do you proudly proclaim you hs or try to avoid the topic?

I am very proud of our choice. But in our neck of the woods, it's really common.

Then again, I cloth diaper, co-sleep, breast-fed till 2 years old, etc.... I'm used to being the odd one out.

 

As I stated, I am kinda used to being the odd one out. lol. However, breastfeeding is the norm around here. I co-slept by a baby's manipulation...does that count? LOL.

 

I'm the same as some of you--I am proud of homeschooling, and I will gladly and honestly answer questions about it, but, like Jackie and Patty, I don't proclaim it from the rooftops! Though I am happier than a clam that I get this opportunity to be with my children while they're still young!!! :love:

My sister was my biggest "dissenter". She was concerned about socialization and what would my kids do when they got out in the "real" world, since they'd have NO idea how to socialize or act! As time went by, though, and she saw how they were turning out (her son started drugs at about 12--influence of ps "friends", he's in his 20's now and still messed up. Her oldest dd got pregnant at 15....), she changed her tune and became very supportive! Then her youngest dd, who did NOT want to end up like her older siblings, and my sis talked and decided she would homeschool her 10th and 11th grades! She did great!

So ya never know how things will turn out!

 

Well, given the fact that we spend our days out riding bikes all over tarnation, I think it's pretty obvious that we homeschool! I've never said yea or nay - it just...is!

 

I also used cloth diapers (lug enough disposables to Ethiopia for twins??? Nah - don't think so!!), co-slept (trying to get in and out of mosquito netting multiple times at night was just too much!), and breast-fed my twins until they were 2 1/2 (travel was a whole lot easier while breastfeeding!). But I just thought I was a regular, ordinary, every-day mom. Never considered that stuff wasn't the norm!

 

If people ask dd about school or why she isn't in school she tells them she's homeschooled. I don't volunteer the information.


Or if they ask what school dd goes to I just tell them she's homeschooled.

Not a big deal.

 

Well, it would be nice if I could answer the question should I desire to do so, but it is not even an option! In less than micro-second, while the last word is still hanging the air and I am taking breath to speak, my daughter says, "I don't go to school. I homeschool!" with a bit of attitude and a slightly annoyed look that she did NOT learn from me. :roll:

And...she is just 6yo.

 

Wait until you're with the kids at a museum or something, and someone comes up and asks, "Excuse me, are you a homeschooler?" And once, it was even SUMMER, so my being out in public with the kids was NOT the give-away, lol!!! I mean, do I wear a sign around my neck? I don't wear denim jumpers or even dresses, my hair isn't down to my rear and up in a bun and covered with what my husband calls a "doily" (no disrespect intended; I've friends who chose to do that and I respect their reasons for doing so) , and I don't have 15 children following behind from the ages of 18 years to one in a sling, lol! But always, it's been very nice people who were genuinely interested. The lady during the summer had a daughter who was considering hs'ing, and had sincere questions about it.

 

Haha, Jackie your description of a homeschooling mom had me rolling on the floor!

I am generally open about our decision to hs, if it comes up in conversation or people ask. In fact, the other day I was a substitute at a Bunko game night. One of the ladies politely asked if my oldest would be in Kinder next year in our local school. I automatically said, "Yes, he will be at the kinder level, but we are homeschooling." As soon as the words left my mouth I realized...I was substituting for a Bunko group that consisted of 11 ps teachers! Haha! Oops!

 

I haven't really said much yet. If we're at the doctor or someplace where they won't really come down on me then I will tell them.

I've sort of told my Mom, but I know she just brushed it off and crap is gonna hit the fan this Fall when he should be in school. Any other family that has asked I've just told them he could have gone this year, but with his birthday being Aug. 10 and a speech delay, we've decided to wait. Now in a few months I will get to say what I really think! yay!

 

OK, this video is for you, Jackie!
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=5358bb970bc6ae9eaa2d

 

Yeah, that video was going around awhile ago, and it's sooo good! My dh just commented yesterday that he thought it was a good one!

 

Yep, got a kick out of that one! One thing I love about the conference is the DIVERSITY of the people attending!

 

I could have wrote that. lol

 

I don't say unless it's asked. I still consider myself a newbie and unsure. I started last year and decided to 'teach' my preschoolers too. I figure after awhile I will get use to it and won't be so shy about saying yes I homeschool school. Though my confidence has improved a bit since starting.

 

Actually all my kids former teachers in KY were very encouraging of our decision to HS when we moved to VA. Now it was a Dept of Defense school and they are very used to homeschool families in a military community. These teachers all knew me and my kids ....and my extremely high standards...so I'm sure that helped. I was the Treasurer of the PTO and volunteered in their classrooms so I always knew what was happening :lol:

Many ps teachers totally understand the advantages of home education.

Like you though, I would probably have turned a bit red faced if I didn't know them all well

Rhonda C.

 

I will tell anyone right out - except co-workers. I've learned the hard way that this does not jive for whatever reason. I think it is because they are jealous of how high a priority my kids are to be honest.

 

Does anybody read Post Secret? It's a postcard website, anyways, there was one on there this Sunday that said:


"We elementary school teachers do NOT want you to "volunteer" in our classrooms!

We all think you need to get a JOB, get a LIFE,"

Somebody emailed in and said:

"Our children are our lives and we're in your classroom because we know how little some of you really care about them and about us. Our little secret? We don't trust you with our children unless we're keeping an eye on you."

I LOVED that!