By Stephanie
It is inevitable. You meet someone. They find out you are a homeschooler. And they start asking you questions like “Aren’t you concerned about socialization?” or “Aren’t you worried about them getting into college?” I find these questions interesting…do they really think that I am not concerned about these things? I try to gently point out that of course I am concerned about these things (what parent is not?). Of course I want my kids to grow up and be functioning adults. And after much reading and research I choose to homeschool. So maybe, just maybe, it is possible to homeschool and raise functional adults. Interesting concept, isn’t it.
I really do think that most people (at least the ones that I come across) are well-meaning and genuinely interested or curious. It is just something with which they are not familiar. Homeschooling does require a bit of a paradigm shift…you have to think outside the box and question commonly held and accepted beliefs. See how socialization can occur without school. See how learning can happen without grades or tests (at least for us). One warning though…homeschooling can lead to the questioning of many these beliefs…but that is half the fun!
I actually enjoy the looks of surprise when people find out that I homeschool. I do not fit many people’s image of a typical homeschooler. I am a Democrat, I support progressive causes, I am a Unitarian Universalist, and for the most part I am a fairly normal person. Really, I am! So it surprises people to find out that I homeschool. The interesting thing is that the homeschool community actually is very diverse…people from all faiths, all political points of view. There are about as many reasons to homeschool as there are homeschoolers. You would be surprised.
So I try to take those pesky homeschooling questions in stride. And focus instead on helping someone expand their understanding of homeschooling. Luckily I love talking about homeschooling so this comes easily to me. My husband always asks me why I seem to talk so much about homeschooling. I think it comes up so often because most people ask me about my kids which leads to the next inevitable question “What grade are they in and do they enjoy school?”. Which leads to them discovering I am a homeschooler…
Stephanie is constantly trying to find that elusive state of balance in her life while enjoying her two energetic yet vastly different boys. You can read about their ongoing exploits on her blog, Throwing Marshmallows.
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