Not Keeping Up With The Homeschool Joneses

I had the privilege of meeting and spending time with another African American homeschooling family here in the metro-Atlanta area. The purpose of my visit was to meet and speak with the kids (four of the) so that they would feel comfortable with me before I administer the CAT-5 to them. To say I was impressed by this family would be the understatement of the century. The kids were polite, extremely well-spoken, mature, self-directed, responsible, etc....I could go on and on about this awesome family. Don't even get me started on the fact that mom homeschools four kids and just had a baby (and looks good to boot)! Speaking with this family gave me added confirmation on a few things:

• We are, in fact, homeschooling our kids. By we, I mean African Americans. Not to slight my White Homeschool Amigos, but this 'movement' is still misunderstood in many African American circles.
• I am qualified to educate my kids. Period.
• Every family's method is different. Not good or bad, just different. They do what works for them and we do what works for us. Which brings me to actual point of this post:

DO NOT try to keep up with the homeschool Joneses. When I first walked in, I saw that the kids were dressed in uniforms; I assumed they were attending a homeschool co-op. Nope. Wearing a uniform is part of their homeschool routine. By routine I do not mean to imply mundane or boring, but simply a part of what they do each day. They also iron their own clothes (we are getting there; the girls do offer to wash them and I have obliged a few times); they work together to determine who gets which chores each week and they also co-teach and participate in cooperative learning activities. Now that's really cool. I think having the freedom to do that is something we could use more of in our public schools. Not being in a traditional classroom setting encourages homeschool kids to work together and help each other more. That's a lesson that does not have to be taught in homeschool settings.

I was feeling like a slacker once I left. I can be honest about that. My girls are pretty self-sufficient: They wake-up at 7:15 with their alarm clock and fix their own breakfast. I usually roll out of bed by 7:30, as they have already started their Math work. Not bad for 4 weeks in, huh? On the days that we work on Science and Social Studies, I make sure I get up a little earlier so that everything we need is ready. But here's the thing: They like being able to work in their pajamas. We usually get dressed after our instructional day is finished so we can  head over to the library. I actually asked the girls to write one thing they liked about homeschooling (that's different than public school) and the youngest said she likes being able to do her work in her pajamas! How is that for confirmation?

Working in a traditional school setting has definitely had some long-term effects on me and how I initially approached this homeschooling journey. Slowly, but surely, I am letting go of some of the formality and rigidity associated with public education. I have never been shy to admit ramble on Twitter about how I AM NOT a morning person. I used to be....back in the late 80s/early 90s when I was in high school. But then it dawned on me: I was probably not really a morning person then but had to become one in order to get up and catch the bus for the 30+ minute ride (each way) to school. Add-up those 1+ hour commutes over a period of 9 years, then throw-in the extra time spent in clubs, athletics, and orchestra events and it's no wonder I am not fond of mornings. I am trying to catch-up on all the sleep I missed as a kid!!!!

So an extra hour and 15 minutes of sleep may not seem like much to the next person, but when you're a mom who's done that for several years, gone to every school conference, some PTA meetings, school-sponsored events, doctor and dentist appointments, left work to pick-up a  sick kid, the least you deserve is an extra hour of sleep.

Don't worry about the Joneses. I am sure you are a rockstar homeschooling mom (or dad) just as you are!