The Public School Parents' Guide to Homeschool Parents

I may have posted this before but I really think this is great. I hope you enjoy reading this. Feel free to leave a comment too!

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The Public School Parents' Guide to Homeschool Parents

We all know that there are a lot of misconceptions about homeschoolers, and, while most of those tend to be centered around the kids, there are a lot of misconceptions about homeschool moms (and dads), as well. I'm often surprised to hear some of the things that people who don't homeschool think about homeschoolers. I guess I shouldn't be. I used to be a public school mom (for two years) and I imagine that I thought some of these things, too, though it's been so long, I really can't recall for sure.

Anyway, I'd like to make some homeschool mom confessions (at least, as relates to this homeschool mom). Oh, and the title just sounded fun. No negative implications intended there at all. Some of my best friends and favorite relatives are public school parents.

1. We do not have superhuman patience. I can't tell you the number of people who say to me, "I couldn't homeschool; I don't have enough patience" or some variation thereof. Let me tell you, my name and patience rarely occur in the same sentence unless someone is saying, "Kris has no patience."

I have told people, "I know that homeschooling isn't for everyone and I'm not suggesting that you should homeschool, but if you're going to give me an excuse, you'll have to come up with a better one than that because if I have enough patience to homeschool, anybody does!"

When we first began homeschooling, I told the neighbors, "If you come home from work one afternoon and there is yellow police tape around the house, you'll know that one of us [the kids or I] ran out of patience." So far, we've all survived, but seriously? I've done homework with my oldest when she was in public school. So far, my worst day of homeschooling hasn't been any worse than my worst night of homework.

2. We don't homeschool because it gives us the warm fuzzies. There are probably almost as many reasons to homeschool as there are homeschoolers, but I don't know of anyone who does this just because it makes them feel good because, you know what? Some days, it does not feel good. Some days involve tears, whining, yelling...before breakfast...and not necessarily from the kids. Which leads me to confession number three...

3. Some days, we watch with envy as that yellow school bus drives by. We don't do this because it's easy or a cop-out. Some days, homeschooling is just hard. Some of us have been known to threaten to send our kids to public school (my kids can tell you exactly how far we live from the public school because I've mentioned it a time or two). Some of us have spent more time than we'd care to admit daydreaming about what we might do if our kids were in school all day. And, there are some days when it takes every ounce of will power not to chase down that school bus. However, when push comes to shove, we know there is nothing else we'd rather do than homeschool our kids.


4. We don't think our kids are better or smarter than yours. Most of us are average moms and dads with average kids who have their areas of strength and their areas of weakness -- academically and personally -- just like yours. We have our hopes and fears, doubts and insecurities just like you do. Do some homeschool parents have gifted kids? Absolutely! Do some homeschool parents have kids whom the parents think are gifted, but in reality, not so much? Yes. Do some public school parents have gifted kids? Yep. Do some public school parents have kids whom the parents think are gifted, but in reality, not so much? I think you see where this is going.

We all -- public, private, or homeschool parents -- think our kids are pretty special. That doesn't mean that we, the homeschool parents, think our kids are better than those not educated at home.

5. Our decision to homeschool is not a personal commentary on your decision not to. Contrary to popular belief, we do not think that homeschooling is for everyone. We don't think that you're a bad parent or that you don't care about your kids as much as we care about ours because you don't homeschool them. We see educational choices as yet another personal parenting choice and we realize that you are making the choices that you see as best for your family, just as we are.

6. Our decision to homeschool is not a personal commentary on the jobs of public school teachers. Many of us do have a beef with the public school system as a whole (I don't think that is exclusive to homeschoolers). Although we may see the system as flawed, this observation does not typically extend to individual teachers. Most of us realize that the majority of teachers are good people, doing a good job with a whole lot expected of them for pitifully low compensation based on the time and effort their jobs require.


7. We realize that there are homeschooling families who probably should not be homeschooling. However, this is true in every area of life. There are public and private school teachers who have no business in the classroom. There are parents who have no business having kids.

We, who are so often judged, try not to judge others and we definitely do not want to our rights as parents restricted because of a few sensationalized cases. The majority of parents who homeschool are doing so honestly and with integrity, raising kids who are just as ready for life after homeschool as any other kid is for life after graduation.


8. Just because we're Christian doesn't mean that we are "religious homeschoolers." There are a huge percentage of us who, while we are people of faith, would not necessarily say that we are homeschooling for religious reasons. Being able to share our faith with our kids and looking at our studies with a Christian worldview is a huge benefit of homeschooling, but many of us would not consider it the singular reason we homeschool.


9. We don't do this to shelter, over-protect, or isolate our children. People who don't homeschool often don't realize what is available to homeschooled kids. Our area offers band, soccer, baseball, football, tennis, track, volleyball, prom, monthly socials, graduation, graduation banquet, year book, co-ops and classes, and so much more. These kids are not sitting at home by themselves every day. They're out with other kids enough to experience their fair share mean kids, bullies, and, for the older kids, teen-aged angst.

And, look how many of us have more kids than the national 2.5 average! Seriously, if you have siblings, you know that there's no one better to help your practice interpersonal and conflict resolution skills than siblings.


10. We don't do this to annoy you. We homeschool because we feel that it's the best choice for our families. We don't ask you to think it's the best choice for your family. We did not wake up one morning and flip a coin to decide on this lifestyle. We prayed about it, researched it, and talked about it long before deciding that homeschooling was the right choice for our family. We do not come to your blogs or corner you at the soccer game to tell you how bad we think your decision to send your kids to public school is because we don't care -- not in the negative "don't care" way, but in the "that's your family's decision and we respect that" way. You are doing what you feel is right for your kids and that's exactly what you're supposed to do. It's what we're doing, too.


Just for the record, this post has been on my calendar for a couple of weeks and was not prompted by any conversation or event, so if you're one of my public school mom friends (because, yes, I have those), don't be freaking out trying to recall what you might have said or done to prompt this post. You didn't do anything. ;-) I just thought it would be fun to address misconceptions that I've heard over the last eight years.

**Edited to add: I just had to add #11, supplied by Vicki S., from Duluth, MN, because I've heard so many public-school-teachers-turned-homeschooling-moms say essentially the same thing.

11. The fact that I happen to have a teaching license that doesn't make me a better homeschooling parent. So often during the past 22 years I've had people say, "Ahhhh--you can homeschool because you were a public school teacher!"


To that I say, "No, I can homeschool despite having all those licenses [Vicki has 8 teaching licenses, from four state]. I may have certification to teach 30 students how to do middle school history (or whatever), but that gives me no guarantees that I can teach *one* child from K-12. It does prove that I finished college and was granted permission to teach in a classroom. Period. What counts much more is my desire to help my child(ren) develop a love of learning and to become the best human being he or she can be. And that doesn't require a teaching certificate."

Thanks, Vicki!

Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Rebellious Teens? No!

