Gosh! Thank you for all those responses! Though Im not glad other people get "questioned" too, it is very interesting and heartening to read others heartfelt reasons for homeschooling.
Another thought! I just smile blissfully when I hear ps mom's talking about peer pressure, "mean" girls, social issues and "bad" boys"!
Like others said, depending on who's asking, I will give different responses. Standard response: We think this is the best fit for our children Personal response: none of their needs were being met in school. One needed way more attention that he was getting, the second one was bored out of his mind, and couple that with the failing grade of ps in our neighborhood, peer pressure, bullying, overworked children with mountains of homework, religious concerns, etc etc etc etc! Again, like others said, I am careful what I say to who, since some people get very defensive if you start to criticize ps.
I wish this had a like button. :lol: I don't really get questioned at this point. I mean we decided to homeschool while I was still pregnant with our oldest so most people already know. And strangers don't often ask why we homeschool but I go with something like "We just decided it was what would work best for us" or something generic along those lines. It would take about 15 min to give a "brief" overview of why we really homeschool and even then I'd probably miss some points. I realized one morning that I was not a morning person and didn't want to deal with getting children to and from school at pre-set times every day. Then I started thinking back to when I was in school and I always hated how most of the boys got treated like problem children because there were *gasp* BOYS. Then I had three boys in a row and couldn't imagine ever putting them in school. I hate that they teach to the tests. I think there are so many flaws with our educational system - that is really NOT because of the teachers but the system as a whole. That comic with the teacher and an elephant, bird, monkey, and fish and he tells them that to be fair they all have to climb the tree - that's how I feel about public education. I didn't want my children to get labeled by a teacher and have that label follow them and form who they become. And as a Christian I really just believe that it is MY job as their mother to teach and train and turn them into the people that they will ultimately be.
If I don't know the person well, I usually say something like, "It was the right decision for our children". If I know the person, I'm not too good at keeping my opinions about the schools to myself. Bullying, the fact that my kids are all very bright and were being kept down, "mean girls", worry over their safety, the rigid atmosphere of the school, the fact that the schools did not control trouble very well (a girl traded sexual favors for drugs in the bathroom of the high school, and nothing got done, except for ISS (in-school suspension) for both of them; my serious distaste for busywork and teaching to the test (one of my pet peeves). Teaching to the test was so extreme in our elementary school (K-6) that science and social studies/history were only taught once a month, to provide more time to prepare for the reading, writing, and math tests. The school had kids as young as kindergarten stressing out over the tests. My youngest DD's girl scout leader had a daughter that was in kindergarten last year, and she was crying and worrying about her testing the next day! Also, the school's absentee policy was horrible. The "allowed" absences were down to six days a semester and getting fewer every year, even for verified illness or family deaths. If your child exceeded that number, the authorities were immediately notified. I have known families in the area who had to go to court because their child missed one day too many. The most important, though, is the fact that I felt the call to educate my children in a Biblically-based manner. I did not realize how many benefits there would be to homeschooling either, until they all came home. I would miss them tremendously if they were to go back to school now. I enjoy having a closer relationship with my daughters than many of my friends and relatives do with their kids.
every year it varies. DD7 and DS8 got the best of me and it wasn't working out well and off they went across the street into classrooms of 15 students each. LOTS of one on one and praises and are doing very well with the school. DD12 stays home except for Band. Not a big fan of her school being an hour away and they have a poor principle who says he cannot do a thing due to contracts and Commanding Officer of the base. So why is he there? I won't go there. We are leaving and I will homeschool everyone due to the move. It's just easier that way. We start in a week.
"I just want to." People look at me as though I've lost my mind, but this is my basic response when I'm asked why I am planning to homeschool. My oldest DD is gifted, and it looks as though my DS is as well, so our local school system wouldn't be a good fit for either. I want to add Biblical emphasis to their education and allow them to explore their own interests. I love seeing the light come on in my kids' eyes when they "get it" for the first time. I've been doing it since they were born, so why stop? I actually enjoy teaching my kids.
We also find that the public schools are inadequate (we have been doing private for some time now) and that the private school is getting too expensive. We also like the flexibility. Above all else my husband is called to it... he feels like it's his job and his opportunity to be the best possible father by being his children's educator. It means a lot to him.
This is what we feel God wants FOR OUR FAMILY." That sums it up nicely, while not putting pressure on or coming across condemning to those that chose differently. I really emphasize that our decision is for US ONLY!
Peace! Homeschooling has brought peace into our home-- this was our original hope and motivation. After a year of homeschooling, I would add educational freedom, the ability to work on social skills, family closeness, flexibility, and control over influences.
I think the most confronting experience I had is when a neighbor of mine came over and in front of my kids said, "I would like to know where you received you education to home school these children" Whew, I was floored! I tried to ignore her. But she kept persisting.... It was simply awful. I don't really remember my response. But now she is a huge supporter. Funny huh... Well now it is.
Before I bother to give my reasons, I tend to answer these kinds of questions with a question. For instance, are you interested in homeschooling? Why spend the time and effort to go into the details unless she is? If she is interested, then I might explain beginning with something like this: Truthfully, I felt God had guided every thing in my life to lead up to educating my daughter at home. Like feeding her and then teaching her to feed herself and later cook a meal, teaching her lessons seemed like another natural thing to do.
