Homeschooling has evolved. Have I said that before? I may have. We have realized that each of our children are unique with distinctive needs and interests. I wonder how many of us realize how different our families are? In our area, we were the first family to homeschool (at least since pioneer days) in our county. There were a few other families in a neighboring county, but they are DISTINCTLY different than ours. First, there were some real misconceptions on what homeschooling was and the reasons people choose to do it TO their poor deprived children… Of course, people homeschool for different reasons. They use different techniques and curriculums. First, I want to say, those who take their children out of the government institution for disciplinary or social reasons and use the same government books to continue the same educational goals, are NOT in my opinion “Homeschooling”. They have simply moved the classroom to their home and changed teachers. I’ve not personally seen one instance of a mom being able to handle this for a whole year before she was visibly wanting to pull her hair out. I’m sure some exist and if this offends you, please let me know. Now that I’ve clarified a bit. Some homeschool for purely religious reasons. Some homeschool because they think they can give their children a better academic education. Some homeschool because they want their children to have a real life, common sense, and well-rounded education… The rest of us homeschool for a combination of some or all of the above. We were told, by a very well-meaning individual, that people homeschool so they can keep their children home to abuse them. If you looked at our family you might think it was Mom and Dad who are abused rather than the children.
Beyond reasons, people have different parenting theories and techniques. I appeal to those who think all homeschoolers should be put in some kind of box. Parenting and family influences have more to do with how the children “turn out” than the home education itself. There are permissive parents who use strict curriculum, whose children lack of motivation and self-control. The same young people may also be very thrifty and resourceful though. There are very authoritative parents who use the same curriculum; whose children may do great in college and enjoy a degree and lots of debt. Another set of authoritative parents may use a child directed non textbook approach and end up with electricians, plumbers, and auto mechanics. The character of the children is molded by family and influences around them. The education often depends on character; how teachable are they?
We have had people judge us according to other homeschooling families and now we find people comparing other homeschooling families to us. It’s really not fair if you think about it. This family does sports, but has never picked up a musical instrument. Another family never does sports, but the house if full of music. Yet another family is involved in missions and church projects all the time, while another is one big family business. Farming families are vastly different from town families and town families are vastly different from city families… (I consider anyone within 1 1/2 hours of a Sams Club or Mall to be city people…) Our family is a combination of farming and family business. We don’t do sports and the house is full of musical instruments (I refuse to count them all).
I’m an authoritative parent but Mr. Amazing is VERY permissive. We use a combination of texts and Unit Studies. We are creative, doing arts and crafts and sewing or building all the time. I will make ANYTHING into a school project so I can have fun with it. (Our children don’t always agree with my idea of “fun”.) My children are relatively well-behaved (except for BabyBoo who is spoiled rotten, but we’re working on that). The girls are creative, crafty, and love animals; like me. The boys are techy/machine oriented; like their dad. We’re all a bit slothful (that means lazy, but doesn’t sound as bad). We are all champions in procrastination. Does that mean our children didn’t get/ aren’t getting a good education? No. Does it mean they aren’t social enough? Well, if you met them you’d wonder how I’m so reserved…
The big misconception is in the way people seem to put homeschoolers on some kind of a pedestal or something, judging us by different standards than other children. You know what? Our children are going to make mistakes too. We will make mistakes with them. There WILL be “holes” in their education. Some of them may even end up doing drugs and being unwed parents. (I am so grateful mine have chosen purity!) Homeschooling isn’t perfection! We just happen to have made a decision to have our children home with us 24/7 so we can work on the character and education issues we see need to be addressed and don’t have to fight contradictory influences.
