Comments on: General Response to Homeschoolers: Do They Care Too Much

By: momlovesbeingathome

momlovesbeingathome — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:28:03 +0000

Hi, Tammy! I haven’t been to your blog in a long time (nor most others so it wasn’t just you ) and I’m so glad to have found you again. I just wanted to say that this post is brilliant! Very well said! I always enjoyed everything I read on your blog though so I’m not surprised.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:07:53 +0000

Tammy,

I’ve been reading your blog for a while now. Love it. This particular post really spoke to me. I approached our decision to homeschool the same way. I’m kind of a geek when it comes to reading and learning about education, how we learn, and parenting. When my seven year old daughter was a toddler I read obsessively about these topics. Like you, I knew what our end goal was. The more I read, the more I felt led to homeschooling. For a period of time I think I was actually trying to research myself out of homeschooling. In the end I simply couldn’t deny that homeschooling was the best way for us to achieve the results we were after - a happy, well-adjusted, engaged, passionate, involved kid who still likes her family.

Our decision to homeschool is validated again and again when I think about what our lives would be like if our daughter were in school. The closeness we share as a family would be in jeopardy. Like you said, my husband and I would have to work much harder at carving out family time with the demands of a school schedule. Our older daughter would have hardly any time with her sister who is five and a half years younger. Not to mention the fact that our daughter has lots of time to pursue the things she’s interested in. She loves to learn and she’s having the childhood I’ve always dreamed she’d have.

We recently attended a camping trip with our homeschool coop. Watching the teens in the group brought tears to my eyes. They were all so comfortable in their own skins. They were so nice to each other, the little kids and their parents as well. This is what I want for my kids. While I do think this end result is possible for schooled kids, it’s surely much more difficult (and rare) for kids to emerge from 13 years in a school environment with self esteem, desire to learn, and quality relationships with family in tact. Why not go for the path that is more likely to produce the results you’re looking for?

Before I had kids, I never ever would have predicted we’d homeschool. Now I’m thankful every day for this wonderful way of life we’ve chosen.

By: alasandra

alasandra — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:29:19 +0000

Lovely post. I too enjoy having teens who like themselves and their family. alasandra’s last blog post: Great Homeschooling Post

By: Principled Discovery » Do homeschoolers care too much?

Principled Discovery » Do homeschoolers care too much? — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:47:52 +0000

[...] Tammy of Just Enough and Nothing More responds a bit more to Do Homeschoolers Care Too Much? [...]

By: Ren

Ren — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:42:16 +0000

Nice post. I’m not even going to bother reading the original article you were responding to, read enough of that sort of thing and the close mindedness really gets me down.

I have a 19, 15 (almost 16), 12 and 8y.o…..none of which have any signs of “rebellion” nor hesitate to share very personal details of their lives with me. I realize that isn’t simply a school vs. homeschool issue…it has a lot to do with parenting style but unschooling has given us the freedom of time together, richer connections and respect I can’t imagine would be as present with us prodding and nudging them to get up for school and complete some mind numbing homework each night.

Anyone sold on the current schooling system should at least inform themselves by reading John Taylor Gatto’s “Underground History of American Education”.

Ren’s last blog post: The trip out West

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:58:01 +0000

My experience has been similar. I would add that when I was in college, I had several friends who had been homeschooled. These people were always ahead of their peers, including myself, in understanding who they were, the way they wanted to live their lives, and what they wanted to do with their lives. They were also all in college, performing well, and pursuing a variety of careers including doctors and teachers. Like you, I saw the proof in who these people were.

By: Marcy Muser

Marcy Muser — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:53:45 +0000

This is one of the best posts I’ve ever seen on the topic of homeschoolers and socialization, and it matches very closely with my own observations of homeschooled teens. I was homeschooled myself, for grades 1, 6, and all of high school (in the 70’s and early 80’s when it wasn’t the thing to do); I’ve homeschooled my own daughters since my oldest was 3 1/2 (she’s now almost 13); and I’ve worked with homeschoolers for the past 7 years. Especially as my own kids have approached their teen years, I’ve been very interested in how homeschooled kids interact with the world around them, and I have to agree with you. Overall, homeschooled kids (especially teens) just seem to have such a healthy view of life and of the world, and such positive interactions with the people around them, from parents to siblings to peers to those who are different from them. Obviously there are exceptions - I know people whose kids are not socially well adjusted, too - but most of those kids would have had trouble in any situation. What’s fascinating to me is how other homeschooled kids interact with those who are troubled socially. They often provide a real support system for those who are struggling.

Thanks again for such a great post! I have posted in response on my blog at: http://marcys-musings.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-socialization-all-about.html.

Marcy Muser’s last blog post: What Is Socialization All About?

By: Jennifer Fink

Jennifer Fink — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:31:29 +0000

I’ve seen and noticed the same things. To go to a homeschooling conference and see the level of (and kinds of) interaction between parents and children is just inspiring. It’s not just 1 or 2 families that get along; it’s the vast majority. You see children of all ages and parents of all types and people from across the political and religious spectrum and it boils down to: They like each other. They respect each other. And they’re involved in the world.

I see those things in some families that attend school as well. But like you said — it often comes at great effort, and, in my opinion, it’s no where near as prevalent.

I wanted my children to have time to pursue their interests, to spend time with their parents and to relax — and school just didn’t leave enough time to do all that. Four years later, we’re happily homeschooling.

Jennifer Fink’s last blog post: Snapshot Sunday: Brotherly Love

By: Rane dae

Rane dae — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:29:50 +0000

Thank you. That was so beautifully put. I’m sending this to my mom to try to help her understand why I want to do this.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:10:09 +0000

“The teens and the parents liked each other.”

This was a big selling point to me too. It really jumped out at me as I watched homeschool friends with their teens when I was first starting out. And I wanted what they had. (Not saying that parents with their kids in school can not have a good relationship with their teens, of course.)

So far so good (although I do have 1 more year until we hit the “teen” years). I think that being around each other more as well as being able to let my kids develop on their own timetables (rather than having to make sure that they stay on the school’s timetable) makes a big difference. At least it has for us.

Stephanie’s last blog post: And I’m Back (I Think!)