Want to homeschool so bad!!!

[cpendergraff]

Desperately want to homeschool my oldest daughter. I feel that I would be excellent at it and provide her with more opportunities and experiences than public school can offer. The problem?

My mom and some others around me feel that homeschooling will cause her to become "weird" and she will miss out on socialization (even though she is always with other kids via playground and other activities) and have been pushing public school. Asking her when she gets to rise the school bus and play with the other kids and even took her to play at the playground her "mama played in when she was in school.". I'm sooo sad. I asked he the other day if I could homeschool her and she said she wanted to go to "real school" not homeschool like all the other kids do.

What should I do? I want her to make her own decisions, but I feel she is grossly misinformed about the situation!

[MDever]

We homeschool so obviously I feel like it is the right choice for our family. I KNOW is is not the best choice for most families. I also come from a backround of not only attending public school but working for our local school system. I have to admit it was a sort of social experiment to confirm my beliefs about "school" before I had children of my own. YOU and only YOU can make the nest choice for your child. Deciding to HS is not set in stone either. You could always decide to return your DD to a classroom setting but I would advise you to give it a full school year before you made a decision. That way you get a true picture of each "season" of homeschool.
Follow your mama heart

As to the socialization of public school and the bus!!?!?!! It is certainly not the type of social setting I prefer for my children. There is far too little supervision in many cases. The things I have been aware of happening at and on the way to and from school would probably curl most peoples hair. As a matter of fact my dad is often heard refering to curse words as "school bus language". Also, I do not find a classroom settting to be an accurate depiction of what a true social envionment will be like. There is no other time in your life where you only have to interact with people of your own age and socio-economic status. You will do the right thing for your daughter. People fear what they don't know and your friends and family have perhaps never encountered alternatives to a classroom education

[angel nee nee]

Sorry to hear that.

Many homeschoolers don't have ther support of the family. It's too unusual or weird to some people. If you want to do it, then dont' worry about those people who thinks it's weird. You know what's best for your child.

I guess your family member tried to plant some idea in your child's head by having a talk, but you can do the same pep talk to her about homeschoolig.
Right now, she might be thinking all the "other kids" go to school, but there are many homeschoolers, and they are cool people. Maybe you can have her meet some homeschooler people in your area.

[raisingcropsandbabies]

My husband's family used to make comments about "won't it be fun to ride the bus?" etc... and then knew we were most likely homeschooling. We've decided to homeschool for sure this year and I told them. I heard them making more remarks about the bus/school and I told hubby's mom, "won't it be so neat that my son will be able to spend more time with you as he won't be in a classroom for 8 hours and then be too tired from his long day to come over and play? imagine all the fun things he'll get to learn from you! and won't it be so cool that he'll get to spend more time with his Papa and Grandpa learning about farming?" She was like, "Oh, yes!"... who's going to say no to that?

Others in our family aren't necessarily super negative about it, but more cautious and worried for our kids... I need that eyeroll guy inserted here! My husband and I will answer for our own mistakes and no doubt we have and will make some, but if we feel led to homeschool then we will go with what we feel is best for our family. You need to do what you and your husband feel is best for your daughter too.

[raisingcropsandbabies]

and i agree to point out and empthasize the really cool aspects of homeschooling (lots of field trips is a good one!)

[raisingcropsandbabies]

and i agree to point out and empthasize the really cool aspects of homeschooling (lots of field trips is a good one!)

[fawnlovesjasper]

Her education is your and her father's choice, not yours or his family's. At such a young age, I don't feel she has a say in her education either, but others think differently on that point.

If you really want to homeschool her, you need to make it clear to your families that disrespecting that is not going to be tolerated. If it means that your kids can no longer spend time alone with them, then you may have to make that happen.

I never let anyone have any say, I simply said this is what we are doing. You have to gain some confidence about the whole homeschooling experience. It will come across when you talk about it. You can let everyone who has major concerns that you understand their concerns and that you have concerns too and that is what is leading you to homeschool at this point. If in the future things are different, then you will be open to another schooling option.

[ACSNMama]

Originally Posted by fawnlovesjasper Her education is your and her father's choice, not yours or his family's. At such a young age, I don't feel she has a say in her education either, but others think differently on that point. If you really want to homeschool her, you need to make it clear to your families that disrespecting that is not going to be tolerated. If it means that your kids can no longer spend time alone with them, then you may have to make that happen. I never let anyone have any say, I simply said this is what we are doing. You have to gain some confidence about the whole homeschooling experience. It will come across when you talk about it. You can let everyone who has major concerns that you understand their concerns and that you have concerns too and that is what is leading you to homeschool at this point. If in the future things are different, then you will be open to another schooling option.

This exactly!

Your DD doesn't have an particular mis-information about school. You're her mother, while I do absolutely agree that children should be included in some decision making, her schooling is in your hands. If you feel that homeschooling would better suit you and her, than do it, and everyone else can get over it!!

[HeatherlovesCDs]

I guess I don't really see family as a problem and definitely not a factor in deciding to homeschool, but more of an annoyance or frustration. The decision to homeschool belongs to the mom and dad, not the grandparents or other family. I don't see how old your DD is, but I'm thinking she is pretty young and I don't believe she has a say either. At this point, if you think homeschooling is best, you should move forward with that unless her father is very opposed. That is a different issue than extended family. Just tell her and the family this is what you are doing. You can tell them why or not. You don't have to. I would definitely play up the good things about homeschooling to her and them. If they continue to give you a hard time about it, I would limit my time with them.

I'm sorry you are struggling with family. Most of us have been there at some point. My step-father, the only grandfather my children have ever known, is very against it. I know that only because my mom told me. She is totally for it, homeschooled my sister for highschool and 100% supports us. But, because I know he is against it, we don't talk about it around him at all. I have also made it clear to my mom if he starts being vocal about it, especially around my kids, we will severely limit our time around him. I know she has told him this and he has kept his mouth shut thus far. My husband's side just knows not to say anything, but they aren't really on board either. They are more concerned about the education than the social though. I know that my step-father is more concerned about the social and has definitely made the comment about them being turning out weird.

I don't really care what anyone thinks. We feel very strongly about this. I don't think my kids will turn out "weird," but I honestly don't even care either. I've met many "weird" people in my life. They are perfectly functioning members of society with families and friends just like the rest of us. Who cares if they are weird?! I've met plenty of weird people in PS's. I'll happily have weird kids who didn't grow up with the influence of the public school system. That said, I don't think they will be weird unless that is their personality.

Good luck deciding how to handle this!!

[drkelli]

I'm deciding whether or not to HS right now and one of the reasons I want to is because the bus is horrible!!!