This topic is written as a response to a comment on the education blog about homeschooling. A mom who was considering homeschool asked why her friend felt so strongly that she should not homeschool her child.
Chances are that your friend has the best of intentions. They believe that school is the best place for your child. They believe that homeschooling is akin to coddling. They believe homeschoolers are crazy. What you have to realize is that they are entitled to their opinion, but as a mom, you still have to make your own decisions. If your gut tells you to homeschool your child, especially in spite of the objections of friends, and even family, then you probably should homeschool your child.
I have had several well-intentioned people make arguments as to why I should not homeschool, or why I should stop homeschooling. They are:
You are spoiling your child by homeschooling. These statements came from the same camp that told me to let my child cry out at night. My heart told me to get up and sooth my child. My heart also tells me to homeschool. By “spoiling” my kids, I am not raising them wrongly. I am raising them differently. We all have seen kids whose parents did not “spoil” them, turn out terribly.
You are overworking yourself by homeschooling. Somehow, after I started homeschooling, whenever I felt tired or worn out, it was because of homeschooling. Me being tired from not enough sleep or late nights before was never a problem. I did not take on more duties by homeschooling. I replaced old duties.
My child has to go to public school. Why can’t yours? I love it when the truth begins to surface. Most people who have confronted me with this statement (often aggressively) were disturbed that I was doing something that they felt they could not do. After all, who was I that I should give my kids special treatment?
You need more time for yourself. The people who made this statement thought homeschooling took up too much of my free time. These were also the people who called me for favors, and I never said no. Homeschooling taught me to say no and so…
You need more time for me. A-ha! Someone actually had the guts to tell me what they really felt. This comment was from someone who called on me quite a bit when they needed someone to talk to or do something. After about a year of homeschooling they actually said, “You should put your kids back in school so you can spend more time with me”. How dysfunctional is that?
So here is my advice for when you are confronted with the objections of well-meaning people who object to homeschooling. Ask questions to find out why they really do not think you should homeschool. If you listen carefully, you will understand. At the root of the problem is always some form of jealousy. (Harsh, but true) File their objection in the appropriate folder and make your own decisions.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start here!