus that's due tomorrow at 8:00AM." BAD IDEA! When you have a family, there will inevitably be some kind of last minute crisis that will throw you for a loop. Plan ahead--start on assignments as soon as you get them, then you won't be in a last-minute time crunch that will turn you into a shrieking banshee version of yourself.
2) Set up a specific time when you will be available to help with homework, say from 3:00-4:30 PM, or whenever is convenient for you. If the kids can't get their questions to you at this time, too bad. Tell them they will have to wait until you can be available, or figure it out themselves. It sounds harsh, but the kids need to learn the importance of time management and that your time is important too. If the child is really struggling, can your spouse or an older sibling help? Maybe you could hire a teenager for a few hours a week for tutoring at a reasonable fee.
3) Do your own homework at school if you are in a campus-based program. Nearly everybody has some time to kill between classes, so why not take advantage of it? The more you can get done at school, the more time you will have available for your family in the evenings. If deadlines are tight for a certain assignment, you may be better off working at school as well to minimize distractions.
By managing your own time, you will be doing yourself and your kids a huge favor. Homework is a necessary evil, so plan ahead to maximize your productivity. Avoiding last-minute, pulling-out-the-hair, stressed-out homework sessions will make everyone's life a little easier.