How do you help people accept your choice to homeschool?

Question

My ex lives in Canada and wants to be able to take our kids for a month or more at a time. My parents say only teachers should teach children and are very negative about the whole idea. I also want to homeschool to instill values, morals and spiritual beliefs in my children they wont necessarily learn at a public school.

Answer 1

They don't have to, but it does make it easier. The best thing is to just honestly explain you're reasoning. We've been homeschooling for 5 years and most people are fine with it, those that aren't, we just smile and keep on going. People don't like what they don't understand. Don't make a decision to make others happy, it is hard, but well worth it. I hope things go well.

Answer 2

You can not convince anyone. All you can do is keep up the good job and maybe they will see the fruits of your labor in the end. If they share the same values, morals and spiritual beliefs as you do maybe show them what the public schools are teaching that contradicts your beliefs. I find sending doubters to www.drdino.com my best way to explain. He is a teacher of creation science. He is very educated and no professor(or anyone else) has been able to prove him wrong. He also approves of homeschooling. Do not be discourage, you are doing the right thing to homeschool your children.

Answer 3

The only thing you can really do is to just stand strong and not let it get to you. Some people come around as they see how great it is; others don't. If you are tired of hearing about it, you can say something like, "I hear that you don't like this idea and I understand you have worries about it. I am feeling frustrated, however, because this is something I have decided to do and I would like to be trusted and supported in my decision."

I'm not too sure what the thing about your ex means. What does his taking the kids for a month or more have to do with homeschooling? This wouldn't be during the school year, would it?

Answer 4

Firstly, your choice to home school is your own. You should have no need for other people to "accept" your choice. However, you should not expect everyone to agree with that choice.

That being said, keep in mind that what you learn in school often has very little to do with academics. Much of what you learn is about how to function in a society made up of people with differing social backgrounds, religious viewpoints, and levels of intelligence. I personally believe that homeschoolers are doing their kids a great disservice by not allowing them to interact with others who are simply not like themselves.

Even though kids spend several hours a day in a school, you must remember that they also spend mornings, evenings and weekends with you and they naturally look to you for guidance as a parent. You will have no problems instilling values, morals, and spiritual beliefs in them. If anything, they will be stronger because they have others with differing viewpoints to compare and contrast against. Conversely, If they are raised in a vacuum they will be totally unprepared when they hit the real world and run up against their first amoral radical atheist.

Answer 5

If your parents are against it and it matters to you, why not sit down and have a talk with them about it? Calmly and gently ask them what their specific concerns are -- are they worried their grandkids are going to turn out as dorks, or are going to get poor social exposure or whatever? Then you can respond specifically to their questions. I'm sure you can help them get excited about homeschooling as well!

As far as exposing children to people who are different (as a previous answerer expressed concern about), a homeschooled child can have so many wonderful cross-cultural experiences because they're NOT bound by a traditional classroom setting. Some friends of mine got to vacation with their kids in England for 2 weeks visiting castles, learning about history, all while keeping up their daily school schedule! It was a great, and educational, experience for them (and they saved $$ because they didn't have to wait for school vacation times which are inevitably more expensive).

Besides, not a day goes by when you don't hear about some awful thing happening among young kids and teens -- I frankly don't want my kids socialized into THAT!! And as for them growing up and being incapable of handling questions from a radical atheist... that will only happen if I've not done my job as a parent and teacher. It's not my job to shelter them from the world, but to show them how to respond to questions about their faith with confidence.

Keep up the good work. When people see your bright, articulate, well-behaved, polite kids, they'll eat their words!! :)

God bless.

Answer 6

Don't worry about having them accept it, all they need to do is respect it. I have been home schooled my whole life, shore I would of liked to see what happens in public school as a student for a day, but If I would of spent 7 hours a day for at least 10 years of my life, in a place where I would have no chance to talk to God, except in the bathroom and quietly in the lunch line, I know I wouldn't have a relationship even close to the one I have with him now. As long as you know that what you're doing is smart, don't worry about what they think. A respecter of persons is not what God is, and although you don't want to deeply offend people, you don't want your respect of persons to get in the way of your children's education. Both academically and spiritually. P.S. Hope it helps you.

Answer 7

Why can't your ex just take your children over the summer, for a month or so? Most home-schoolers I know take a summer break, just like public schools. Just make sure she reads to your children and does other activities during that month, to keep their minds working, so they don't lose everything they learned during the school year.

Answer 8

Don't worry about what other people think- but if you want them to accept it, make a dramatic scene about how great it is and how ignorant they're being. For example:

"Oh my god! Homeschooling is my LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE! WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THIS! I'M HYPERVENTALATING...OH NO I'M HAVING A HEART-ATTACK! OH GOD NOOOOOOOOO..."

Then fall to the ground.

They've GOT to listen after that little senario..

you might even get some money out of it..perhaps a home-cooked meal to help you get "better"...

So enjoy homeschooling!

But I'm just saying, home-schoolers can be socially inept.

Answer 9

I really wouldnt worry what other people think. They are your children and as their parent I am sure that you will make the correct decision in regards to their wellbeing. I think that what you are doing is great. Public schools are over rated. I come from an entire family of teachers. Please just make sure that your children have the social interactions that they need. Best of wishes to you.

Answer 10

If you know you can do a good job, then go for it. That sounds nice, I kinda wish that happened to me.