I think I have determined the winner of "Most Asked Question" when someone finds out we educate our kids at home. Drumroll please ...
"Are you going to do that all the way through?"
or other variations, such as:
"How long do you plan on doing that?"
Gotta' love how some people put emphasis on particular words - as if I'm covering the kids with honey and tying them to bee hives.
Granted, I realize that there is so much behind that question. Things like, "They're young now, but are you going to get them into 'normal' school before you've totally screwed them up?" or knowing that their brain is reeling with thoughts of, "What about prom? Band? Lab classes? Dating? Foreign language? All that stuff that I'm sure this loser can't teach?!?!"
If I know I am talking to someone that is also a Jesus follower, I usually just say, "Well, if God ever tells me to stop, then I'll stop!"
If I don't know anything about the person asking, I might give a quick, "There's no reason to stop with something so great."
Or if I know it's a person that is truly interested in home education, but has concerns over their abilities ... well, stand back because I could talk all day!
It hit me this week that there are still huge (HUGE!!) misconceptions when it comes to homeschooling. One particular woman had just spent time bragging on my kids (which I love - and I didn't even have to prompt or pay her!), yet she then found out we homeschool, and you could literally see the gears in her head turning. It was too much for her. There had to be something wrong with them. She must have missed something! *chuckle*
I can't be bothered by the questions. Obviously there is still a lot of public education that needs to happen, and my family gets to be a part of that. Patience. Being available for deeper conversation. Responding kindly and leaving my sass at home. Once they know and understand, then they will be one more voice of reason and information.
In the meantime, yes, I plan on doing this until God tells us to stop ... or until I die ... at which point my husband can remarry someone wonderful (but ugly) who can carry on where I left off.
8 comments:
hi, i have a different question.
what are your feelings about the new law in california? i don't know if it passed or not, but i know they are trying to basically stop homeschooling. i don't homeschool, but i think it works for some people and kids. anyway, just wondering what your thoughts are on it.
Great post Christine. I get this same thing all the time. I too want to give them a smart answer, but am learning to refrain. The ones that really bug me are the ones that say in the same tone, "You're going to have MORE children?" LOL
Here's a good recap on the whole California thing
well, you know I'm all about homeschooling. Although, I technically haven't started, so I could change my mind. :-) ha ha
I can imagine what kinds of comments you get. I can't even MENTION that I want to do it before people are jumping all over the opportunity. I just sit back and laugh.
One of Noah's therapist said the other day, "As soon as you get your kids back in school, you can come work for me."
Hmmm... since my youngest is only 3... I wonder if she'll hold the job for me until 2023.
Leslie
like your brain!
another pw [except my tattoo is invisible]
The key is leaving the sass at home... Sometimes it's hard.
It's interesting that you end your post the way you do. I am the stepmother who is continuing the home education of my husband's deceased wife. She passed away when the girls were just 1 and 4, but she was homeschooling from the start. Before I met my husband and family, I had decided that I would homeschool, so this is a dream come true for us all. Just today I got the same question - how long will you do this? As long as I'm able!
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