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(The book above is supposed to be excellent. I haven't read it yet but it is on my "to read" book list. For more about this book clicke here. )

I found an article that sums up my feelings about those so called "rebellious teens". I just had to share it with you. Go here to see where I found it (scroll down). Bold print is mine, added for emphasis.

HOME Where They Belong
I have two teen boys - soon to be three. Levi turns 13 years old this Valentine's Day. Amazing. Three teens in my house. I've entered a new phase; a new chapter in my life is unfolding. And I LOVE it.

When Paul and I were engaged, we went to a pizza place once. We were discussing our future together, in particular, our forthcoming children should the Lord bless us with any. I thought I was so smart, so savvy. I was this 19 year old kid, chomping at the bit to be married and someday become a mom - but I was clueless. I announced to Paul on that pizza date that when our children become teens, that yes, they would be rebellious (like all teens - like ME) but that we would just do our best, and hopefully relate with them.

WRONG. Boy, did Paul set me straight at that very moment. He announced back to ME, that no, our future kids did NOT need to be rebellious and that if we trained them up in the Lord, we could skip all that rebellious nonsense. I looked at my future husband skeptically (what a goof I was). I gave him a, 'Well, we'll seeeeee' look. Sure, dear. You just keep thinking positively.

Guess what. He was right. 100% correct. My older, wiser, soon-to-be husband knew the truth. He knew God's word. He blew off the world's way of thinking and insisted that I must, too. So many years have passed. My word, three teen boys live in my home! My quiet home. My God-honoring home. Are my boys perfect? Oh...far from it. Do they fear the Lord? Do they respect Paul and me? Do they love each other? Do we have their hearts? YES. You want the "secret?" Here it is: Shelter them. They're yours, gifted by God. Train them up in the admonition of the Lord. Keep them near you. Expect obedience, insist on it. Hold them accountable. Give them lots of responsibilities - and plenty of space. But keep your eyeballs fastened tightly to that space. The key is relationship, too. Be interested in them. Let them drone on and on about their latest software application or musical composition (Paul and Luke, respectively, there!). Love them but not as a pansy best friend. Love them with strength and resolve. With seriousness, firmness. They'll thank you for it later, and you will be blessed. God's way (His word) is always the best way.

- Gena

Homeschool Foundation?

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Homeschooling Moms, what do you think of this article?



If someone had asked me 11 years ago, when I first began to home school, if Christ was our schools foundation I would have responded, "Well, of course HE is! We study the Bible each morning, memorize scriptures daily, read Christian biographies and work on character training plus all of our textbooks and curriculum are Christian based." Over the past two years the Lord has slowly began to unveil the truth that, even though we were ‘doing’ a lot of the ‘right and godly’ things in our homeschool, our foundation was not in Christ as much as my own works, effort and curriculum.

This seems to be a common trap amongst home schooling families. We want so desperately to 'do it right', to be the very best parents that we can in order to raise godly children. We want the perfect curriculum or the idealistic schedule to guarantee that our children will become all our hearts desire them to become. We can go for years building a foundation that we believe to be Christ while all the time depending on our own efforts to bring about godly character in our children. As the storms and trials of life beat against this foundation we will begin to see if our faith truly has been Christ or our own efforts .

These are four common symptoms that may reveal a wrong foundation.

1. Confusion: Which curriculum do I use? What is best? Do I use unit studies or workbooks?

2. Overwhelmed: How do I do IT all? How do I homeschool, sew, grow my own wheat to bake bread, birth 20 children, memorize scripture, use only unit studies, run a home business, etc. in order to produce a godly home?

3. Fear- what if I miss something? What if there is a big gap in their learning that I could have prevented? What if they never learn to read? Am I training them up in the way that they should go or is there something else I should be doing? What will happen to my family if my husband makes decisions that I feel are detrimental to our children? What if I train my children wrong and because of it they never become a Christian?

4. Anger and Frustration- "Help, I'm suffocating under this load of things I have to do!!" The mother is angry because of everything that has to be done. She is resentful towards her husbands requests or demands, short-tempered with the children if they mess up the house or request her help with school work. She wakes up with a frown and goes to sleep with one. There is no joy in the home or her heart.

Fear seems to be a common denominator in many of these symptoms. It may be the fear of failing at home schooling our children. We may fear that they will not be able to meet the college requirements. Or that they will never become a Christian. We may even give into the fear of man by comparing ourselves to those who seem to have it all together. We see the pictures and stories on the front of homeschooling magazines and we know that our families fall short of this ideal. A lot of homeschoolers are burdened by an enormous amount of peer pressure. Have you felt it? Do you hear that imaginary voice whispering, "The perfect homeschool mother rises at 5 a.m. to spend time with the Lord, she bakes her own bread from the wheat that she grows on her 10 acre homestead as her 9 children are doing their unit study in the home that the family has built?" Or how about this mindset," The perfect Christian family has a father who leads devotions, a mother who never loses her temper while the family watches no television, and trains their children consistently by the "Growing Kid's God's Way" method. As we compare our family to theirs we see that we fall short of this ‘perfect’ model and live in dread that our children will never reach heaven because of it.

To read the rest of this article click here.

What About It?

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There is an excellent blog post on my friend, Kahri's blog. When you are done with that post you can follow it up with this one.

Warning: There is one small line with ADULT language.

After reading it, come back and share your thoughts.

Homeschooling and Co-ops

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We have been a part (to varying degrees) of a homeschool co-op for several years now. Last year, and this upcoming year will be the most we have participated so far. I am very thankful for our homeschool co-op (in our homeschool support group) and thought this might be a great blog post for some of you to read. This is a great one for homeschooling families.

We have been in 2 co-ops over the years. One when the girls were much younger. It looks to me like co-ops can be very different. However, I do believe most can be a benefit. I will say that I have heard from one Mom that using a co-op during her first year of homeschooling (with little ones) was a bit overwhelming. I did not use a co-op until I had been homeschooling for several years and I think that works out just fine. I really think the MOST important time to use a co-op starts in middle school but especially in high school.

Let me know what you think.

To read it just click here.

Cultured Moms Favorite Things -Edu-Track

Time to share one of my favorite things.

I have had Edu-Track Record Keeping System for SEVERAL years! We purchased it at a homeschool convention. I don't think you need to use a lot of it until you have middle schoolers on up but you certainly can if you like. You can learn more about it here.


It is an awesome program. This applies mostly to homeschool families. However, it has something on it for chores and other things that might be useful to other families as well. I personally think every homeschool family should have this program or one like it.


Another one I have heard about many times is Homeschool Tracker. I suspect both programs are good but of course I only have experience with Edu-Track. I would advise that you have one of them. They are very useful. I can track all the school things the children do, it helps enter grades and keep track of them, tracks attendance, tracks hours, plans lessons, prints report cards, it tracks book logs, & field trips. You can print out awards, certificates, & diplomas. It has an electronic filing cabinet for you to store information in. You can make and print out chore charts (with or without pictures) and much, much, more. My favorite thing about it is that in the end it will be easy to print out a transcript for my girls. I am able to print one out now just with what my oldest has done so far.

