There is a discussion at the k-dad network about what homeschooling fathers do right: instructing in irreplaceable real-life skills.

Here is what I wrote:

This is so true: rebuilding a brick hearth, re-tarring a garage roof, doing brakes on a car, stringing fence, setting traps for coyotes, playing ball games in the yard, extreme sledding*...I tell people that I am just the "warm up act" until dad gets home. The weekends with him are so instructive that I have started logging them in as school days.

He is extremely busy &/or tired M-F, with a 1.25 hour commute (one way) each day, sometimes traveling outside our state as well, so I have found a way to make him feel included in what we do academically during the week:

When the children finish a piece of work, it goes either in the "out" box or in the "Daddy pile." It's their choice, and everything always goes in the Daddy pile first. This is a place behind where dad sits to eat dinner. He knows it's there and can choose to go through the work at any time, with the child beside him. Sometimes he'll bring papers up to prayers at bedtime. He has only about 2-3 hours with his children each weeknight.

The "Daddy pile" also recognizes the fact that a student has mastered something when he can explain it back to someone else. My husband fulfills an important job by being a sound board to the learning that has taken place during that day. It does not require too much effort on his part: just patience and listening, which is in itself an effort after a long day. Many mothers have probably already thought of this idea.

I'd also like to add that I'm sure many husbands contribute a lot through their area of expertise. Science sometimes happens spontaneously at our house because my husband is a scientist and it was one of my college majors. I still use curriculum, but there are many fringe benefits to having dad communicate and live out his callings at home.

One more thing: I never could seem to find any way to include my husband directly with the books and materials, but it happened by itself when it was appropriate. He enjoyed the Logic classes he'd taken, so when one son began Introductory Formal Logic, it was natural that dad oversee the class. I make sure the schedule is followed, but my husband goes over the work and has the discussions. This is something fun and bonding for them both: a real blessing.

*I’ve decided to make a partial list:

Skiing

Ball games

Hiking

Camping out

Ocean swimming

Construction

Working with tools

Car Maintenance
Car Repair

Vegetable Gardening

Cooking

Contributing to housecleaning

Home Maintenance

Lawn Maintenance

Barn Maintenance

Property Maintenance

Stringing a livestock fence

Maintaining a livestock fence

Shooting a gun

Trapping for coyote

Leading at church

Sharing God’s abundance

Bible teaching

-and the daily example of

Faithfulness at work and

Loving a wife.

(…and if the Midwife didn’t make it in time, I do believe he’d help catch the Baby.)