Recently on Twitter, I had someone tweet me a series of questions that began with the basic assumption (stereotype) that all homeschooling families must have their own coffee cake recipes and ended with the request for my bulk foods supplier. After my initial shock at such an assumption, then a chuckle that this person clearly does not read this blog, nor my tweetstream closely, I sent off a series of my own tweets in reply to clarify a few things to this misinformed soul. All done in love, of course, but honestly – to assume that all homeschooling families grind their own wheat, bake their own bread, have their own coffee cake recipes (which I do – but that’s beside the point! ) and have bulk food suppliers, was a bit over the top to me.

That Twitter conversation got me to thinking how those who do not  homeschool must really view those of us who do. Do they see us as in some big ‘club’? A cult of some sort? I laugh at that, because it could not be further from the truth!

People homeschool for many reasons, some religious, some academic or even social. For our family, homeschooling began not for religious reasons (as one might suspect), but due to negative social issues my older children were having in public school, combined with academic issues – primarily because my children tested much higher than their grade level and were not being challenged enough in public school. So it was in 1996 that we began our homeschooling journey when I pulled my third child out of public school at the end of her 5th grade year and began homeschooling her starting at the 6th grade level (that child graduated in 2004, with three more children still in our homeschool). So we began homeschooling at the middle school level, when many parents waver and put their children into public school!

High school homeschool can be intimidating, but it most certainly can be done! There are many online homeschool options, offline homeschool co-ops and many other choices, if you feel you need help with those upper grades.

For us, it wasn’t about the ‘awe’ of homeschooling, or the thrill of getting to join a homeschool support group or being in any sort of  ‘club’ – it was purely for the best interest of our child. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful every day for the privilege that I get to homeschool my children, but I do so because I do not at all like my alternatives. I homeschool to provide my children with the very best education I can, as well as to protect them from social issues I do not feel they should, or need, to be exposed to.

I have often been asked, ‘Do you think everyone should homeschool?’ That’s a tough question, because I think everyone should want the very best for their children: the best education, the best opportunities with the least distractions – and peer pressures and the social issues that go on in public schools are huge distractions! But I have to be realistic and say that not all parents are cut out to be homeschoolers.  I think many more could be – if they chose to be, and with help, coaching and confidence, they could do it! Choosing the right homeschooling curriculum is one key to success. Patience and desire to homeschool is another.

More than anything, I want to see homeschooling viewed with equal respect and remain as an educational choice that parents are allowed to choose for their own children. I do not believe judges, the government or the state should have a say in how parents choose to educate their children. I fully believe children should be educated; I do not believe that anyone other than the parents should have a say in how that education is completed.

Homeschooling is a serious undertaking. It’s not a club, a social party or to be viewed solely as a fun adventure (although it can certainly be fun!): one needs to view this responsibility soberly and take great care that you do so to the best of your ability and to not treat this as a hobby or friviolous thing. Homeschooling is indeed, as they say, a lifestyle. A rewarding, enriching, family-bonding, educational, emotional, and yes – even fun, lifestyle.

If that makes me part of a ‘club’ – then so be it; to me, it’s how we have chosen to raise our children and spend our time parenting and educating our children.

Do you homeschool? If not, what are your views of  homeschoolers? Do you see us as part of some ‘club’ or ‘cult’? Comment below and share your thoughts (nicely, please ).