Here is something exciting. While looking around their website I discovered you can purchase lesson plans from them for the curriculum you are using. For example, now that my oldest daughter has finished Apologia Biology I found lesson plans for it. It looks really neat. You can check that out here. The list is pretty big. I may be using this for my younger daughter.

Here is an area where the two programs are being discussed. I have only used the one program but I know many that have used the other one. The other one has a free version and then you can also upgrade for a fee. I think the free version has a lot though. I suspect many Moms will want to upgrade at some point.

In case you are interested in Home School Tracker, click here.

Lies Homeschoolers Believe

This is a great post on another blog I just found. You can go to Heart of the Matter Online to see it and a lot of other interesting posts.

They have handed over that blog temporarily, to their men and calling it "Dad Week". Love that idea as Dads have a lot of wonderful things to share too. The men have taken over and are writing some excellent posts! You really should check it out if you are a man, a dad, and especially a homeschool dad. I think all men would benefit though.

I have seen the comments on this book and now I think I need to get it. If you have beaten me to it, leave us a comment. Here it is.....

There are days where even before the school day has begun, I ask the QUESTION. You know the one. The question I venture to guess I ask weekly and some weeks, daily;

"Am I doing a good job homeschooling my children?" DEEP SIGH~

Todd mentions "those" homeschoolers, the ones who appear to be perfectly composed and peaceful. I have seen enough know that images such as those are unrealistic, but I still find myself doubting and questioning. I know the TRUTH, but I often fall victim to the LIES.

I know that I often have to fight to not "believe the lies." I know that lies in any form are destructive, but I have to tell you, sometimes I catch myself believing them. I spin my wheels for ways to DO MORE, BE MORE, SPIN THE WHEELS FASTER. It's a good thing to always be learning and looking for ways to make our homeschool "better for us," but it's when I do these things for the wrong reasons that I begin to doubt. For each of us the "lies" we believe are different, but they are lies nonetheless. I find myself falling for those lies that attack the things that I struggle with as a woman, despite our choice to homeschool.

I have always been an "over achiever." I blame it on my "first born status," but when the enemy wants to attack me, he'll go straight there. I imagine it's the same seductive voice that Eve heard in the garden. It's NEVER conspicuous, it's sneaky and subtle, but if I am not constantly aware, I'll find myself falling for it EVERY TIME.

" Come on Lori, you can do better; your kids are not getting all they need; you really don't think YOU can do this through high school, do you?" Before I even realize it, I find myself BELIEVING THE LIES that have subtly been implanted into my subconscious. I stand as Eve did, dripping with fruit juice, wondering HOW I fell for it again. And after a "bad day" I'll tell you there is JUICE everywhere.

That is how it was JUST the other day, Monday I believe. "Tough day?" my better half inquired....I could feel it, my eyes began to well up, and on came the faucets. "I just don't know, are they learning, doing, being ENOUGH?" He looked at me, square in the eye and said, "yes, you know they are, they are BECOMING the people that God wants them to be. There are going to be BAD days at work." Deep Sigh! So I wipe those tears and begin again.

I BELIEVE in homeschooling. I BELIEVE that God called me into this 4 years ago, I BELIEVE in it with all my heart. I BELIEVE it is the best situation for our family...I BELIEVE these things and I'll tell you I still get sucked into the lies at times. I DO.

After reading the rest of this you may want to read this book also. The whole post is here.

Homeschool Curriculum Show & Tell-Science

I wanted to start sharing about homeschool curriculum or aids that we have used and enjoyed. It is kind of a blog show and tell.

Today, I want to share about Apologia Science. We have used it for several years for my oldest and 1 year for my youngest.

To find out more go the Apologia web site.

We are using the one on Astronomy this year. That is the photo above. It is really good. It has had some interesting and easy experiments. It says this is for up to 6th grade but I think it can be used for 7th grade also. You can also get Botany, Flying Creatures Of The Fifth Day, Swimming Creatures Of The Fifth Day, & Land Animals Of The Sixth Day.

My oldest has done General Science, Physical Science, and we are currently using Biology this year. So far my oldest has done a dissection on a worm and on a crayfish. Next up is a fish and a big juicy frog. Not looking forward to that last one, as you can imagine. You can order the specimens and the dissection kit from their website. That makes it easy & convenient. However, I found a better deal over here at Homeschool Science Tools . The main reason I went here was because the shipping was less and faster. My daughter was doing the dissections with a friend so we split the cost too.

Now I want to tell you the reasons why I like Apologia so much.

1. Most importantly it it written by a Christian that believes God created the world and that it wasn't just some big random bang. He does not teach evolution and explains the scientific errors in this way of thinking. He doesn't just believe it but has facts to back up the things he says. (Yes, he is a great teacher and a great scientist.)


2. I love that you can order the text book, or the CD or both. We have always ordered the CD. That means that all the work is done at the computer unless you want to print it out. That is not a problem at our house. If that won't work for you then the text book is the way to go or get both.


3. If you have the CD you can watch educational videos when the teacher wants to demonstrate or give you an example.


4. If you have the CD, technical words are pronounced for the student.

Click here to read the frequently asked questions.

If you are interested in this let me explain something to you. They have a CD with the full course on it. They also have a companion CD. That is NOT the full course. The full course is around $65. The companion CD is around $15. Don't want you to think you have gotten some kind of fabulous deal for the full course at $15. The website explains the companion CD this way....."It contains pronunciations for the technical words in the course, animations used to explain some of the more difficult concepts in the course, and videos of experiments that the student would not be able to do on his or her own." The full course has all of these things in addition to the text and more.

If you think you may want to try it or you know you want to try it leave me a comment. Also, be sure to let us know what you think after you have tried it.

A Homeschool Buyers Co-op?

I am so excited about this. I discovered the greatest thing for homeschoolers. This is a co-op. They are trying to grow to have enough buying power as schools. You must go visit this website. Homeschoolers click here! I am thinking of doing this offer.

If you have this or have heard stuff about it, please comment, and let me know.

Below is just a poem I really like. Hope you like it too.

My Reason For Homeschooling By Anita Doran

I want to be
the special potter,
Who molds and shapes my little daughter.
To keep her
closely to my side,
To teach her why Jesus died.

I think that she is
doing great,
Especially since she’s only eight.
She shops, she bakes,
she mops the floor,
Has two cats she’s responsible for.

She can read
a product label
To see if it’s fit for our table.
I teach her all about
life, you see,
As she tags along with me.

And no matter where we
roam,
We keep on learning, just like home.
We add a little mystery,
By learning the state’s history.

Although she reads and writes and
sings,
She’s learning more important things.
Like love and kindness and
God’s word,
How to be humble, yet still be heard.

Sure it’s hard and
I have my doubts,
“Am I doing this right?” “How will she turn out?”
And
my house gets such a mess!
Too many papers strewn, I guess.

