(((hugs))) I think all of us have people in our families that don't approve. Most of the time they come around after they see how well it is working. My SIL and BIL are both teachers and of course they think I am nuts. They spent a week with us earlier this year and after "grilling" them on their lessons learned that they we were doing a pretty good job. Since then they haven't said a word. My mom keeps asking when I will put the boys in school. For some reason she thought we were just doing it for 1 year while I was taking care of my Mother in Law (she died of cancer last year). I dont' know about my grandma. She hasn't commented one way or another. She knows that I don't go withthe flow anyway so I guess she figures it issn't worth the argument.
My sister was the only one that gave us any grief when we started homeschooling. But once she saw how well the kids were doing, and that they weren't social misfits after all, she came around. Now she is homeschooling her youngest, who is in highschool! You just never know!
This is his parents, and his family. Two of the SIL's are teachers. One of them cannot even spell (get her emails regularly) and her DS is behind in school. My ex stepmom and current stepmom both, however, are teacher and ex teacher respectively and they are ALL for it. The one that is currently a teacher says keep him out of school and at home as long as you can, how sad is that?
I think that's one reason why Jackie's dh is so supportive---he is a teacher and sees the mess ps can be every day! I used to teach in schools also, and I love the idea of keeping my kids out as long as possible! My dh is all for it too! WA state does require a test yearly. We do the ITBS at a local Christian school (where my kids would be going if we weren't homeschooling). The kids there score higher than the ps kids on the test, and the homeschoolers that test there score higher than the kids that go to school there! So, I'm thinking that people can't say the homeschooled kids are deprived and don't get a good education. That's just the facts here, but it makes me proud of the other homeschoolers too!
I'm also a certified teacher and hope to always be able to homeschool. Teaching is my passion. I love sparking imaginations, creativity, exploration and inquiry. But after student teaching at the high school and middle school levels, I realized there would actually be very little of that (truly educating) and much more general management. Some ps teachers ARE doing an excellent job of handling all aspects of the position with which they are entrusted, but they are few and far between, exhaust themselves by doing so, and often burn out quickly. While my mom is the best homeschool cheerleader I could ever wish for, my dad is still waiting for me to "get a real teaching job", but he sees the profound effect homeschooling has on his only grandchild and has come a long way and seems much more accepting. I have to remind myself I'm not doing it for them or their approval, or even for me! (though I find it immensely rewarding and there's nothing in this world I'd rather be doing, paycheck or not! house or not, new car, clothes, etc. or not!) It is what I know is best for my child, and I reap fringe benefits now and I think that will also be the case in the future when I can enjoy a deeply rooted friendship, with a well-rounded, secure adult child capable of thinking for herself, is compassionate toward others, and not afraid to explore her world, ideas, or unique path.
Have no idea really but they will say well what is your excuse now, lol. I used kind of one to shut them up this year that since we leave before his first year of school even ends why send him.
My fil was against homeschooling at first. However, he is a ps teacher and after a year of me homeschooling, he was all for it. Not, that I give a hoot what he thinks to begin with. Guess that is a luxury. lol. My parents were for it. My mil was kinda for it. But again, my dh and I made this decision. They are my kids. So unless someone volunteers to pay all expenses from now until college---oh and college--- we will be the ones making the decisions, thank you! However, I can see the frustration if this is a constant issue. UGH! I have those too, just not about homeschooling. Family can be tough. But, we have to do what we think is best for our kids.
Well everyone on here knows I have been going through this forever and more then likely will to the end. I went home to see my family for the first time in 3 years and it was a hard thing. Didn't say much to anyone, sat very quiet and let them talk. They girls kind of stayed to themselfs and worked on there drawings, they never talked to them much we stayed for about 8 hours it was the longest 8 hours I have been through in along time.
Kris, i am sorry to hear that. I don't understand family sometimes. They raised us. They should know us and know that we are only doing what we know is best for our family.
