I guess it all depends on where you live. There are a couple Christian groups around here, but just as many Muslim groups. One field trip with local homeschoolers was with mostly Muslim kids. There is one other homeschooling family at our church though. Funny thing, it has been church attendees who have questioned my ability to teach my children without the help of the school district.
Crazy, part of it with me is that I don't always remember who is Christian on here and who isn't. So when you or someone else who don't have strong spiritual beliefs ask, I say from my heart, without really knowing where you stand spiritually. And, because of my beliefs, that's expressed in it. And sometimes if I know a person isn't a believer, I might not post because I know the person won't "accept" what I say (ie: "Pray about it and....") It doesn't bother me in the least that you "block out" that. Just like I tend to "block out" a lot of stuff that I feel wouldn't be applicable to my situation. I think the only time I specifically ask about religion is when people ask about curriculum. I don't want to suggest, for example, a science that is creation-based when they don't believe that way. But I ask to better accomodate that person, and not for any other reason.
Even in my home...my husband and I have different views on everything. Like for instance, I'm Irish Protestant, he is Italian Catholic. But we just agree to disagree. We just leave it alone. Since there is now clear who's right or who's wrong, we realized along time ago, it didn't matter. I tend to have this opinion when it comes to a majority of things. My childrens health and well being though...that one I put first. That I will take some sort of stand on. I've been on the fence for yrs reguarding home schooling, but that's only because, like many others, I've watched how poorly the media portrayed it. I've since realized that it takes all types. Even my own quirky family may benefit from this. And it's to each his own. So while I may not fit into the 'mainstream', I don't believe the 'mainstream' is mainstream. I've spent months doing research, reading message boards reading books. Studying virtual, homeschool, public, private etc....I've came to one conclusion: None of them as a whole are a failures, none of them as a whole are perfect. They are what each individual person makes of it. I don't feel like I fit into any particular group either. I don't purposely socially alienate myself, it just so happens that the day to day stuff bores me to death. I live in a neighborhood with over 200 kids trying to keep up with Jones'. And 90% of the time, I prefer they all stay on the other side of the 6 foot fence we built last year. But sometimes it's fun to let the world in and socialize with neighborhood bbqs etc. Yet I never truly feel like I fit into any group. And I don't mind it. I like being an individual.
I was once told to 'look elsewhere' for a hs group because I don't hs for religious reasons, lol. LOVELY testimony that dude gave as he turned me away!
We've been homeschooling 6 years now, and each year I've moaned that Jeannie has no friends. That hasn't changed, and I started taking notice the moms I know are less and less available for various reasons. I've tried to arrange field days, a science fair, and various trips, but no one is interested. Their kids are tied up in sports or some other activity, and still others just aren't interested in those kinds of things. It gets very aggravating for me.
Becky, I think part of that is age. I've found that, as my kids get older, people are more settled to what THEY are doing. I rarely take ALL the kids to the library at once anymore; when they were little, we were there two or three times a week!
I agree about age playing more of a role in less group activities than getting into a routine. We are traveling for driver's ed, music lessons in our home for dd11 and at another location for ds14, youth group, church, community involvement, etc. We just have no time for homeschool group specific activities that do not fit our goals. And a lot of the reason those activies don't fit our goals is because, as my kids age, we are fine-tuning their involvement and experiences to suit their own personal goals. Our focus is no longer socializing casually, it is socializing along to the way to meeting your adult life.
YEAH! THAT'S what I meant, Brooke!!! Even Phillip's science group that has met here for the last two years will be stopped next year. Not because I dislike the ladies and don't want to be a part anymore, but because he's older and ready to move on where the other two are not. If they were to "move up" with me, great. But the kids aren't "there" yet.
Hi, I am a very different gal. I tend to find myself fitting n with husbands conversations with other men better than I fit in the ladies conversations. I am a God fearing follower of Jesus Christ, I teach my children about God & the bible, to worship, pray & love God above all others. However I don't attend church nor do I plan to. Most of the time I have different views on raising my kids & running my household than most I know. We are very self sufficient. We dairy farm, live off the land as much as possible,(fishing, hunting, gardening, canning, freezing, etc...). I don't buy foods that have high fructose corn syrup in them or ingredients that I cannot pronounce. I know just a couple of folks who homeschool in my area, so no group activities here. That's ok though bc I would feel uncomfortable being a part of it, I am sure. All the folks & relatives that I speak to don't get this homeschool stuff. The way I gruel over which curriculum to use, a new approach to teaching to satisfy my visual spatial learning DD. The one place I am feeling @ ease a little is the spot. This forum has folks here that are grueling over the same things that I am. Who cares if they have a different religious belief or part their hair different than I do. Shake it off & dive in. Don't worry about cultural or religious differences. God bless!