Sometimes frustration rears its head,
She didn’t do what I said.
Yet, all in all, it is a charm,
To have my daughter on my arm.

If I ever have a doubt,
I get our big old Bible out.
In the
book, I always see
That this is how it’s meant to be.

Side be side,
day by day,
Teaching her the Godly way.

Homeschool Support Group Skit

My daughter did a skit at our homeschool support group meeting last night. I realize if you are not a friend of family member this may not thrill you. However, for friends and family members I am posting it here. This skit is to convince the people in our group to get their yearbook family pages done and handed in by the deadline. At the end of the year we make up a pretty nice yearbook. Hope you like the skit, entitled " A Yearbook Carol". You will even get to see the "Ghost of Yearbook Near Future". Be sure to turn your sound up so you can hear it.

Recent California Attack On Homeschooling-Why Should I Care?

(This article was sent out in a newsletter from this web site. I encourage you to go look around there. They have some great things to read and you will be challenged. If you don't want to read this whole article at least scroll down to where it says,

"Why This Issue Matters To You And Me".)

What the recent California attack on homeschooling means to you and me:

Last week I visited with Mike Farris, Homeschool Legal Defense Association founder. When I asked how he was doing, he replied morosely, "Pretty good considering that an appeals court in California just said that parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children."

I listened in shock as he described the ruling and realized immediately that this is a battle that need to be enjoined by all concerned Christians. Why and how? That's what this issue of Get Ready to Lead is all about.

What is the future of educational freedom?

On Feb. 28, Judge H. Walter Croskey of the Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles said that homeschooling is only legal if the teaching parent is a certified teacher. This would disenfranchise virtually all of the estimated 175,000 homeschooled children in the state.

I asked Brad Dacus, the attorney for the Sunland Christian School (the umbrella school at the center of the controversy) about the ruling. "This is not a slam dunk on statutory grounds," he warned. Translation: California homeschoolers are in for a fight, and the outcome is not assured.

Even socially liberal California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed grave concern in his support for homeschool families: "Parents should not be penalized for acting in the best interests of their children's education. This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts and if the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will."


The Truth About Homeschooling

On the other side of the issue, California teachers unions seemed almost gleeful about the ruling. A.J. Duffy, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times that he agrees with it: "What's best for a child is to be taught by a credentialed teacher."

This is an outright lie. In a published study called Strengths of Their Own Dr. Brian Ray revealed data on 5,402 children from 1,657 families from across the United States. He found that homeschooled children performed substantially above the national average in academic testing. The studentsscored, on the average, at the following percentiles on standardized achievement tests:


(a) total reading, 87th,
(b) total language, 80th,
(c) total math, 82nd,
(d) total listening, 85th,
(e) science, 84th,
(f) social studies, 85th,
(g) study skills, 81st,
(h) basic battery (typically, reading, language, and mathematics), 85th, and
(i) complete battery (all subject areas in which student was tested), 87th.


(Note: The average score on standardized tests for the norm group, largely conventional school students, in all of the preceding categories is the 50th percentile).

Dr. Ray also studied 12 variables that he thought might explain the variance in students' test scores. The following seven variables were found to have no statistically significant effect on the variance between the scores:


(1) father's [teacher] certification status,
(2) mother's [teacher] certification status,
(3) family income,
(4) money spent on home education,
(5) legal status of family,
(6) time spent in formal educational activities, and
(7) age at which began formal education.


In other words, most homeschool kids are doing great, and it has nothing to do with whether either parent is certified to teach.


Why This Issue Matters to You and Me

I realize that this newsletter goes out to people who've made all kinds of educational choices, from homeschooling to Christian schooling to public schooling.

If you don't homeschool your first inclination may be to ignore the issue. This would be unwise. If parents lose the right to homeschool their children, who is to say that our right to teach anything at all to our children--especially our values--is secure?

More immediately, all Americans should be deeply disturbed at how far behind American children are. We ought to be embracing trends like homeschooling and private Christian schools that have such a dramatic positive effect on education.

Families in China, India and many developing countries are leaving Americans in the dust to the point that if present trends continue Americans will be the unskilled workers of the world within a generation. Don't believe it? Check out this chilling video on the Christian School Journal blog.

Those who are interested in passing the baton of godly faithfulness to the next generation are right to defending homeschooling, and to be deeply concerned about the quality of education in America.

Three things you can do right now:

1. Buy the Home Schooling: Pointing the Way to a Better Education DVD immediately and show it to everyone you can--skeptics and allies alike.

The video is hosted by Del Tackett (from Focus on the Family's Truth Project) and features interviews with home school experts such as Brian Ray, Mike Farris, Gregg Harris, Chris Klicka and Inge Cannon. It explodes the myths about home education and shows how homeschooling can help children become diligent, thoughtful and socially adept.

I spoke with the video producer yesterday evening and he agreed to give our subscribers free shipping and handling on the DVD. Just enter the code jmyers2008 when you get to the "confirm order" page. Click here to order.

2. Sign the HSLDA petition and encourage your friends to do the same.

The Home School Legal Defense Association is going to petition the Supreme Court of California to "depublish" the Appeals Court opinion. If the opinion is "depublished" then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers. Click here to sign.

3. Get the facts from NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute). My friend Dr. Brian Ray has published volumes of research about the academic achievement and positive socialization value of homeschooling, as well as the high level of success homeschool graduates have experienced in the "real world." Much of the research is free, though I strongly recommend you purchase the Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling.

Why We Homeschool Part 5

Images in this post were found here.
This is the last day of my 5 part series. Once you are done reading this please leave a comment. After sharing my thoughts I am wondering what your thoughts are on homeschooling.

One of our daughters has had some difficulty in language processing and reading. If she had been in school I am sure she would have been slapped with a label and maybe they would have wanted to medicate her. I am sure that at the very least she would have been made fun of and her self-esteem would have been shot. These are things she gets to avoid. The saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is not true. Those hurtful words can break our hearts and stick with us our whole lives. I am so glad to help my children avoid those. This is not to say that our children have never been made fun of (it has not been very often though) but they come to us when it happens. We are able to comfort them and put it into perspective. Instead of that, my daughter brags, "I am Momma's helper" and "I am Momma's problem solver". She recently figured out how to put a trampoline together.


Martin Luther, in the seventeenth century said:
"I am much afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures engraving them in the youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must be corrupt."

I think the above quote is very interesting and we don't have a problem with this either. Bible is a daily part of life. The girls read their Bibles daily and we often have discussions on the Bible, Holy living, life choices, consequences, morality, and the lack of morals in society. We also don't have the problem of other people telling my children in word or deed that the Bible is useless or unreliable and/or there is no God. In the grand scheme of things, when all is said and done, will an algebra equation, photons, or diagramming sentences be the issue .........or eternity?

