Stop Worrying About Socialization. Seriously.

Although schools have been more than crazy lately with everything going on, I’ve been surprised to find that some parents are still reluctant to homeschool because of socialization. I’m hoping to set the record straight.

People Make the Strangest Comments About Homeschooling

In the 12 years we’ve been #homeschooling, we’ve been pretty blessed in that most people don’t seem to have a problem with our educational choice. With that being said, I think we’ve all heard some #homeschool stereotypes or some downright off-the-wall opinions or questions about it. Today I’m sharing the five most absurd things people have said to me. Enjoy!

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The “Homeschoolers Aren’t Socialized” Programming Is VERY Effective

Ahhhhhh, back to the old socialization stigma again. Just when I thought I was safe, the assumptions have jumped back into my life in a most ironic way.

People are so programmed to believe that homeschoolers aren’t socialized that they will ignore all evidence before them proving otherwise. They will ignore the exceedingly bad behavior of children who are NOT homeschooled and cling to the idea that it’s HOMESCHOOLERS who don’t know how to act or behave around others.

I happen to disagree.

Homeschooling Is Only Good for Farmers (And THESE Famous Homeschoolers)

Did you know that homeschooling is only good for farmers? Me neither! I also never realized that farming was something to look down upon (because we need it to survive and all), but wrong again. I heard it straight from the mouth (or keyboard) of someone who knows better than we do.

So tune in to my YouTube channel today to hear some other “sound” wisdom of someone in the know…and to hear an extensive list of famous homeschoolers who were/are not farmers.

Go figure.

The “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader” Argument Against Homeschooling

As most homeschoolers are aware, there are quite a few ridiculous arguments against homeschooling out there. I’ve already tackled the “socialization” and “real world” arguments several times, so today I’m discussing what I’m calling the “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader” argument.

8 Things Every Homeschooler Hears at Least Once

Ah, homeschool myths. Are there any home educating families who are immune to their consequences? I’m going to say no.

As we start our 11th year of homeschooling tomorrow (yikes!), I thought I would commemorate this occasion by dedicating a post to some questions I think every single homeschooled child has heard at some point in their lives.

While the topics of these questions run the gamut from academics to extracurricular activities, they all have one thing in common: they’ve been perpetuated by some insanely false notions about what education and real life actually look like.

Here is my attempt to  briefly explain why these inquiries are completely off the mark, and why people need to stop asking them.

When Your Homeschooled Child Isn’t a Prodigy

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Yesterday my kids and I watched Wonder for the umpteenth time. As with what usually happens when I’ve watched something once too many times, my mind started drifting and ended up – you guessed it – focusing on how this movie perpetuates some common homeschool stereotypes.

If you’ve seen this film, you might be assuming that I’m referring to the fact that August’s mother has decided to send him to school for “socialization,” and while that does irritate me just a bit, that’s not what I’m referring to today.

Think Parents Aren’t Qualified to Teach Their Kids? Oh, the Irony!

Okay, it’s time to fess up. If you’re a homeschool mom or dad, how many times have you had someone either hint or outright say that parents aren’t qualified to teach their kids?

I’m guessing it’s happened to you at least a few times.

A few months back, I was binge-watching homeschooling videos on YouTube. (Hey, I do that sometimes.) As I was scrolling through the comments, I came across one in which the author was adamantly opposed to homeschooling because, once again, “parents aren’t qualified to teach their kids.”

That one comment really got me thinking – and a little fired up – about how ironic that mindset is.

Here’s why. 

10 Homeschooling Questions I Hear All the Time and How I WISH I Could Answer Them

Being a homeschool mom takes a certain amount of diplomacy.

Although we unquestionably have it easier now in the 21st century than the homeschool pioneers of a few decades ago, there are times we still get bombarded with the same sorts of questions over. and. over. again.

Whether we’re at the store, the dentist, a party, or with extended family, it’s inevitable that there will be curious people who want to know more about what we do, and who have never really looked beyond the traditional school model.

I get it. Truly, I do. 

10 Reasons Why You Don’t Need a Teaching Degree to Homeschool

Several times a year without fail, I have a conversation with someone that goes something like this:

So where do your kids go to school?

We homeschool.

Are you a teacher?

No.

Do you have a teaching degree?

No.

Then, are you qualified to teach your children?

Sigh.