From the article: "Shouldn't you be in School?"
Well meaning family members often share their concerns with us when they hear about our homeschooling. Sometimes it's hard to know what to say when they're not supportive. What about your family? Are they supportive of your decision to homeschool? What are their concerns? Have you been able to set their minds at ease? Share Your Experience
Homeschooling best for my child
- I have been homeschooling my 12 year old since the beginning of the year. I was a bit worried to start with only because I knew it was going to be extra hard on me. When my son was at school it was the only time I had to myself. I decided to go for it and see how we got on. My family, my older children and friends all gave negative comments - the most common what about the social aspect, you can't possible teach better than a school, he should be at school and I couldn't do it. But if it was your child, you might just have too. My son has since been diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD, which made secondary school and learning difficult. We have enrolled in 3 distance learning courses to catch up with KS7 work and he is doing really well. As for the social side of things he does 2 clubs outside of school work and he does come across as very polite and sociable when people meet him. Homeschooling has been the best for my child and we will continue this.
- —Guest sapphire70
Non Support
- I have home schooled my child all 12 years of school. I have ALWAYS received negative comments such as "he is shy around strangers" as well. My child has been taught about Stranger Danger his whole life and so if he doesn't know you, he will not simply walk up to you and talk to you. That doesn't mean he is isolated from others, he is not. When others make such silly comments about why a child doesn't speak to strangers, then they need to learn that stranger danger keeps children and young adults safe. Another thing that people do to my son that irks us both is that when others find out that my son has been home schooled they start quizzing him on the times table! It is ridiculous that people do this and assume that because a child goes to public school it means that they are whizzes at math! People judge us harshly and expect my child to do better and be more competent than his school peers. It is sad that others are so ignorant!
- —Guest LAC
Family Just Doesn't Get It
- I have been homeschooling my daughter since she was 4, she is now 8. Last year due to badgering, we enrolled her in public school. That was the biggest mistake as she has severe dyslexia and also problems with her legs. She is a patient at Shriner's Hospital. She had to miss several days of school due to leg pain and therapy. Because of missing so much school she failed every subject. Homeschooling looks a lot better, doesn't folks? Bottom line is this... every child learns differently and the public schools are under so much pressure from the government that they can't teach. If a child doesn't get it the first time around, oh well we don't have the time to explain it we have to move on so others don't fall behind. So what if it takes my child longer to write her name or spell a word, at least she did it!!! Now the first thing she will do is write her name and the date on every paper she does or picture she draws.
- —Guest Nancy
Grandma Loves Homeschooling
- The first thing we had to learn as grandparents (we now have 6) is that ultimately their parents are responsible for them, not us. Our daughter and son-in-law homeschool their 4 children and we are delighted with the results. I work in the public school system and am concerned about the attitude of the children we are graduating. Our grandchildren are respectful, have lots of friends, do all kinds of 'out-of-home' things (like field trips), and, most of all, they listen to and obey their parents. Educationally, they are on the level with their peers. Homeschooling parents have to be very creative in finding ways to share information with their children. Our daughter and son-in-law spend an incredible amount of time with their children, talking to them and sharing with them. We do everything we can to support them, including buying school supplies and helping to chaperone field trips.
- —Guest suzyq
Parents supportive, others are not
- This is my first time homeschooling and I'm 15. I started because my school interfered with my serious sports team. My parents and 2 of my sisters were supportive, but the rest weren't. My other two sisters kept telling me to transfer to another school that finished earlier, but even that wouldn't work for me. My older nieces tell me the same thing. They act like I'm ruining my life. They are all so closed minded to the idea of homeschooling.
- —Guest Angie
Family hates it but we love it
- My family hates it, and always have negative comments and act like we are ruining our kids. Now our family isn't as close anymore to avoid arguing. My husband and I, plus our children love it and are progressing very well. I wish they would just get over it so we can be one big happy family and spend more time together with no drama.
- —Guest Sharina
No experience, but LOADS of opinions!