You know in all honesty I often think to myself what a great life my girls have. I would love to have lived in a world that was full of support, love, and understanding instead of those dreadful school years. Who loves you, supports you and understands you better than your own parents? That is one reason why homeschool parents make great teachers. They know their children better than anyone else. Can any other teacher compete with that? (I am not saying everything is perfect either. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world so we all have problems.)

I wrote the "Why We Homeschool" some time ago. Recently, there have been some hilarious, frustrating, or frightening things that make me even more glad we homeschool. Some examples are the child that is being punished for hugging in school, the child that has distracting hair, banning games and running, severely inappropriate relationships with students, and of course all the school shootings are a good argument for homeschooling.

Recently, my oldest daughter (age 17) was asked what her favorite thing about homeschooling was. Her answer surprised herself. She said it was being family oriented. That was one of those days where I was especially proud to be called a homeschooler.

I could go on about this topic for a long (er) time but I will stop for now. I hope that after sharing our thoughts on this subject you will look at homeschooling in a different way. I would love to hear your comments on this topic.

Why We Homeschool Part 4

I found the image above here.

(Tomorrow is the last day of this 5 part series. Please, leave comments on this topic. I would love to know your thoughts or questions.)

My children are free to follow their interests even if they aren't popular. Nobody makes fun of them or calls them names if their interests seem different. For the most part my children don't understand being mean to others and teasing or bullying others isn't a favorite pastime. They have compassion for others.

We have a flexible schedule and that is sure nice. One of my favorites is when making dental or medical appointments. Often they will ask, "before or after school"? Well, it doesn't really matter since we homeschool. It seems to make them pretty happy to hear that and I suppose make their day a little bit easier. They can squeeze us in just about any where. Truthfully, though, super early doesn't work well for us. ;-)

My girls have also had many great opportunities that they would have missed out on if they had been in school. Recently they participated in the Flag Honor Guard for a local family that lost their 21 yr. old son in Iraq. I was so glad they could be there to honor the fallen soldier and his family. I was glad they could see others in the community doing the same thing. One of my daughters has participated in feeding the homeless or handing out groceries and another time helping with the children in a Vacation Bible School in a homeless shelter for a few days. She has also helped stuff envelopes for an organization that helps pregnant teen girls. (My other daughter will do these types of things when she is older.)

Both my girls have been part of a group that picked up trash in a park, they were part of a group of children that made cookies & cards for our local firemen, they were part of a group that sang to the elderly in a nursing home. They helped with Operation Christmas Child and making Christmas cards for our military. Both girls have watched and/or helped to prepare & take food to friends/acquaintances that experienced a death in the family or recently had a baby. They have been with me when we went to stay with/assist a mother at her home that had recent surgery.

A lot of people act like homeschoolers don't live in or see the real world. What is more real? A classroom of peers (all your same age) that you spend your whole day with all the same age as you, or living and working with your family doing daily activities, passing out food to needy people, visiting the elderly, helping another mom, or participating in honoring a fallen soldier?

Click here for part 5.

Why We Homeschool Part 3

I found this image here.

Once the decision was made I had peace about it all. I knew this was the answer that God had provided. I also knew this would be a hard road but well worth it. A lot of people didn't understand and I am sure were very concerned. Unlike some people, I didn't have any rude family members or friends that grilled me on this. I did have questions and I certainly understood that. This was a really new and different thing for most people. At that time I didn't know anyone that homeschooled or so I thought.

Over a period of time I remembered that one of Michael's co-workers homeschooled. I didn't know them very well but over the years they have become dear friends. My friend, helped me in so many ways. She was always available to answer my questions, look at her curriculum, and just be there to talk when I needed her. She was a gift from God! Thank you Karen! (As a side note, she now has 7 children. One of her children has graduated and is at ORU. He is very smart and he impresses me every time I see him with what a respectful young man he is. All of her children love God, are respectful, well behaved, full of compassion, and smart! )


There are SO many benefits of homeschooling. The first thing I love is the relationship I have with both of my children. We are very close. I had heard for many years about how terrible the pre-teen and teen years are. I have a 17 yr. old and have loved all 17 years. I haven't had other children telling my children on a daily basis how stupid their parents are. I haven't had other children teaching my children how to be rebellious towards their parents. I haven't had other children or teens teaching my children how to drink, smoke, or become sexually active. My children have the same values as my husband and I. We have taken time to explain those values and morals to our children (probably more often than they would like). These are shared values and morals not things we have forced on them. We haven't had a system fighting against our family for the last 11 years trying to undermine us. We are our children's peers. That sounds funny but it is really a neat thing. Our children have their own personality and style for sure. However, they don't have the pressure to dress inappropriately, because everyone else is or to fit in. They don't have to work at getting the attention of boys because their father pays attention to them. They don't have that need or that desire.


They don't have the need to fit in because they already do. They fit into our family perfectly. We accept them and love them unconditionally. We are not like the typical school peers that like them one day and not the next. We accept them no matter what their hair looks like or clothes. We don't think they are weird when they talk about important heart matters. We don't make fun of them for caring about other people or showing love, friendship, or kindness to others that may seem "uncool".

How has this helped my children? In so many ways! I will share with you some of them. My children don't feel near the pressure that other children do to fit in. Keep in mind there have been a few times that they felt left out....mostly at youth group in church. :-( Since they don't have this pressure they are free to be themselves. They don't flinch at all when in a social setting with adults. They have no trouble fitting into situations where there are no teenagers or no children their own age. We have a monthly activity where there is a 2 yr. old, a teenager, some younger children, and some adults. My girls get along just fine with all of them. Nobody minds playing with the 2 yr. old. They also have no problem conversing with the adults. They aren't upset that they aren't with their friends because they consider all these people their friends.

This has helped my children be more outgoing than me and to try new things! As I mentioned before I am shy by nature. It is difficult to say the least for me to meet new people. The idea of public speaking or being on a stage was horrifying. My husband was similar. These things were pretty far out of our comfort zone. How in the world can two people like that raise two children that don't have those fears? We encouraged them to do the things they wanted to do. We never let them know how frightened we were of these things for them. We acted like these were all very normal things. There was no peer pressure to be afraid of. Of course, we didn't tell them that we were shaking in our boots FOR THEM. Without peer pressure and fear to hold them back they have had some wonderful experiences that their parents have never had. Our oldest as many of you know has been in several community plays, has sang at church a few times, and was in a play on a stage with thousands of people watching.


Our youngest hasn't done the same things but is similar in not being afraid of those types of things. Just last night someone called to ask our youngest if she would be willing to stand up in our homeschool support group Mom's meeting to talk about the Middle School Game Nights. She didn't even flinch. Sure! I thought she would be a bit nervous but that didn't even come to her mind. She was just excited that she was asked to share.


