That's the phrase I keep testing out on people. Since I'm pretty sure I want to give homeschooling a try next year (Em will be in 1st grade, she's in 1/2 day K right now), I figure I might as well start to let people in on it. Normally, it comes out after they ask me how she is liking school. So far, I'm typically responded with a few seconds of awkward silence, followed by a forced "Oh really?! That's... neat" as they give me a deer-in-the-headlights facial expression. Most people will go on to say (in a critical tone), "It's going to be a lot of work" or "That's quite a commitment." Of course, my hope is for it to be very successful for us. Deep down, I would like to homeschool all the way to high school graduation. However, I have to admit these delicate yet critical responses are a kick to my already floundering self esteem on whether or not I'm going to be able to do this and do it well. I have a couple people who are in my corner. My dad is SUPER supportive. My mom is as well, but she thinks I shouldn't start so young (she was thinking more like middle school). My closest friend (the only person who is brutally honest with me and vice versa) says she hopes it goes well but thinks I'm going to hate it and that I'm pretty much crazy to attempt it. I also know a couple HSers and HS veterans that I reach out to from time to time (mostly through FB).
If it is something you want to do, I suggest you DON'T let people know in advance. You CAN do this, it is a commitment, and you won't mess up your child. Other opinions can cause you to doubt yourself, not helpful when taking on a new challenge. I suggest you talk about it only to those who support you. We are always here to help and advise, support and guide. It is a great thing you are wanting to do - don't let others that truly know nothing about it deter you. Wanted to add: There will be days you feel crazy, there will be days things are tough, but is that parenting anyway?? You can do this!
You CAN do it and you can do it WELL. I agree with Stephanie. I wouldn't even bother telling anyone else for awhile. It's none of their business anyway. Next year when she's not at school they can either figure it out themselves or ask you. You'll continue to get negative comments or odd looks from time to time for the next 12 years....why openly invite the comments? Like water off a ducks back. I still vividly remember a comment from an old family friend (she knew me as a teen). I hadn't seen her in years and we were chatting. I must have mentioned something about homeschooling my kids and her dd, about age 8 at the time, said, "Ohhhh....I wish I could homeschool". Her mother looked right at her and said, "No. You need to go to school to get those basics down." It was kind of a weird thing to say, in front of me. Like.....what does that mean?? I can't teach my kids the basics?? Isn't that the easiest stuff to teach anyway?? But, you have to just let it go (which I have, even though I still remember it and I'm telling you :lol: ). That's wonderful that your parents are supportive. My parents and my inlaws are supportive, but they live far away. I don't have any IRL friends at all who homeschool. The only support I get is from sites like this. We are here to encourage and help you when you need it.
I completely agree with the other ladies. I also wanted to respond to the "That's quite a committment" comment. Grrr. Because having to get our kids up and dressed and out the door on time 5 days a week for 3/4 of the year isn't a commitment? Having to help with fundraising, attend parent meetings, band/choir performances and sports games isn't a commitment?? I don't get it. Yes it's a commitment. But so is sending them to public school. No matter which way you school your children it's a commitment. One we made the day we conceived our babies and one that will continue long past graduation. As to your success - you can totally do this! My kids are pretty young still but we have every intention of schooling straight through graduation right here at home. I try not to think about middle and high school grades because it makes me anxious but I know I can do it. One day, week, month, and year at a time.
My best advice...make parenting decisions with your husband, not your friends and family. I think "that's quite a commitment" comment got me too LOL It's also quite a commitment to... get married. buy a house. buy a car. sign a 3 year contract for a cell phone. or, say...ummm...I don't know....HAVE A CHILD! But people don't respond to THOSE statements they way they do to "I think we might homeschool" It's not that it's a commitment or a lot of work it's that people don't understand it and aren't familiar with it and humans don't like change, we fear the unknown. These people...they simply fear the unknown so they want to discourage you from taking a leap, with your child, into their unknown....
Excellent advice! The way you're doing it, they feel it's not decided, and THEY have the right to convince you otherwise.
Thanks for the great advice. I'm definitely going to take it. I had never thought of it sounding like I'm trying to get them to advise me in one direction or the other, but now that you mention it I think that is definitely what it was. I'm just going to happily keep it to myself and the ones who already support me.
I find it amusing that they're worried you're starting so young though. I generally think it would be more difficult when the kid is older to get them to adapt to a whole new way of learning. Anyway, you'll do great! I've recently brought up with people that I want to homeschool my child, and I get the opposite responses. Outside friends are usually very supportive, while my family is basically telling me I'm crazy and my mother rolls her eyes as much as humanly possible. lol. But like the PPs said, it's nobody's business but yours, and you shouldn't worry too much about what they think If you think it's the way to go, go for it!
She thinks it would be easier to have them learn the basics in school. However, I'm kind of learning from my parents' experiences. My younger brother has been to 3 different schools and one virtual school. The first 2 schools he was bullied, then they tried K12 online school for a year, and now he is trying again at a new school (and is already talking about wanted to try ANOTHER school). He admits he learned more in that one year of online school than any other, but he wouldn't do anything social. He basically did his lessons, and camped out in front of the TV. I feel like if I start them younger it will go over better because they'll get used to HS at a young age. Whereas my brother went to private schools for 10 years and THEN tried HS.
If he camped out in front of the TV, it's because he was ALLOWED to do that. My children know the TV is off during school hours. PERIOD. Unless there's something special; when they were younger, we would watch Between the Lions every day after lunch. And when they were preschoolers, I would go grocery shopping Monday mornings. If they were good while shopping, I'd turn on Sesame Street when we got home (while I put away groceries), but it was a special treat for Mondays. However, I do agree its easier if they've grown up homeschooling. They fall into a routine, they know what to expect, and they aren't yet in a "school" box that is hard to break out of. It's said that if you bring a child "home" from school, the first year is spent "deschooling" them. I might add that there is a difference between homeschooling and online schooling. Both have a place, and both are good options, but they ARE different.
I think your mother has it backwards, it is in the young and tender years you want them home, then give in later as needed. The extra years to develope character, morals, etc in a home environment will be benificial later. Brining home a kid who has been schooled to homeschool is more of a challenge. Some of the responses I have given over the years: Yes it will be a lot of work. Degree to teach? I have a public H.S. diploma, what more could you ask. You're right, there are some great and innovative educators out there and fortunately many of them write homeschool materials. Yes! we are lucky we can stay home and homeschool, we are blessed that our sacrifices are sufficient. 60 percent of kids in this county never finish H.S, I can't play the game with those odds, we'll take our chances at home.
I agree on all accounts. It was more like, "How can we get him away from bullies and educated with the least amount of effort as possible?"