YOU PART YOUR HAIR DIFFERENT THAN I DO??? Oh, I didn't know that! I guess I can't talk with you anymore!!!
Hi Amethyst! I am a Catholic as well, and I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. I am from the South which is predominantly protestant, and based on our beliefs, we don't fit in. But often times we don't fit in with traditional catholics either. My beliefs are traditional, but that's where the similarities end. We listen to secular music, we wear shorts and sandals to mass (we get a lot of glares for that one), I'm married to a protestant, I got my tubes tied, we homeschool (most of the catholics in our area send their kids to the parishes private schools), my children are bi-racial (I'm white and my husband is black).....the list goes ON And ON! But the one thing that keeps me from feeling isolated is knowing that I'm doing the best for my family. If other people want to judge me on my "lifestyle", then that is their issue...not mine. I also hate confrontations and uncomfortable situations and if we don't conform to what others want, questions will be asked. I avoid insulting situations. I'll be darned if anyone, no matter what THEIR beliefs are, insults my family or tries to make me feel bad for choices we made. I have to say that we stay too busy to really "care" what others think, but I understand completely where you are coming from. Nothing is worse than trying to make friends with others with similar beliefs and interests, only to find out that if you don't exactly fit the mold you're deemed an outsider Amethyst, you have a friend in me!:love:
Thanks, Lady Dove! I wish you lived up north here. I could use an in-person friend like you to go get a cup of coffee with.:angel:
You're so sweet! It just burns me up inside knowing that if people don't conform to a HUMAN'S set of rules, then we are not living up to our belief system. No two people are alike in any aspect....even saints have struggled with their faith and where they "fit in", hun. Don't feel like you're the only one wearing a scarlet letter, peach, because hundreds of thousands of us do. Some just prefer to cover it up with a cardigan sweater and a smile.:roll: Sorry bout the pet names, dear, I'm southern....I was born this way!!!!!
I know how you feel! I often don't feel like I fit in. I'm not even a "real" homeschooler anymore, as both my own kids are off in public school now. I poke my head in here every now and again, because I'm using homeschool materials with the two children I tutor (one is a homeschooler, but the other is an afterschooler). I don't hate public school. I think providing a free education to all people is actually a good and necessary thing, and I think many people of good conscience are trying to make it work better. It's a work in progress. I'm a Sunday school teacher, but I've also written quite a bit of porn. Oh... and everyone at church knows! Which isn't surprising, considering my church flies a rainbow flag over the front door. (Even my church doesn't fit in!) You'd probably call me a liberal, but my views range from libertarian to socialist, with just a soupçon of anarchist, depending on the topic. And let's just say I never doubted the US president was born in Hawaii. I think "fitting in" is over-rated. The only person who has ever made me feel like I totally belong is my husband. Everywhere else, I'm just a little out of synch. And I've decided that's okay. I don't have to be like everyone else, and everyone else doesn't have to be like me. Like I tell my daughter - all you really need in life is ONE good friend. If you've got two, you can count yourself wealthy.
Okay, I know I'm spamming this thread, but I've got to share a few funny homeschooling stories... 1. My daughter's cub scout troop met every week in a local Catholic school. One Easter the walls were decorated with giant construction paper crosses. My six year old son pointed at them and said loudly, "Look, Mama! They're studying Jewish history, just like we are!" 2. Her troop leader, in an effort to be inclusive of all religions, instructed the children to swear to obey whichever God they choose to worship. My daughter immediately stuck her hand in the air and said, "Can I choose to worship Aphrodite then? Because I think she's the prettiest!" 3. One day my son was reading to me from "The Beginner's Bible". In the middle of our lesson, some Jehovah's Witnesses stopped by (again!). This time, though, my son ran to the door with his book in his hand. Before I could say anything to the men, my son waved his book in the air and said, "We're reading the BIBLE!" I said (barefoot and in a long skirt), "I'm homeschooling." "Oh, well! We won't bother you then!" And they left! It was the fastest I've ever seen Jehovah's Witnesses retreat. They only just came back this year - some eight years later! 4. One day, while we were checking in for a homeschool swim class at the Jewish community center, my children spotted a sign announcing a particular holiday. Immediately they launched into a song they'd learned for that day. The lady at the desk was charmed, and asked if they attended the Jewish school attached to the community center. It didn't seem worth getting into a long explanation over why my Gentile children were swimming at a Jewish community center (because the pool is awesome) and singing Jewish songs (I consider world religions the "fourth R"). So I just said, "No, I homeschool them." Sometimes not fitting in is hilarious!