- I have been bullied from the school with "ADHD" comments "You better consider meds OR ELSE!" blah, blah, blah. I decided to homeschool my 6 year old and OH BOY! the opinions come by the truck loads from my family, yet none of them have any experience, knowledge or even bother to research before telling me all their pathetic opinions. Seriously, non-homeschool-believers, you can't think of one good thing about homeschooling? I plan to take full advantage of the workshops, field trips and any other extra activities offered from the homeschooling program. My son will get more education and experience through our homeschool program than he would ever get from public school. Do not allow your family to bombard you with ugly opinions until they read up on homeschooling. Tell them to do some research and then come back. Have any of the naysayers ever sat in a classroom to observe? They are lucky to get 4/5 pages complete in an entire day, we zip through 5 pages at home. Your kid needs you! ignore naysayers!
- —Guest home grown and healthy
New Home Schooling Mom
- First time homeschooler. Nervous! My family are basically just going "uh huh". No negative comments so far. Everyone is just asking my son "How do you like it?" We are finding it very adventuresome and I can insert all kinds of lessons into everything we do. In the really old days, I believe most people were just being taught at home before schools were built. How soon everyone forgets!
- —Guest Zenia
Losing Ground
- We started our son in private school only to find out he has Asperger's syndrome. He was withering there, so we chose to homeschool him and provide him with therapy. Five years later, most people cannot tell he is mildly autistic. The irony is that now I have lost the support of my extended family (on both sides) to continue homeschooling. They think that now he is "cured," we should enroll him in public school. They also do not think I am capable of teaching multiple levels now that I have two other kids, never mind that I have a master's degree and have taken numerous classes in "education" before I decided I would never work with the public school system. My children are good kids, but people look for the smallest flaw to point out to us that homeschooling is not working, never mind the gaping holes that public school would leave! It's hard to be under a microscope and harder still to be alone, but I still have firm faith in what we're doing.
- —Guest Asperger's Mom
Some won't understand
- It is hard to hear things like,"You're not going to homeschool him ALL the way through his school years are you? What about his socialization? He's so shy around strangers!" This is a comment I heard just last week from an Aunt. She was reffering to my 3 year old son who had not seen her in a year! Of course he was shy around her. He's only 3. All I can do is remember some of the writings from Karen Andreola and Clay and Sally Clarkson. They continually encourage us homeschooling parents and remind us that God entrusted us with these children and they are our responsibility to train and love. Yes, sometimes comments from our own family can hurt. I am finding though, that as time goes on I can just let them fall on deaf ears. I know what the Lord wants me to do. I may not have their approval, but in my heart I know that I have God's approval. His approval is far more important and eternally lasting. Some won't understand. But we know that God always will.
- —Guest Hannah
Against in the worst way
- My parents are supportive, but live half way across the country. My in-laws do live in town, however, think we are going to "ruin" the kids. They have offered to help with private school, or move us to a "good" school district. My mother-in-law is quite wealthy and has just recently started using cutting us from her will as leverage to send our kids to school.
- —crowemountain
Why not support homeschooling
- I am not a homeschooler, but I support homeschooling 100%. If it is the right choice for the kids and the family as a whole then you should do what works. Like I said I don't homeschool, however I love knowing the option is there if I ever chose to do that. God bless home educationg families and traditional schooling families alike. I think most of us are all working toward the same goal. Just using different means to get there.
- —Guest 2boys twins
Mixed Emotions
- I just recently started homeschooling my 5 year old. My Mom and Dad are somewhat supportive. I feel like the MomofDJ I have to have Mom's approval. It will make things go smoother. My mother-in-law and father-in-law approve. One of my brothers do not approve, he pokes fun at me. I feel like I have 95% approval from most of my family and friends and that helps a lot. My little girl gets to stay with mommy and I get to monitor everything that she learns and that is a blessing.
- —2girls35
Some do support and some don't
- I guess you could say I am split. I have friends who are or have home schooled so there is no problem. Other people think my son will turn out to be sheltered and a sissy!
- —Guest LC
Support came eventually
- My parents weren't sure at first about us homeschooling the kids. "Public school was good enough for you" was their comment. Looking back, public school wasn't good enough for me but I won't tell them that now. My father has since seen homeschooling as a good thing. He's seen my kids able to communicate with adults, play with other children, and behave in public as well as at home. The educational aspect also impresses them now that they can see results as both kids are at least 2 grades ahead of their age group for public school. I think they also like the fact that the kids can come visit anytime we want to and don't have to wait for a school holiday.
- —Guest Janet in Reno
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