Homeschool World Forum

I live in the suburbs of Missouri as well, actually only about an hour or so away from Theodore. I have only had a couple of incidences where the neighbors have questioned why we homeschool. Both by people who made the statement "Our school district is one of the best in the state, why wouldn't you send your kids there?" I've just told them we have chosen to homeschool, I like my kids, and I like being around them. My kids don't play a lot with neighbor kids but that is because if someone wants to play with our kids, they have to come to our yard, and I don't allow any cussing in my yard. Usually they don't stay around long once I put a stop to the language. THey have their friends that we allow, and they do fine with that.

What part of Missouri do you live in?

I live northwest of St. Louis. My husband works in St. Louis.

bobbinsx5, I wish we lived next to you! We live in Delaware though.
Just last week a 4 year old child from our neighborhood was missing because the [parents] weren't watching him. Every law enforcement officer from the state was in our neighborhood including a helicopter. It was a happy ending, the child was found sleeping in the backseat of his grandmother's car hours later while she was playing Bingo. (or thats the story we heard anyway). It was horrifying to see people dredging ponds and searching construction sites, (we live in a new development) and speculating where this poor boy could have gotten lost or hurt. We decided that kids can come here to play, but we'll be very reluctant to allow them to other people's houses unless we are very close with the other families.

Some people really seem personally offended by the idea of homeschooling. I've simply mentioned I'm going start homeschooling my children and my parenting skills are picked apart and my judgement is insulted. Like I just decided on a whim one day I was going to homeschool. It's really annoying because although I am opposed to sending MY children to public school, I would never attack someone for sending their kids. And it's hard to explain my reasons for homeschooling without sounding self-righteous or like I think I'm a superior mom because I really don't think that way. It's just about personal choice. Usually though, people are so opposed to homeschooling because they don't know much about it. It's great to meet those who think what you're doing is good and are willing to listen all the pro's about homeschooling.
Just prepare your kids for the "what school do you go to?" question. Usually the person asking isn't tacky enough to question your decision to HS in front of your kids. If you're confident about the decision to HS, I think the kids will be too.

I personally dont care what people say about me, but I do want to protect my kids from that sort of attack, oddly enough one of the many reasons I want to homeschool! My kids are still little, and I get the impression that people who we've told about our decision think that it is just a phase and we'll come to our senses later. I wonder if it would help if I had some facts and figures to prove to them how much better the kids can do, without insulting those who do send thier kids to public or private school

I WILL BEGIN HS FOR THE FIRST TIME, WITH THE BEGGINING OF THE 2006 SCHOOL YEAR.I HAVE AN 8 DD AND A 9 DS, THEY HAVE ATTENDED PS K-3RD. IT HAS BEEN IN MY MIND SINCE THE TIME THEY WERE BORN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TEACH THEM AT HOME. I DIDN'T IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE I HAD TO WORK, BUT HONESTLY I DIDN'T THINK I HAD ENOUGH EDUCATION TO TEACH THEM PROPERLY OR EVEN THE SELF CONFIDENCE TO DO IT. I BUILT IT UP IN MY MIND TO BE SOMETHING THAT IT WASN'T! NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM NOT WORKING OUT OF THE HOME NOW. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH AGREE THAT ME BEING HOME WITH OUR KIDS IS WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR FAMILY AND I AM SO HAPPY. I MISSED A LOT IN THE BEGINNING AND I AM LOOKING SO FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM NOT RUNNING OUR LIVES THIS YEAR.

THIS YEAR IS A TRIAL YEAR FOR US ,I HAVE TOLD MY KIDS AFTER THIS YEAR. IF THEY THINK THAY MAY WANT TO GO BACK INTO THE PS SYSTEM WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT AND CONSIDER IT. I AM HOPING THAT THIS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL LOVE AND WILL WANT TO CONTINUE. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING HS FOR AWHILE NOW AND HAVE READ SEVERAL BOOKS. I NEVER REALIZED THAT WITH HS THERE WERE SO MANY OPTIONS. HS IS WIDE OPEN WITH ONLY YOUR IMAGINATION TO HOLD YOU BACK IT ISN'T LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOOL WERE EVERYTHING HAS TO FIT INTO THE SAME SIZE ,SHAPE,AND COLOR BOX.

SINCE SCHOOL IS STARTING BACK EVERYONE EVERYWHERE YOU GO AND TAKE YOUR KIDS ASKS ARE YOU READY FOR SCHOOL TO START BACK? WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN? WERE DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL? WHO IS YOUR TEACHER? I FEEL A NERVOUS FLUSH COME OVER ME WHEN THE LAST 2 QUESTIONS ARE ASKED WAITING FOR MY KIDS TO ANSWER AND GET THE REACTION FROM THE PERSON BEHIND THE COUNTER OR DESK. I HAVE SO FAR BEEN VERY SURPRISED MANY PEOPLE HAVE TOLD THAT THEY 2 HAD THOUGHT ABOUT HS AT 1 TIME OR ANOTHER ,BUT NEVER DID. IT MAKES ME THINK THAT THEY WERE PROBABLY JUST LIKE ME AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. ITS JUST THAT I FINALLY HAVE THE COURAGE TO ATLEAST TRY WHATEVER THE OUTCOME THEN TO HAVE NEVER TRIED AND ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT IF?

SORRY DIDN'T MEAN TO RAMBLE! GOD BLESS YOU!