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Keep it Classy: The Sisters’ Guide to dealing with homeschool doubters
{Episode 12}
It’s never easy when someone questions you about something as close to your heart as homeschooling. So in this episode, the sisters address how to handle homeschool doubters. What can you say when you first make the decision to homeschool? Is it worth it to argue? Will arguments even work? And what about the upcoming holidays- exactly what do you say when between bites of green bean casserole, your uncle leans across the table and tells you that you are ruining your kids’ lives? (It happens, sisters- and here’s what you can do.)
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:
Click on the above image to listen to the episode!
LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
- 5 Things No One Tells You About Homeschooling | Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley, My Little Poppies
- 5 Minutes to a More Satisfying Homeschool Day| Melissa Camara Wilkins, Simple Homeschool
- 5 Things You Should Never Say to an Unexpected Homeschooler | Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley, My Little Poppies
- Election Anxiety and Sensitive Kids | Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley, My Little Poppies
- Gameschooling: Learning Through Play | The Homeschool Sisters
- Guide to Gameschooling: Learning Through Play | Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley, The Homeschool Sisters Podcast
- Haunted by the Ghost of Public School Past | Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley, Simple Homeschool
- How Children Fail by John Holt
- How Children Learn by John Holt
- I’m just so glad he didn’t sit on the line | Kara S. Anderson
- Learning All the Time by John Holt
- Project Linus
- Shutting Down the Homeschool Fight (Before it Even Starts) | Kara Anderson, Simple Homeschool
- Social Media Overwhelm and Sensitive Souls (Or, The Healing Power of Crunching Pinecones) | Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley, My Little Poppies
- Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah McKenzie
- Teach Your Own by John Holt
- The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
- The Worst Reason to Homeschool | Jamie C. Martin, Simple Homeschool
- You are Your Child’s First Teacher by
- You’re Not Homeschooling for Likes | Kara S. Anderson
NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN. TELL US: WHAT IS YOUR favorite response to homeschool doubters? Share here!
MAKE SURE YOU DON’T MISS AN EPISODE
Here are several ways that you can tune in to see what Cait and Kara are up to:
- Subscribe right here on Cait and Kara: The Homeschool Sisters blog.
- Or, find us via iTunes.
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DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR TOPIC YOU’D LOVE TO HEAR CAIT AND KARA TALK ABOUT?
If so, send us a message or leave a comment. We love to hear from you!
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE HOMESCHOOL SISTERS
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Thank you so much for this episode of the podcast and all the links above! We just started homeschooling this year, and I’m shocked at how many people feel the obligation to challenge our choice (!!!), and it’s especially hard having public school educator in-laws! I couldn’t be more grateful for the helpful response advice (“because we love it!”). I needed that. Thank you also for the range of topics, the positive perspective, and the candor. I feel like you’re the BFFs that I prod for helpful info every week 🙂
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Aww. Thanks Allie!
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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I had no idea that “quizzing” of homeschooled kids was even “a thing.” I choked down a sob when you talked about it because (apparently I hadn’t realized) that topic has been weighing on me lately. It was SO incredibly helpful to get some tips for one-liners to use to respond to those kinds of situations.
We are just starting out homeschooling my 4 year old (basically continuing what we’ve been doing for the entirety of his life—involving him in our daily lives and work in developmentally-appropriate ways, helping him learn how to function in and be a part of the real world as a person of integrity and character, teaching him the skills he needs to become a life-long-learner, etc etc).
I’ve been blindsided twice just recently when, after I told some friends and acquaintances that we are homeschooling, they started quizzing my son on letters and words and other things that would not typically just come up in a normal conversation between adults and kids in that context. I felt myself being quizzed and challenged. I was embarrassed. I didn’t know how to respond….
My son probably didn’t care much about what was going on, but I felt bad for him being put on the spot like that. And I was discouraged that the adults asking the questions thought the questions were something any kid should know (they obviously haven’t tried teaching a child to read recently, much less tried learning to read themselves).
Anyway, I was encouraged to find that this “quizzing” isn’t unusual. I wish it weren’t, but it’s helpful to be prepared. I was homeschooled myself, and I remember nothing like this ever happening to me before—I’ll have to ask my mom about it because I’m sure she remembers more than I do.
I do remember the funny looks and questions from strangers when we were out in the wide world during school hours. At least that seems a little less common now 20 years later….but no less irksome.
Long story short: Thank you for putting yourselves out there on your blogs and in this podcast. I’m sure you’re helping out a lot of other homeschool moms out there. I know you’ve brightened my perspective many times. Keep it up!
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Oh! Thank you so much Abigail. ❤
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You guys never fail to bring honesty, humour and all round fabulousnes. I am so excited when I see a new episode pop up, it’s like you came round for a chat and a cuppa! Sharing with my U.K home ed buddies x
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We love it when people do that!! Thank you for sharing and for listening!
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Aloha Sisters,
It seems to be about once a year my seven year old son will ask if he can go to school like the rest of his neighborhood buddies. A seemingly simply request for most folks sends me into a tail spin.. What is going wrong? I thought he loved unschooling? Is he missing out on something? What is he really asking for? Do we need more structured time? So I ask him why. And he says “why do we always have to be different?” That is a tough question for him to ponder and for me to answer. Of course I say that this is the life that we chose for our family and rattle off some of the obvious perks of not being in school but this is where I become reticent for a the reasons we homeschool are so deep. I’d love to hear from some sisters who are going through or have gone through the “I want to go to school like everyone else” phase.
With Aloha
Stephanie
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