Homeschool World Forum

[Mark]

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My new blog:
http://exwitch.ancientcrossroads.org/

[bittersweet]

I feel comfortable admitting that yes, I am indeed supermom.

[ClassiclyAmber]

[Emerging Dad]

I worked briefly as a custodian in one of the "best" public schools in that part of the state, and I only need point to the failures I saw there to defend my decision to homeschool — teachers who skipped at least one class period a week to watch movies as "rewards," papers with more grammatical errors than I cared to count posted on bulliten boards as examples of good work, more silly busy-work projects — thrown on the floors for me to pick up, no less — than were necessary or condusive to education, etc.

When my wife and I made our decision to homeschool known (our son is young yet, but the idea is to teach him what he is ready to learn when he is ready to learn), my mother-in-law made a few comments about how we would give that up pretty quickly. We have a couple of allies in my wife's young aunt and uncle, who are also homeschooling their children, and my parents are supportive enough about it.

Everyone else just wrote it off as "another one of those weird things they do."
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I'm a nice enough guy, and if I say something hurtful I probably didn't mean it that way.

Semper Reformanda!

[Morgan]

[Ceres]

[Ophelia]

I think I have been quite fortunate. The only people that have questioned my homeschooling my children have been my mother and step-father. Although they do not pester me about it. My mother even asks how the children are doing and flips through their portfolio's when she visits.

My friends and merchants of locally owned businesses we have visited with the children all say things like "Oh that's really cool. We had another homeschool family in here just the other day. It seems to be getting quite popular around here." My friends think I'm some kind of "supermom" or reincarnation of Mother Theresa.

My mother stopped worrying about the children's lack of socialization when I mentioned all the activities planned for May, June and July. The only other people that pose questions about the socialization is my 76 year old neighbor. She seems to have the impression that I keep the children locked up in the house all day. She was just delighted when I asked her where in the area I could find swimming lessons for the kids. She came running over with brochures and talked to me for over an hour.

I hope that when I am finally confronted with someone that questions our decision I will be able to keep my cool and come back with a clever reply rather than getting offended and angry.
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Dawn

Mother of Fionn (5-7-01), Bailey (9-12-02) and Owen (8-7-07)

[oneofthegirls]

I am so tired of defending my decision to hs my twin girls. They are 12, and this year we are getting out more with co op and connecting with other hs families. They have youth group and other clubs to socialize.
Still- we get the 'social' issue argument, even from my own son!
I am so tired of beating myself up over our decision- why do I let what others say affect my peace of mind and well being?? Why can't I smile, and blow off any negative comments or opinions of others who don't even have school age children yet?? It's kind of ridiculous, now, when I think about it.
I have second guessed myself- my abilities as a hs parent, and our curriculum, I don't need other people on the outside adding to my heap of doubt. Anyways- I am tired..lol
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“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”
Corrie Ten Boom