So I have noticed some friends on my FB saying that their pediatrician doesn't agree with them homeschooling and have been uncomfortable with them. I have not had that issue and I was wondering if anyone else has. I think my children's DR said "as it should be". Although I can honestly say that I really wouldn't care what they thought. How did you respond? ~Becca
My DR homeschools himself. I have heard other people complain. I'm sure some DR are mannerless boors (haven't we all met one of those!). However, some people, I have found in life, take umbrage over any comment and interpret it as "being slammed". Other people should be happy their DR doesn't just grind them through their visit with a grunt and actually notices some particulars. Doctors say and do things with many motives. Perhaps a doctor is probing just a bit to see your response. The average thoughtful homeschooler has no grasp of the sorrows and malfunction and foolishness MDs see daily. Also, many people are uncomfortable with doctors, even if they don't homeschool. It comes back to the old line about a doctor being "one you put your hopes on when sick, and your dogs on when well." And so this is a common topic among people in general, not just homeschoolers: the not liking, the not trusting, the feeling uncomfortable with one or all doctors.
Our family doctor always comments about it...in a good way. The whole office is super supportive. We used to go to docs who were against. I didn't change because of that, but, it's still nice having a dr who is supportive.
Have you ever tried asking the doctor what is wrong with your child's health that going to a public school would fix?
Ha, mine told me (as my four children ran around the small room playing together) that he was just concerned about the socialization factor. I just nodded and kept my thoughts to myself. Then I came home and blogged about it. :lol: It kills me because *I* am super shy and my husband is kinda in between. But our kids... they've NEVER met a stranger. Ever. They only meet friends. They have no problem having a conversation with a grown adult they've never met before or ones they have met, they have no issue playing with kids two and three and four years older or younger than them. How is this lacking socialization? Sometimes I wish I was quick on my feet because I could've said something like "Oh so you send your daughter to school expecting her to spend most of her day socializing??" Because seriously. Sorry. Anyway other than that he's never said anything negative about it but I definitely get a vibe from him that we are THAT family. The weird one. I'm ok with that because I'm confident with the decisions we've made as parents (to this point) and he can think what he wants.
My daughter's allergist always talks about it when we see him. We usually go every 6 months or so for a recheck. It makes me a little uncomfortable because he brings up the question of how I can teach the upper level subjects. I told him we have a tutor for math and she goes to vocational training through a Distict program and he's impressed, but I feel like there's something he's not voicing. Yeah, but he talks about it every time we go in.....
Our family dr is supportive of whatever choice we make as long as it is our childrens best interests we have in mind.
Ems doctor doesn't support homeschooling past high school, but she doesn't give me a difficult time over it either. She has always been respectful of the choices parents make for their kiddos.
With my daughter who was a micropreemie at birth, we've had to deal with quite a few doctors/therapists over the years. Any who've commented on the homeschooling have said that's a good thing for her as it allows me to tailor learning to her quirks. Her brain has had to do a rewire, and so she gets and retains information so uniquely. Other doctors haven't indicated they care one way or the other. However, I should add that I've never had anyone question my homeschooling decision, so maybe I'm just giving off a "Question what I'm doing and you'll die" vibe.
When Ems was younger, her asthma was very out of control. Everytime she had a problem with it, her doctor would tell me to keep her home for two weeks so her lungs could clear. Ems would have missed almost half a school year if she was in public school. Her doctor was very supportive of our homeschooling at the time. As I already shared, she now believes Ems should be in high school, but she respects our choice.
Mine doesn't necessarily like it, but she keeps her comments to herself. She mostly just gets upset about whether or not I choose to do particular shots at well-checks.
Thankfully mine doesn't get upset. She will ask why, but respects my answers. I am not against vaccines, but I will say no to some because I do not believe in it for one reason or another.
Mine questioned me about it, but only because Garrett is being such a PITA right now. He said that he was worried that being together 24/7 was causing more issues then helping grow our relationship. I explained that HS was a year by year option for us. If the problems grow and the learning stops then we are open to a change. He made no comments at all about HS the other 3, just the "problem child".
Well...my kids don't have a regular pediatrician. Haven't needed one since we started homeschooling so I never have took the time to find one to replace their old one. But we have been to the ER and dentist and usually people are very supportive. I usually hear "I wish I would have homeschooled mine" and "The schools are so bad now" and "That's the best thing you can do for them" Occasionally I'll get someone who questions it, but they are never....boldly disagreeing, so I respond with a lot of rapid fire info as to the pros of homeschooling and a bit of our personal story and that usually shuts them up and gets at least a nervous smile and a nod of 'if I agree maybe she will shut up' LOL
I think when doctor's don't support it they may think it is their duty to say something. It isn't their duty, but... Then again, some people (doctors included) who just like to voice their opinion on things they know nothing about. It amazes me when I hear about what some people have gone through when they tell people they homeschool. How in the world does anyone know what is best for kids. Heck, I can't even figure out what is best for my ONE child at times. There has been a lot of changing things up here and going back and forth between the extremes.
We are part of a very large prctice, with about eight different doctors, though my children always see the same one (unless someone is sick and we need to get in right away, and then we'll take whoever is free). We've never had trouble with homeschooling. I think there's two reasons. Because it's large, there's LOTS of patients and I would guess that many of them homeschool. Also, I've been told that one of the doctors in the practice homeschools, though I cannot say for sure that is true. Our doctor will quiz the girls about what subjects they like best, and what other activities they do, but that's it. I'm guessing they would quiz schooled kids just the same.
Our kids' doctor and nurse practitioners always make off comments about it. When making conversation they'll say, "how's school?" or "are you excited for school to start?" My kids will reply that they are homeschooled, and we get the condensending tone and questions, that even my kids pick up on. "Hmmmm, and do you guys do other activities? Name a couple of friends you play with. What is your favorite thing to do outside the house?" It's like they are making sure I'm not some crazy, abusive, shut-in mother. Like we can't tell what their agenda is with these "concerning" questions. I hate it! It makes me want to look for another doctor. Laura
We only had one doctor that ever gave me grief about HSing. He was my oldest DS' pediatric neurologist (DS had severe migraines). The man was a total jerk about it. We only saw him twice because his solution to the migraines was to put him on meds (daily) that would block the pain receptors. Aside from this not fixing the problem, the medication he prescribed came with severe common side-effects that DS' regular pediatrician freaked out about when we told her. She said, "Is he TRYING to kill Elijah?!" Anyhow, when we went back the second time and I explained that we did not feel the medication was our best option, and the objections raised by the ped., he fired us for not trusting him. All that to say, if a doctor can't be respectful of parental choices, he's probably not a doctor worth seeing.
