Soap Box

I was asked for maybe the umpteenth time the other day why I home schooled my kids. I've been doing this officially for 6 years ( and unofficially 10 & 1/2 years) and I've been asked some version of that question more times than I'd like to count.

I really don't mind being asked this question. Home schooling is not yet the norm and people just don't understand how it can actually work. It is hard to understand how mom can teach both 3rd & 5th grade math at the same time.

I enjoy discussing curriculum and extra-curricular activities. Unfortunately most people ask about home schooling so they can slide the "socialization" question in. "Are you sure your kids are being socialized properly?" or "What do you do for socialization?" are the main questions I get.

When did attending a government school mean you had good social skills? And exactly when did the government get into the business of socializing our kids? That actually frightens me.

Before I'm branded as "anti-public schools" let me just clear the air.

I am.

No regrets & no apologies. I feel the same way about day care. You use them as a last resort. I just philosophically disagree. I don't believe that our founding fathers meant for the government to be in charge of educating our kids. Period.

But I don't begrudge people for sending their kids to the public schools. It's their choice. Far be it for me to tell them how to educate the children that God gave them. Some of my dearest friends send their kids to public school.

But they also don't ask me the phony bologna socialization question either.

So what if my kids are weird? So are yours.

My kids aren't weird because of not sending them to a government school, that I can assure you of.

My kids are weird because their mom and dad are weird. And I'm cool with that.