She has never met a stranger and loves to talk to people. She tells me her best friend is our 80 yr. old neighbor! He is so interesting she says. He fought in WW2 Mom. Isn't that cool? Yes, it is I say. It is very cool. We have tried to teach our girls that the older you are the more wisdom you have. As a matter of fact to help them learn that idea I told my children many years ago, "the more gray hairs a person has the more wisdom they have". I tell them that the longer a person lives the more time they have had to gain wisdom and gray hairs! I tell my children to listen to older people because we value their wisdom. Of course, this has come back to haunt me a bit. Hannah keeps asking WHY I want to cover up my gray hairs. "That is your wisdom Mommy!" :-)

Click here for part 4

Why We Homeschool Part 2

I found this image here.


At the time we were pondering the school issue for our daughter we were watching a late night Christian talk show person. He had commercials regarding homeschooling and started talking about homeschooling. We had never known anyone that did that and didn't know anything about it. (Feeling like a pioneer again.) Well, actually I did seem to recall someone that homeschooled when I was a child (well, I think I had just heard about them) and everyone thought they were freaks. Not something that sounded good to me! I didn't want people to think we were freaks! (I found out years later there are some pretty normal and awesome people that homeschool!)

One day my husband came to me and said "why don't we homeschool"? Hmm, great question. My first thought was "why don't YOU homeschool"! I didn't go to college and get a degree in teaching! I don't know anything about it and it sure sounded frightening!!! I can't do THAT!!!!
That was my first reaction. However, even though that was probably the end of the conversation for that day that thought kept nagging me. Why don't we? Why not? Of course, then I would remember all the reasons why, no degree in teaching, who do I think I am , what will people say, etc. The funny thing was that the more time went on the more I wondered to my self, why not? I decided to investigate. I went to the library and got every book I could on homeschooling and learned all I could. The more I learned the more I realized that we could do it! This was not an impossible thing at all.

People have been homeschooling since the beginning. Who taught Adam & Eve's children? There were no schools and college educated teachers, only parents. What do parents do? They teach! How do children learn to walk, to talk, to eat, to go potty? The parents teach them. The children learn by watching the parents and the parents take time to actually teach the children. I realized I had been teaching since my little baby came into this world. I even taught her what the cow says and what the horsey says. ;-) I also realized that there was a time in US history that people didn't even go to school. We had some of the most well educated and well spoken people during that time. Reading the writings of people close to the beginning of our country is amazing. Who taught them how to read, to write so eloquently? It had to have been their parents.

We have had some really famous people that were homeschooled. What about presidents that were homeschooled? Think of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, & Thomas Jefferson. These were brilliant men! What about Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, George Washington Carver, Mozart, Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, & C.S. Lewis? What would America be without these great men?

If you are interested in finding out about many other famous homeschoolers check out this link.

http://www.home4schoolgear.com/famoushomeschooler.html

These were not ignorant men. These men were taught by their parents. It is obvious from their lives that their parents taught them a lot more than facts and figures. I believe, and their lives show, that their parents taught them things that would help them get through life and be great achievers and/or great leaders. They were taught excellent work ethics, morals, diligence, patience, leadership qualities, determination, and many more important life skills. They didn't learn these qualities from a school teacher or their peers in a classroom.

At this point I realized this whole "homeschooling" idea may be a really great thing! When I realized I could keep my little girl at home with me and she could still get a good education I was thrilled. This was the answer to my aching heart. As always, God is faithful!

Click here for part 3.

Why We Homeschool Part 1

I found this image here.

A while back a friend asked me to explain WHY we felt that homeschooling is best and WHY I felt being a stay at home Mom is best. I decided to answer that question here in my blog. The best way for me to answer that is to share how we came to the conclusion to homeschool, how we feel about it, and the things we see in it.

DISCLAIMER: First of all, before you go any further I want you to know that it is not my intention to condemn anyone for their decisions. In the same way many women feel very strongly that they need to work or that their children should attend school I feel just as strongly about what we are doing. This in no way makes me think badly of others. This is what we feel the Lord has led us to do so of course, we feel very strongly about it. When you feel strongly about something like this you think everyone should do it. However, we realize that God hasn't led everyone to do the same things as we do. We know that God has different plans for everyone and we are not all the same. Know that I will be saying a lot of good things about homeschooling so if you think that will offend you stop now. I DO NOT WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE. If you are reading this you may very well be a valued and precious friend or family member. That is a group of people I love dearly so stop if singing the praises of homeschooling will offend you.


I felt the same way about nursing my baby. Before I had my first child I was convinced that breast-feeding my baby was the best thing. It was obvious with all the research (and the fact that God made it this way and HIS way is always best) that you could come to no other conclusion. While I felt a bit like a pioneer (I had never known anyone that did this) I was convinced 100% it was the right thing to do for my baby. It was awkward and difficult a lot of times (just like homeschooling!) and I knew that a lot of people probably didn't understand. At that time people were not real accepting of it. I am by nature a shy & modest person so I was pretty paranoid unless I was sitting in a tent. Of course, there aren't many times when you can sit in a tent so that made it difficult and made me very self conscious. I kept doing what I felt was the right thing and the best thing for my baby. Over time I began to get over some of the paranoia. The longer I did it the more I knew it was the right thing to do. During that time I was well aware of the fact that a lot of women didn't make the same decision I made. I knew it was not practical at all for a woman that worked. I knew there were circumstances that made it difficult or impossible. I also knew that there were many good mothers out there that just didn't have the same convictions as I did. I realize the same thing about homeschooling. I have seen some really good mothers that really love their children. They don't have the same convictions as I do but that doesn't mean I think any less of them. To be honest though, when they tell me of difficulties in school I can't help but think "that is the great thing about homeschooling". Whatever the issue is I know that it wouldn't be an issue or it could be much less of one if the child were homeschooled. Having said all of that now I want to address homeschooling, why we do that and why we love it.

Our decision to homeschool was mostly economical. When that little baby I mentioned above was getting close to her 5th birthday my heart began to ache. I knew that it was almost time for her to go to school. I couldn't imagine my darling little angel being whisked away from me each morning only to return several hours later. She would be all alone! I wouldn't be there with her. Won't she be frightened? What if she needs me? I have always been there for her and with her. How can this work? The more I thought about it the more I thought, "this is just how it is, this is what I have to do, everyone else does it". What choice did I have? She had to go to school! But she was only 5 years old! It just isn't right to rip a 5 yr. old from her Mother's arms!

It's unnatural!

My husband and I didn't see public school as an option at the time. We felt that our little angel would do better in a Christian School. That made me feel better about leaving my daughter with a bunch of strangers. At least, it would be strangers that had similar convictions and would care about my girl. My heart ached a bit less but it still ached.....

Click here for part 2.

The Homeschoolers Wishlist

This image was found here.

If you homeschool you have probably already seen the following. It is very popular right now. If you have not you MUST read it. Hilarious with the truth mixed in. I also think the cartoon above is hilarious. Although I wish I had written this I did not. I am not sure who the author is. If anyone knows let me know.

1 Please stop asking us if it’s legal. If it is — and it is — it’s insulting to imply that we’re criminals. And if we were criminals, would we admit it?

