The hardest part of being a homeschool family

 The hardest part of homeschooling my boys is not finding curriculum or making sure they are getting everything done. Frankly to be honest we are more unschooly than anything else, more child lead learning than any kind of concrete schedule for the boy. The Hardest thing about it all is the strangers that just don't seem to have any kind of idea about manners at all.

  I love being out with my boy when all of a sudden our outing is interrupted by a stranger asking them why they are not in school, and then, then when the boys tell them they are homeschooled out comes the eye rolls!.. and the follow up of  'oh you are one of THOSE kids'.  Then comes the 50 questions and this time is my kids turn to roll their eyes at me and then it is my cue to ask them to no quiz my child. I certainly don't understand why on earth finding out that a child is homeschooled automatically makes people want to start asking my kids what they have learned or if they can spell words for them.

  Then comes the friends, oh they mean well, there are some who are very supportive, but the ones that ask me if I  really don't just want some time to myself and if I am going to put them in school next year. Friend that like to ask me how my curriculum is coming along. There are friends that I just don't bother speaking to about our schooling style. these friends DRIVE ME CRAZY!!.

So let me answer some of your questions for you....

1. yes my kids are socialized, really really socialized!

2. Yes sometimes they wear PJ's all day!. NO we don't care if you like it or not!.

3. NO we do not 'do school' everyday. Child lead learning is just that, my children lead me on most things that they want to learn or accomplish that day and if that means they do nothing but play Minecraft  and read books and attempt to recreate Picasso's art pieces, then that is exactly what they do!.

4. YES unschooling is  a type of education as is Free schooling.. they are very close to Montessori (look it up!)

5. YES my kids can spell

6. YES my kids know how to do proper math, my 7 year old is a grade and a half ahead in math.

7. YES my kids can read, they read at their own pace and take their own time, and are not rushed.

8. NO I don't want them to go to PS just so I can 'get a rest' OR 'time for myself'

  These are just some of the questions I get asked all the time. They are ANNOYING. If you want to be a good friend, don't ask me any of these questions. If you are a close friend you already KNOW the answers and you KNOW my struggles and yes we have normal family struggles.

  My kids are supported by so many great people in their lives just as the majority of homeschooled kids. They have so many great role models and are very loved Just because we decide to do things differently does not mean we are wrong or society is right.  Please think before you speak next time you encounter a homeschool family or friend. maybe instead of trying to find something negative in the situation you focus on something positive.