love of local in Utah
What Home schoolers Love to Hear & Back to School 2014
I think we are the last ones around to have our official back to school day! I grew up on the east coast and school did not start until after Labor Day. That is how it should be, am I right?
After an extreme amount of thought, exploring options, involving the girls in our decision, excitement, and lots of deep breaths. We have decided to go back to homeschooling. I love you all and want you to know I mean this post in a playful, nice way. Also, if you have said these things to me, do not fear, I am fine. I was totally talking about the other person that said them to me š But seriously, I love you all, don’t over worry.Ā
4 Things Home schooling ParentsĀ Love to Hear
#1 Explaining why you couldn’t ever home school after someone tells you that they home school. You say you aren’t “patient enough” or “smart enough” or Ā “educated enough” or “organized enough.” Which puts us in an awkward position because we aren’t enough of those either. Sure we have our strengths in all of those areas! But after you say that are we supposed to point out how we do have some of those qualities to an extent? And sounds all stuck up? Or in some cases is the person trying to point out how the home schooling mom really isn’t qualified as well. Who knows, people are kind, I assume the best. But sometimes the way people phrase things, it can make me cringe!
#2 When you blurt out, “Oh no, you can’t turn your kids into those weird home school kids!” YES, I have had this said to me already four times this summer. Oh friends, there are weird kids everywhere. I have met some really odd home school families. I have met some home school families that have the most wonderfully happy, adjusted children. I have met some really odd public school, charter school, and private school kids. I have met some public school, charter school, and private school kids that are wonderfully happy and adjusted. Stop generalizing and putting harmful labels on groups of people. We’ve all had experiences where we have met all different sides of everything. Don’t latch onto one and slap a label on it.
#3 When you ask about socialization. I think some people really are interested to learn more about home school and how that aspect of it works. But I think some people are trying to make a point, like they are opening our minds to something we haven’t even thought of! Socialization doesn’t need to come in one form, the form that public school provides. I’m not saying anything bad about that form. But socialization doesn’t need to be a certain set of hours or under certain conditions. My girls with their schedule for this year learn from twelve different adults. That isn’t counting the adults from church and extended family members or even Tyler and I! Or the adults we meet at museums or in the different winter/spring/summer camps we do every year. Oh and the friends! They have four playdates a week, are in numerous clubs, and live in a very social neighborhood.
#4 Becoming defensiveĀ or cynical or worried when my children’s education sounds different than your child’s. Education can come in many different forms. Many different, interesting, wonderful forms. Not everyone needs to learn from the same plan.
I am excited to show you all what we are doing in homeschooling. Although when I tell people a more detailed plan of what we are doing they say it sounds more like hackschooling. Who knows, it’s the Brown way of schooling. I’m excited to show you what we are doing to help other homeschooling parents. But also lots of them are just ideas for learning together with your children during the week for a few minutes here or there. You don’t have to be a homeschooler for these ideas.
Alright…most importantly! Here are our official back to school pictures:
Oh my goodness, look at those weird, unsocialized kids! Why do we even use the word “socialized?” Sounds like we’re talking about training dogs! I’m excited for your homeschooling year. And these pictures are the cutest ever.
Can I send my kids to the Brown Way of Schooling? Pretty please?
The girls look adorable. Have fun.