My husband's business partner stopped by for a meeting at our home, his wife was with his. Very nice people in their early 60s. I was "entertaining" wife naturally, while men talked. After introducing each other, and showing her my garden and exchanging short notes about economy, she out of blue started complaining to me about her daughter in law, who is homeschooling two young kids. She was saying how it was wrong, and that they have lots of arguments about it, and how kids are being so shy because of lack of socialization, and that they are slow readers because of poor home education, on and on and on, I was frankly surprised that she was talking to me about it so openly and long, we just met. But must be that was a painful topic for her, and she was happy to find someone who listened? Anyway, I listened to her all that time, and then said: Mmm, I understand your point of view, but you talk to a wrong person, we homeschool here, too. Her jaw dropped, she said You're kidding! I said Nope, we really do. I gave her my reasons and bunch of benefits, showed her our work, and even found an article on the internet for her. While she was reading the article, my friend from a hs-ing group dropped my son off from the field trip to the museum, and so they visited for a while, she had three wonderful kids. I introduced all of them, kids gave a small concert for the lady, my son played trumpet, one of the kids played piano and two others sang. Then they organized a quick puppet show, they've been practicing for the Mother's day tea party in our hs group, and the lady was surprised in a good day. Everyone had a good time at the end, The kids had chance to "show off" what they've learned, the lady (I hope!) saw yet another positive angle of homeschooling, and I escaped from awkward situation talking about homeschooling. I hope this will change her mind about her daughter in law, and they will have no arguments about it any more
LOL!!!!! That daughter-in-law may never know she has best friends somewhere watching her back for her! :lol:
thats so cool! I know there are some kids/parents out there though that do put a bad look on home schooling because they don't do much actually schooling of any kind, including unschooling here as schooling btw, you folks actually do learning stuff. I had a friend who 'schooled her kids at home" but never had them finish anything it seemed, the kids were far behind mine, and it surprised me then because I figured I was doing a lousy job but mine were excelling. I am so glad that you could lift this ladies opinion of home schoolers too!
You couldn't have arranged that if you had tried! Great the kids could do such a great job just being themselves!
Wow! I bet that daughter-in-law has been praying for something to change her mother-in-law's mind. Way cool.
I thought it was worth it to post! Thank you for all the responses! Today's breakdown: we have company, my GF who is O.K. with myself homeschooling,. but this time she came with her mother, who is in her late 60s, and highly educated. She could not help but giving me her negative input on homeschooling, saying literally: " It is too late to send your son back to school, by now he is *too damaged* being homeschooled". Well thank you for kind words, old lady! Grrrr! Why people won;t keep to themselves their opinion, and mind their own business? And assume that there are some other ways to go around education besides what they think is right? Sorry for venting:cry:
It just goes to show you that education isn't everything. I don't want my children to be so socialized that they feel they can say whatever they want whenever they want. :roll: Maybe you should suggest she go and take an etiquette class and add to her educational credits. :lol:
I thought yeahhhhh! your right my kids are not fit for public school. Because they are doing great! LOL As a side note I read an article once that said as you age there is part of your brain that deteriorates and its function is the part that makes you have manners or be nice. I call it the "give a crap" part. So we joke about old people who have lost the "give a crap" part of their brain. Sounds like that lady lost hers a little early.
Grrr, messed up, huh? It always baffles me how #1) People don't think twice about insulting you to your face about homeschooling, and #2) People SEE the problems in the schools nowadays, maybe even TALK about budget cuts, bullies, child molesters, etc. but when you try to provide something better, oh no! You're too stupid! You can't POSSIBLY teach your own kid! I had a recent experience where two women from my church, whom I don't talk to much, made some comment about the kids being off school. No, we homeschool, I said. You should have seen their JAWS DROP. "Really??!!" says one, looking at me and the kids up and down, like "WoW You are so weird". I mean, she just kept on looking at us and saying "Really??!!" I'm getting irritated by this time and said something like, yeah, its not that hard. There's curriculum, I don't just pull it out of my hat every morning!" and then I added that I've been through school myself so I can pretty much handle it. Grrr....
To old lady: Too bad it is too late for productive treatment, that early onset dementia has you 'too damaged' for help now! Probably a good thing my internal editor keeps my mouth shut - most of the time. LOL
"Too damaged" to go back to school? Hahahahahahaha. I could have such a good time with that statement.
It is really funny, such misunderstanding of the reality. But most people (I was one of them very recently) have absolutely no idea what homeschooling is, and what a blessing it is. My GF (whose mother gave that "damage" statement), her older son hates school, he a senior, has slight depression and wants to do nothing so far, no plans for college. He is pretty big guy and works as a guard in a bar in Chicago, and after school he wants to continue working there. Her younger son, a 5th grader, is smart and advanced in math and otherwise, but he has some communication issues, and has melt downs every so often, making my GF rather frustrated. She was called to school a couple of times because of fights he had there - fun. But she is working full time, besides she has hot temper and close to zero patience, she said to me that HS is never an option for her no matter what is happening in school. I hate when I have to knock my head with a fake smile saying: yea, yea, i know, i understand your point of view..! Heck, when people start to understand MY point of view for change???:roll:
