Homeschooling is HUGE in the area that I live in, so most people don't even blink when we're out...or will even say "Homeschooled?". I feel very fortunate b/c I know many do not have that. Truthfully, I do think there are folks who've never even heard of it....in fact, I knew NOTHING about it's even existence until I was about 25 maybe? So, I do think it's possible that some folks have never even heard of it, maybe? Anyway... hugs....I like the T-shirt idea, that's fun!
I think the proof was in the puddin' with us. When we first started hs-ing we got some raised eye brows. But after people saw how my kids excelled they don't even give us another thought.
We never get asked...place is full of tourists, so we always look like we are on holidays !!! My kids are always out playing...they are entitled to a break, same as schooled children are.
Appearently not many children go into the library during the day here, which seemed to be a big thing back home. The first 2 weeks we were here, I heard, "Is school out today?". The guy would just look at me. Now after a month, he don't seem so grouchy.
The 'stranger' thing is where my mind was flowing also. I always go to my Mom's house on Mondays to take her shopping. (We do school later that day). The kids were riding there bikes while I was doing her yardwork. Some lady that lives down the street was leaving in her car and the kids moved to the side of the street. She stopped them to ask them why they weren't in school. My kids just stood there staring at her. Of course, when I saw her at them I took off running towards them. She just left and my oldest told me what she said. I left a little note taped to her mailbox stating that we homeschool and she needed to not talk to little children who don't know her.
Good for you. I don't think it is appropriate to approach kids. If she had some issues she should talk to you and not your little ones. Some people just need to mind their own business.
Oh, oh, oh...some of these stories get me riled up! Why would anyone assume that child can only learn M-F, 7am-3pm? My kids might be biking on a beautiful Monday, but doing school on a rainy Saturday. We school year round so that we have that extra flexibility, and I'd be pretty irrate if someone intonated that we were slackers for taking advantage of that flexibility.
Also, why would anyone think that "because" a kid is riding their bike during the day that they are being raised by wolves and need assistance from anybody?.
Where I live NO ONE is home during the day. So, on nice days I allow my kids to ride bikes or play outside for recess. Don't ps kids get an hour of recess a day? Heck, we even walk over to the little ice cream stand and get lunch and ice cream at times. lol. I am never offended when someone asks if it is spring break or a day off. Why? Because I myself wonder if there is no school that day when I see a school aged kid out. LOL. Can't help it. I really do. I don't think most people think they are being offensive as much as just creating a conversation. Yet....for an adult to stop her car or a UPS guy to inquire when he is not delivering to you...that is weird...so some are just jerks as with anything. My kids run to the porch if an adult they do not know comes up to them. Yesterday, a new kid in the neighborhood came over my house. His school ends at 2:15PM...it is a charter school. Well, he wasn't used to seeing other kids out that early and was happy to see my kids out and playing. I heard another voice so I opened the door. This kid asked how old my dd was. I told him she was 10. He said, "then why doesn't she go to school? I have to go to school." Well, I barely had a voice as I am sick and I said through coughing something about homeschooling but I don't think he heard me correctly. I think he heard me say "she doesn't go to regular school she is COUGH COUGH COUGH hom...COUGH COUGH COUGH." And he responded, "does she know 2+2?" LOL. I think he was under the impression she does not go to school at all. When my dd said she was homeschooled he said, "I never heard of that." LOL. Then my dd beat his butt at basketball. LOL. Mostly I get a positive response. But I will say all the inquiries and other kids asking does make my kids a bit uncomfortable. They do not proudly proclaim homeschooling. All the asking has made them think that they are doing something isolated and weird in some ways I think. Though my dd does not want to go to school. We know of others who are homeschooled but not many. I also think because I have been off my game during my first trimester and playing catch up and school is kinda boring and not a lot of fun or as challenging or hands on as normal that they are bored with it. Ok...I am rambling...SORRY!
Oh I love the T shirt idea, or what are you worried about? I'm on recess from my highly organised extreme level learning session..