2 Learn what the words “socialize” and “socialization” mean, and use the one you really mean instead of mixing them up the way you do now. Socializing means hanging out with other people for fun. Socialization means having acquired the skills necessary to do so successfully and pleasantly. If you’re talking to me and my kids, that means that we do in fact go outside now and then to visit the other human beings on the planet, and you can safely assume that we’ve got a decent grasp of both concepts.

3 Quit interrupting my kid at her dance lesson, scout meeting, choir practice, baseball game, art class, field trip, park day, music class, 4H club, or soccer lesson to ask her if as a homeschooler she ever gets to socialize.

4 Don’t assume that every homeschooler you meet is homeschooling for the same reasons and in the same way as that one homeschooler you know.

5 If that homeschooler you know is actually someone you saw on TV, either on the news or on a “reality” show, the above goes double.

6 Please stop telling us horror stories about the homeschoolers you know, know of, or think you might know who ruined their lives by homeschooling. You’re probably the same little bluebird of happiness whose hobby is running up to pregnant women and inducing premature labor by telling them every ghastly birth story you’ve ever heard. We all hate you, so please go away.

7 We don’t look horrified and start quizzing your kids when we hear they’re in public school. Please stop drilling our children like potential oil fields to see if we’re doing what you consider an adequate job of homeschooling.

8 Stop assuming all homeschoolers are religious.

9 Stop assuming that if we’re religious, we must be homeschooling for religious reasons.

10 We didn’t go through all the reading, learning, thinking, weighing of options, experimenting, and worrying that goes into homeschooling just to annoy you. Really. This was a deeply personal decision, tailored to the specifics of our family. Stop taking the bare fact of our being homeschoolers as either an affront or a judgment about your own educational decisions.

11 Please stop questioning my competency and demanding to see my credentials. I didn’t have to complete a course in catering to successfully cook dinner for my family; I don’t need a degree in teaching to educate my children. If spending at least twelve years in the kind of chew-it-up-and-spit-it-out educational facility we call public school left me with so little information in my memory banks that I can’t teach the basics of an elementary education to my nearest and dearest, maybe there’s a reason I’m so reluctant to send my child to school.

12 If my kid’s only six and you ask me with a straight face how I can possibly teach him what he’d learn in school, please understand that you’re calling me an idiot. Don’t act shocked if I decide to respond in kind.

13 Stop assuming that because the word “home” is right there in “homeschool,” we never leave the house. We’re the ones who go to the amusement parks, museums, and zoos in the middle of the week and in the off-season and laugh at you because you have to go on weekends and holidays when it’s crowded and icky.

14 Stop assuming that because the word “school” is right there in homeschool, we must sit around at a desk for six or eight hours every day, just like your kid does. Even if we’re into the “school” side of education — and many of us prefer a more organic approach — we can burn through a lot of material a lot more efficiently, because we don’t have to gear our lessons to the lowest common denominator.

15 Stop asking, “But what about the Prom?” Even if the idea that my kid might not be able to indulge in a night of over-hyped, over-priced revelry was enough to break my heart, plenty of kids who do go to school don’t get to go to the Prom. For all you know, I’m one of them. I might still be bitter about it. So go be shallow somewhere else.

16 Don’t ask my kid if she wouldn’t rather go to school unless you don’t mind if I ask your kid if he wouldn’t rather stay home and get some sleep now and then.

17 Stop saying, “Oh, I could never homeschool!” Even if you think it’s some kind of compliment, it sounds more like you’re horrified. One of these days, I won’t bother disagreeing with you any more.

18 If you can remember anything from chemistry or calculus class, you’re allowed to ask how we’ll teach these subjects to our kids. If you can’t, thank you for the reassurance that we couldn’t possibly do a worse job than your teachers did, and might even do a better one.

19 Stop asking about how hard it must be to be my child’s teacher as well as her parent. I don’t see much difference between bossing my kid around academically and bossing him around the way I do about everything else.

20 Stop saying that my kid is shy, outgoing, aggressive, anxious, quiet, boisterous, argumentative, pouty, fidgety, chatty, whiny, or loud because he’s homeschooled. It’s not fair that all the kids who go to school can be as annoying as they want to without being branded as representative of anything but childhood.

21 Quit assuming that my kid must be some kind of prodigy because she’s homeschooled.

22 Quit assuming that I must be some kind of prodigy because I homeschool my kids.

23 Quit assuming that I must be some kind of saint because I homeschool my kids.

24 Stop talking about all the great childhood memories my kids won’t get because they don’t go to school, unless you want me to start asking about all the not-so-great childhood memories you have because you went to school.

25 Here’s a thought: If you can’t say something nice about homeschooling, shut up!

My oldest daughter calls this "the one from the bitter Mom". Well, I don't think she is bitter, just tired- tired of answering the same questions over and over for years. LOL

For a more serious look at homeschool myths click here.

Calling All Older Women

This is the beginning of a great article. I encourage you to read it. When you are done finish the article at the website link below.

I would love to hear your comments on this topic too!

Dear Sisters,

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live,
not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is
good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and
children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be
kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign
the Word of God." Titus 2:3-5

For the second time today I have talked to a young woman who is
frustrated and hurting. As we talked I could see the problem. The
problem is the "older women" in their lives were not living out the
above verse.

Each woman was not complaining about the older woman in her life, but
she was frustrated at her inability to figure out what she was doing
wrong since her home did not match their well-managed home. Well, the
problem was they are not teaching and training these young women in what
they know. Rather than coming alongside these young women with important
aid to them in their child raising and home management, they come to
these younger women's homes and sit and talk and then get frustrated
when the children interrupt. Or when the younger women go to their
homes, they feel as though they should have never come (especially with
their children), because no one can move for fear the well-manicured
home and the well-manicured woman running it will break down if
something is mussed or broken.

I felt bad for these two women. I do not see this going on in the verse
above. In the verse above I see a whole lot of "training" going on. As
you know with training children you have to get into the middle of it
with them. Well, likewise with the older women training the younger
women. They need to get "into the middle of it" with the younger women.
And the "it" results in loving husbands and loving children. How? By a
well-managed home run by the kind woman exemplified in Proverbs 31. This
does not just happen naturally. It happens through prayer and training
and practice. Training that watches an older woman in action, which
causes the younger woman to be encouraged to imitate, and then to
consistently practice what she sees. If that were not so, then Titus 2
would not call the older women to train anyone.

Remember the days when an older woman would drop everything to be beside
her daughter when she gave birth? And then continue to stay for weeks on
end to see her daughter back on her feet again? The daughter would learn
so much about the raising of her children watching a seasoned veteran in
her home. Now the saying goes for many older women, even in the church,
"I raised my children. Now it's your turn."