(((HUGS))) Kris I am so sorry about that. I was extremely nervous about telling my family this year that we were going to homeschool - I was terrified. We told dh's dad and step mom first but no big deal there - her son was homeschooled last year. I finally told my parents and to my surprise they were all for it. Then I told my brother's family and my sil was a ps teacher. She hasn't said a thing one way or another. She is just as she always has been and the subject just doesn't come up much. However, I am worried about a confrontation of sorts with my extended family at Christmas this year. I see that part of my family as little as possible. Everybody talks about everybody else when they're together. I have three ps or former ps teachers in my family and they all think they know everything about everything. I am so not looking forward to Christmas with that side of the family and may just not go.
As Deena said, my husband is VERY supportive, partly because of what he sees daily in the PS. There's no way he would "allow" me to put our kids there! My oldest DSS graduated from the PS my DH was teaching at at the time, and in hind-sight, that was a big mistake! I am blessed with parents that are 100% behind me. I recently learned that my dad had a few concerns about high school, but hadn't voiced them to me. I learned this, because I had attended workshops designed for parents of older children at the Conference this year, and was sharing some of the stuff I learned with Dad. Seems a good deal of what I told him addressed his concerns. (And they were legitimate concearns!) My in-laws do not agree with homeschooling, but they are wise enough to know it's not their decision, and so they don't talk against it in any way. Also, after 7 years, they can see the results with my kids and know they're at least up to where they'd be if they were in school, lol! I do have advice when it comes to hostile family. First of all, the responsibility needs to fall on the husband. He is head of the household, and is ultimately the one responsible. He needs to let the family members know that the decision has been made and it is NOT open for discussion. Any complaints are NOT to be addressed to you OR THE KIDS, but to him directly. No snide comments will be tolerated, no telling the kids "Well, if you went to a REAL school....". Many of us are homeschooling out of religious convictions. If that is true, then he can tell them that "I believe this is God's direction for our family. If you have that strong of feelings against it, you are welcome to pray about it, and I am willing to hear God's voice on the matter." For non-believing parents, they already feel you're off the edge, and this will just be the "final proof", lol! For believing parents, it shuts them up REAL fast, because they sure can't argue with that! Sometimes, if they won't stop "discussing" it with you (or talking it down to the kids!), you MIGHT have to limit contact with them until they realize how serious you are. That's something that shouldn't be done lightly, but it IS an option.
My Mother approved of it from the beginning. My Dad is dead. My-in-laws were concerned about it but never have said anything negatively. They know I will speak my peace and that is the end. Randall & I made this decision. Randall really was concerned at first. He gave me one year to see how it worked. We are in our 5th year. I know he wouldn't have it any other way. He loves being able to take her to lunch if he can get off. He loves being with her on field trips when he can. My prayers are with you. You do what God wants you to do and don't worry about others. They will see it is a good thing.
kristen---You can tell them that your "excuse" is that you love your child and don't want him influenced by all the negative aspects of ps, which are many. You sound like a "real" homeschool mom, not one of the kind you were talking about that live near you! Your son is very bright, so to dull that creativity by putting him in a cookie mold (everybody do everything at the same time) would be a shame! Your 'escuse" is tht statistics prove that homeschoolers do better (because of the one-on-one) and score higher on national tests than ps students. Your "excuse" is that you feel your child is very special, and don't want him to be just a number (or letter) in the classroom. Your "excuse" is that your child is thriving/excelling at home and loving it! Why change to something else when the child loves what he is doing and is succeeding so well?! There are many other "excuses" that we could come up with for sure to cover that question of "What's your excuse now?"! If you need more, just ask! :lol:
I suppose it wouldn't be very loving to look some of those PS teachers in the eye and say, "I homeschool my kids to keep know-it-all idiot teachers like you from being a major influence in their lives..." :lol: (Sometimes that little Devil is still active in me!)
LOL, Jackie I agree with what you all are saying. But, we have to remember too there are some wonderful and I mean wonderful ps teacher out there. It's not there fault the kids act the way they do. But, it is our choice to keep our kids with us and hs them. It's been very hard for my family I will be honest with you all having no support from the your family and we were a close family until I started hs my girls. But, I have gotten on and do nothing I mean nothing with my family. My girls don't know my family there aunts, uncles, cousins it's sad we do talk about them but it's not the same as being with them. I think it's sad they might not ever know there family but we have learn to be our owe family and get on with it.
