Support NOT Sabotage
- Sparrow Home School
- Mar 10, 2018
- 5 min read
A conversation came up recently for a new home schooling mum and a hurtful comment made to her by a family member (including that person suggesting the new home schooling mum was not 'smart enough' to home school her child). Don't even get me started on the 'not smart enough' comment. This was my response to her...
"Congratulations on your decision to home school, it is an amazing thing you are doing for your family. People fear what they don't understand. They also fear people who don't follow their perceived 'pack'. Those who don't accept our choices can only meet us where they are. Your family members thoughtless comment (though hurtful to you) is more about them than you. How people react is their stuff, how you react is yours. If you can find a place within you where you can try and see their reaction as their stuff and keep your power by not reacting to it, it will help you rise above it.
Sadly, as home schoolers, we come across this stuff so you have to find a way to not let it get to you (it will get easier). Don't get caught up in the fight nor should you feel like you have to constantly defend your position.
As it's family, perhaps sit down with them at a quiet time and ask them if they want to have a proper discussion about home schooling so that they may learn some understanding as to why you are choosing this very valid path for your family. If they are open to that, then great, perhaps also give them some articles to read. That is all you can really do. If people are happy to discuss to understand, great, if they just want to be defensive, pick at your decision and put you down then you have to leave them with their own thoughts and continue on in your own strength.
People choose the educational path they feel is best for their family, they need to respect that you have done the same thing. All the very best and stand strong." :)
This experience for this woman and those involved in the conversation after she reached out is but one more example on how we have all lost our way. It's more than just one family member disagreeing with another choosing to home school her child. We have allowed ourselves to be separated from each other, living in a silo based mentality. Have we forgotten how to support each other? Have we forgotten empathy, understanding, non-judgemental support? We have to remember...
It takes a village.
We have to remember...
We are all unique, different, amazing people. This diversity is what makes life much more interesting. We have much to teach each other and much to learn from each other.
Whether it's about home schooling and other educational styles, how we dress, how we express our individuality, our spirituality, how we think, how we feel, how we do, how we be... we are all going to do it differently.
Let's celebrate that! Let's accept our uniqueness then let's celebrate and accept that in others.
Let's support each other NOT sabotage each other.
No-one knows your child better than you. No-one is more invested in your child than you. Stand strong, be brave and enjoy the ride. Leave the nay-sayers to their mutterings and continue doing what you believe to be best for your children and your family and I wish you all the very best in that.
If you do home school or are about to and need some information to help you express some of the great things about home schooling, here are some ideas to get you started...
No continual comparison to other kids their age. We all want to be accepted and liked. Without the continual comparison afforded by being in school all day, many days a year, kids are more free to be themselves.
Limited peer pressure. I don’t think we should put our kids in a bubble but I like being able to allow my kids the freedom from living under peer pressure day after day.
Time to explore interests. With the one-on-one tutoring style of the homeschool environment, kids are generally able to finish their studies much quicker – allowing more time for exploring interests.
One-on-one teaching. One-on-one teaching allows individualised instruction that meets kids where they are at allowing them to push ahead or stay back, if necessary.
Lots of time to play. Young kids learn SO much through play.
Lots of interaction with adults. This speaks directly to the issue of socialisation. Kids who are socialised by all ages, including adults, are exposed to much richer experiences.
Lots of opportunities during the day No day is the same in the homeschool. Taking field trips are a natural progression of the homeschool lifestyle.
Learn at their own pace We homeschool with mastery in mind. If a child misses half of their spelling words, we review them until they are learned rather than skipping ahead to the next list of words. It is not uncommon to have a 5th grade homeschooled student in 5th grade in one subject and a higher or lower grade level in another subject.
Homeschooled kids tend to think more independently. We want our kids to be independent thinkers, better able to discern truth.
Work for knowledge and not for grades. We are working more towards laying a foundation for future learning than for performing on a test.
Can teach with real life. It’s hard to raise animals in a classroom or to do many of the hands-on projects that homeschooled families have access to.
Can teach with interest-led learning. Completing the 3 R’s can be done fairly quickly in the homeschool, allowing kids to pursue their interests in the afternoons.
No high pressure mornings trying to get everyone out the door to go to school.
Kids gain experience with many ages – not just their grade.
Good for different learners. Some kids need to move to learn, some need to talk or see or hear. Homeschooling allows for kids to learn the way that they learn best.
Progress at their own level. This is never more important than with a child with learning struggles.
Can do school in your PJ's.
Literally, the world is your classroom.
The above are but a few ideas from the following website (she lists tons of great reasons to home school) https://www.mariannesunderland.com/2014/12/08/why-homeschooling-good/ - you'll find more reasons online too.
Follow this link to my website to give you some ideas on where to get started - Where do I start?
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