I get this question pretty much every time someone asks me what school I go to I say. "I am homschooled." Then the other person says something like. "Wow, cool! I guess you have friends right, it must be hard to make them since you homeschool. eh?"
I hate this comment and/or question!!! Its SO EASY to make friends when homeschooling. You just have to go out and do things you like to do. Sign up for homeschooling group in your area. Join clubs or voulenteer at a animal shelter.
Does anyone get this question too? How do you answer it without going up the wall!???!?
2006-12-24 06:01:51 · 19 answers · asked by Mysterious 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Home Schooling
haha, I'm in college now and I look back on all those questions that I used to get. And they just crack me up...a few were...
The friend question: "how in the world do you make friends???"
...well, dance, softball, music lessons, random people that I met at work, sign language, volunteer work, 4-H, youth group/church, oh, and when I was 16 I took classes at the community college and made lots of friends there too...and anywhere else that I met someone that I clicked with!
How in the world will you ever go to Prom??? Well, out of all those friends that I made, I got 3 invitations to the prom, not to mention all the dances at 4-H Conventions held at NC State University in the summer. Not only that, we homeschoolers organized our own prom, rented a hall, hired caterers, sold tickets and booked a dj for our own...and it was much more fun. But really, is it that big a deal to go to prom? How many public schoolers skip their own prom...and don't get called social misfits?
WOW, You are so well adjusted and normal!: Well, yes, I cover up my third eye when I go out in public, so people don't freak out at the sight of me. So maybe I'm igonorant on what the latest Paris Hilton craze is, or even WHO she is....but I do know that there are starving children in Bolivia that I can help on missions trips.
Usually, I just laugh at the questions and answer with grace...people can't help misunderstanding what they don't know about...and I've been guilty of that myself! What I hate is people trying to 'safeguard' others from homeschooling...when they have no idea what they are talking about.
Ah...I say...the proof of a homeschooled child is when they grow up, get a job....and their own family. How many 15 year olds do YOU know that are really...'normal'? And what is 'normal' anyway? Aren't you taught in public school to be a 'free thinker' and 'question social standards', 'down with the system!!!!'.....and people freak out cause homeschoolers do it a little different. There are bigger dangers out there than people wanting to teach their own kids *gasp*!
2006-12-24 06:23:39 · answer #1 · answered by Victoria F 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It _is_ rather annoying, but remember it's sort of like us saying, "Yeah, I'm from Mars." To us, it's totally normal. To them, we're, well, Martians.
They think homeschoolers just sit inside all day while their mom gives them their lessons, they have a locker in the hallway and four hours of homework. Look at the name: homeschooling. Home becomes school, school becomes home. If homeschooling was what most people think it is, I'd have killed myself by now. Got my tenses confused in that sentence, all apologies but I'm too burned out to fix it.
People a) don't realize how many homeschoolers there are and b) don't realize that you aren't limited to hanging out with homeschoolers. Try saying this to them: Let's say you've graduated college, and now you move across the country. How would you make friends? _At my job_ And outside of your job? Wouldn't you just do things you're interested in? _I guess, yeah_ Well, that's what I do, without the graduating from college.
I actually find myself wondering how you make friends if you AREN'T homeschooled, even though I went to school for five years. Seriously, you spend most of your time in class. You can't socialize in class. I guess there's five minutes between periods, but that's like half an hour a day. Lunch adds on 40 minutes, so there's an hour and ten minutes. With a free period and some extra time, whoa. Two hours a day. I know there's time after school and all that, but homeschooling makes more sense to me. Just get everything done in two or three hours and then do whatever you want.
It can drive me crazy, but the biggest hurdle for me was realizing that I have no obligation to justify or explain my life to these people. Be brief, be relaxed -if you get defensive they'll get offensive- and realize that they probably won't get it anyway.
2006-12-24 18:40:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I was homeschooled my whole life, am now in college, and I still get that question all the time! I am not a social retard and lots of people at my school do not even realize that I was homeschooled unless I bring it up.
To answer your question, "How do you answer it...", try this. Look them straight in the eye and, with a serious face reply, "I don't make friends. I have chosen to homeschool so I can study to be a social outcast." Then watch their face to see what happens. I used to do this all the time and it was hilarious! Some people believed me! Just remember to let them know you are joking!
2006-12-27 17:47:12 · answer #3 · answered by violin_duchess86 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, you have to admit that homeschooling is still pretty unusual to most people and that would be one of the first things that people, especially kids, would wonder about. You need to be patient with people who are really just curious about homeschooling and how it works. I'm curious how you learn to work with others, like on projects, or develop patience waiting for the teacher's attention. The very few kids that I've known who were home schooled, and they were in the elementary level, seemed rather obnoxious and egotistical, as if they were the focus of whatever was going on. I thought that maybe it was because they really are the center of the teacher's attention when they are home schooled and didn't know anything different. We're just interested in your situation, that's all.
2006-12-24 14:13:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was homeschooled and got stuff like that ALL THE TIME! I hated it and it made me feel so put down, like it was written on my forehead,"She isn't 'normal'"! But Just try to answer them in a polite way with a smile and they'll leave you alone...maybe.
2006-12-25 15:49:11 · answer #5 · answered by shine_on 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes I get this question all the time. It doesent really bother me though.I just tell them about who i have met without going to scool and how much i love to be homeschooled.
2006-12-26 16:17:46 · answer #6 · answered by sarah 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am home schooled, I am asked that all the time, I make friends in church, I play soccer and I don't live in the boonies. Kids are in my neighborhood. People seem to think home schooled kids are locked inside all day! We see the daylight people. : ) Some guy on here actually said, that we home schooled kids are "Social Retards"! We are acquiring fantastic social skills from our parents, the right ones.
2006-12-24 22:27:27 · answer #7 · answered by Equestrian 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well since I'm a naturally shy person it was hard for me to make friends.
I would just answer "I don't really like to socialize that much". And they would leave me alone after that, not big deal.
2006-12-25 18:01:13 · answer #8 · answered by Blank 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i get it too i just say i can chose to have socialization and i do when i feel like it and i personally know other homeschoolers in my area who i go on field trips with that is what i say .
2006-12-24 19:33:02 · answer #9 · answered by Felicia 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We really aren't ever asked this question in person, because everyone we know and meet up see us in very social settings.
I keep my calm because I have years of practice ignoring idiocy...practice makes perfect ya know! also, keep in mind that most people aren't really trying to be offensive, but are coming from a place of interests and wanting to know more.
2006-12-25 00:27:26 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