Agh! just got back from a family gathering where 2 aunts and a cousin are teachers and/or principles. I'm hearing stories about 6th graders getting caught smoking pot in the bathroom, 1st graders getting a reprimand for the "s" word, 35yr old grandparents showing up for parnt/teachers meetings, the stories just got worse and worse. still, I say nothing. but when I start getting the"attitude" about homeschooling and what a mistake it is I want to go SERIOUSLY? How can you really say that with a straight face? Most of my family is supportive but others,not so much. I can ignore it but,should I?
sounds ohhh so familiar...there are several teachers in my husbands family and anytime there is a get together all they do is tell horror stories...and then I think to myself, so why were you busting my chops for choosing to HS??? I don't get it either...I just smile and nod these days...but thankfully we have been getting much Better feedback than the negative that we were getting in the beginning...I guess they have either given up or decided we are doing it right...lol who knows...hoping they will eventually see that PS just isnt for every kid or that not every parent wants to subject their kids to that because it's the so called norm.
well I guess it depends on the person, I am known for sticking my foot in my mouth... I'd probably give them a piece of my mind, whether they wanted a piece or not lol
I would say it depends on who the person is. If we're talking a cousin that you only see 2 or 3 times a year, at family holidays, you might want to hold your tongue. If it's a close family member that you see or talk to regularly or you really care about their opinion & want them to understand, you may want to try to explain it to them. Personally, I would say something no matter who it was, but that's just me (I can be rather confrontational). How I approached it would depend on who it was. If it was someone I'm close to or whose opinion I value, I'd be tactful, polite, and try to explain my point of view, why I choose to homeschool, and why I'd like their support (or at least their acceptance). If it was someone I'm not close to or whose opinion I don't care about, I'd be less tactful and probably tell them that if they are just going to run off at the mouth & insult my decision (thereby insulting me) they can just shut up. I know most people aren't as blunt & vocal as I am, which is why I generally don't advise people to do what I would do. I know some of my family supports our decision. The rest, I'm not sure about. They don't voice their opinion. So, either they don't have an opinion or they disagree with our choice but know better than to tell me that to my face.
I would just ignore it. As long as Freddy and I are in agreement I really don't care what others think.
My dh's family, well most of them are educators and not supportive of our choice to hs. We only had a few that supported us, the others would get a stiff jaw if it was even brought up. In my experience, you can't fight with people and the only way to change their mind is through action and results. The in-laws who were AGAINST our decision to hs but soon I changed their mind when they were mailed a fun family letter along with a copy of the most recent results from the Iowas standardized tests. We were required to have our kids tested every other year and I sent those fun letters to family members just informing them of my kids fantastic progress. I sent the fun family letter on cool computer paper and I actually had some approach me and tell me that I did an excellent job educating my kids and they were WRONG thinking it wouldn't work. Ha! Patience, grasshoppa!
Very much agree with this. There will also be some that you just can't please. I would think about the amount of energy you would spend trying to defend your decisions and then think about how you could spend that time instead with your children and then smile that you have the choice not to put your kids through those horror stories! That said, I am also confrontational and need to learn to keep my mouth shut as well.
I am always up for a good fight. Unfortunately all our family is pretty supportive. ha ha ha ha. My father had his mother for a teacher for years...(one room schoolhouse) My cousin hs his 4 girls...and they are all very successful. there was some very mild resistance from my MIL but within the first year, seeing the change in Jazz, she was/is all for it. I think her main point of resistance was that it would be "too much work" for ME. lol.
Yea, my family is againist it we don't even talk to them because I hs. But, hey its there lost not mine. I am with Beth 110 percent as long as dh and I agree who cares what others think. Like I tell everyone that ? me now if you don't like it fly a kite, if you don't have one. I know two smart homeschool children that can make one and bring it to you to fly.
The way I look at it, if you make one person happy, you will be angering someone else. So, the only thing you can do is live YOUR life to the best of your ability and ignore the rest. If they want to pay your bills and feed you, then they would have a say, they don't so IGNORE them! They aren't worth your time or effort. (((( ))))
haveintread through but I hope that Kris explains the Bean Dip to you! IT really helps! Even my kids are prepared to use it can't wait!
If it were me, I'd probably say something, but I'd be friendly about it. What would I LIKE to say? Something along the lines of how I've never caught my child smoking pot in the bathroom.... hehe But in all actuality, if they were confronting me about it and telling me that homeschooling was bad for my kids, I would just say "Well, they are appropriately socially adjusted and are keeping up like champs with their work, so I'm satisfied." I'd leave it at that. If they started to insult me, I'd just leave. The next time we got together if they started up again, I would say, "Every time you start talking about how bad homeschooling is for my kids, I'm going to leave. So let's not talk about that. Hey, these potatoes are awesome; what's the recipe??"
Some people are like Slinkies - not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.
I would have said something but I am outspoken, opinionated and a bit rude if provoked. I would not have been able to listen to that conversation without saying anything.On the other hand, I think most people would ignore it. Especially since you don't see them everyday.
you guys are terrific. I feel justified and validated and I know I did the right thing now. Btw,I've been meaning to ask about bean dip.I've seen it all over the forum and it's meaning is eluding me. Anyone care to enlighten?