Remember the days when an older woman was up before dawn and pulling
pies out of the oven by 6:30 a.m. while readying her fruit for the
makings of jam? (Just read about a great grandmother like this.) Now
older women say that they're not cooking anymore. Their kids are raised
and they've cooked enough to last a life time. How the younger woman
needs to watch this woman in her kitchen. How the grandchildren need to
watch her and know her love that puts hot dishes and warm cookies on a
kitchen table.

Remember when going to grandma's house on Sunday was as big a treat as
going to church? Now older women are quite busy with the many activities
of their church leaving the younger women to feel guilty if they want
some of their time. It's not the same world anymore, is it?

To read the rest of this article go here.

You can read her many other letters here.

Laine's official website: http://www.lainesletters.com/

Homeschooling Myth #7

Myth #7 People that homeschool are missing out on proper socialization.

The above picture really says it all.

I will add that I have a child that is 12 and one that is 17. They have both been homeschooled their whole lives. I haven't seen any indication that there has been a problem. They have participated in many events over the years and have had several volunteer opportunities. They have been around many kinds of people of different ages. My oldest has been to homeless shelters, nursing homes, and many other places where she can get a broader view of the world. My youngest has said in the past that her 'best friend' was our 80 yr. old neighbor and yet she also plays with a girl in the neighborhood this is in kindergarten. She loves to help her when they play so it is more like she is taking care of her. ;-) She doesn't hesitate to meet new people & talk to strangers. Yes, I am with her so it is OK! Don't panic! Both my girls can talk to and interact just fine with adults of any age and yet they can do the same with tiny children and babies (they love babies!). Isn't that what being socialized is all about anyway?

Let's see what the dictionary says about this.

so·cial·ize

1. To place under government or group ownership or control.
2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable.
3. To convert or adapt to the needs of society.

I think there is a lot more of #1 and #3 going on than most people want to admit. I would like to point out that converting &/or adapting to the needs of society is not my #1 responsibility as a parent. However, if #2 is our goal "to make fit for companionship with others" that is a fine goal. It can certainly be accomplished with homeschoolers and it is all the time.

In most cases, true socialization is not spending 6 hours a day with people all your own age. If the real world were set up like school (that is where people think your children get socialized) we would have a problem. For example, can you imagine a society where your neighbor can come over and take food (or anything else) right out of your refrigerator (did you have your lunch stolen at school?) and you are told to deal with it or work it out? What about having someone bigger or stronger than you that comes over and gives you a pounding whenever they feel like it. Should we tell them to get a tougher skin? Stand up for yourself! Wait a minute. In the real world we would call the police if someone entered our home, stole from us or beat us up. I believe that is called assault!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much MORE that can be said about this. Most homeschoolers have heard this question many times and have strong opinions. If you don't believe me just ask a homeschooler if they are worried about socialization.

However, before you do that I encourage you to read this. It will give you lots to think about. :-)

Another great read is here.

Here is an interesting comparison from HSLDA about how homeschoolers do as adults (once you click on the link be sure to click on NEXT in the bottom right to scroll through). What I have copied below is only a small part. There are many more interesting facts at this link.

My comments on this are in red.

Homeschool graduates are active and
involved in their communities. If they aren't properly
socialized how are they doing this? Seventy-one percent participate
in an ongoing community service activity (e.g., coaching a sports team,
volunteering at a school, or working with a church or neighborhood association),
compared to 37% of U.S. adults of similar ages. Amazing that they can deal with all these people isn't
it?

Eighty-eight percent of the homeschool
graduates surveyed were members of an organization (e.g., such as a community
group, church or synagogue, union, homeschool group, or professional
organization), How do they do this when they are SO
unsocialized? compared to 50% of U.S. adults

Only 4.2% of the homeschool graduates
surveyed consider politics and government too complicated to understand,
compared to 35% of U.S. adults. This one blew me away!
I guess it shouldn't though. When I was in school I bet I would have said
the same thing. I am sure I was much more interested in socializing!
;-) My childrens interest in politics makes me ashamed to admit that. They
know tons more about government/politics than I did up to an age I would rather
not admit!

This may account for why homeschool
graduates work for candidates, contribute to campaigns, and vote in much higher
percentages than the general population of the United States. For example, 76%
of homeschool graduates surveyed between the ages of 18–24 voted within the last
five years, compared to only 29% of the relevant U.S.
population.

79% compared
to 29%! Can you believe it?

Homeschooling Myth #4, #5,and #6

(The 'best teacher' is the one that knows your child the best & is committed to your child.)

I am going to lump the next three myths all together. Here they are.

Myth #4 People that homeschool have to have a teaching degree or they can't teach.

Myth #5 People that homeschool have to be able to teach all subjects.

Myth #6 Homeschool students can only be as smart as their parents.

You do not have to have a teaching degree or some kind of extra special education. What you do have to have is commitment, determination, love, and a conviction that this is what you are to do. The good thing is that the longer you homeschool the stronger those things usually become. However, the down side is that when you first start you are nervous and a bit unsure. Lots of questions are running around in your head like, "Can I really do this", "What was I thinking", and "Who do I think I am trying to do this?" Having a good support group is helpful in this area. They can help encourage you and let you see all the other Moms that are doing this crazy thing! ;-)

No, you do not have to be able to teach ALL subjects. As a matter of fact, you teach a lot less than you think when the children get older. The better they can read the more they learn on their own. There is a ton of curriculum that is geared toward the student doing it on there own. As the parent you do a lot of planning, delegating, organizing, scheduling, and facilitating. There are many ways to help your child learn things you can't teach. There are friends, family members, homeschool co-ops, tutors, classes at colleges or other places. If you think about it when you were in school (the higher grades) you didn't have one teacher that taught all subjects. It is better to get the experts to help you in each subject. Using all that we have available to us we can get the help of the experts for our children.

Because of what I said above you can see why "homeschool students are not only as smart as their parents". My daughter is currently in an Algebra II class. She is getting help from a teacher that is very smart in that area. This is not an easy subject for my daughter but she will do a lot better in this class than if I were to teach it to her. I am not good at Algebra and don't really know anything about it. In Biology, I am not an expert either. We are relying on a great curriculum for that though. You can see it here. This curriculum is taught in a conversational style so it feels like a teacher talking to them. It comes with videos and pronunciations you can actually hear. We didn't purchase this but you can also get an MP3 Audio CD. Then your child can actually listen to the teacher saying it too. (This is just one of many examples. There are a lot more things out there like this that are available. ) I am learning interesting things right along with my daughters. That has been one of the many homeschooling surprises for me personally. I have learned a lot too.

One of my daughters has a fascination with words & language. She has done a lot of research on the meanings of words/names and root words. This is not something I taught her but something she wanted to learn on her own. She knows more than I do about a lot of things. My other daughter is the same way. She knows a lot of things that she can explain to me. It is really wonderful that our children can surpass us in knowledge & education. Isn't that what we all want for our children anyway...to be better and to do better than us?

If you haven't read the other 3
homeschooling myths you can find them by clicking on the links below.

Homeschooling Myth #1

Homeschooling Myth #2

Homeschooling Myth #3