Missing Out

We have had out of town guests for a few days. Without revealing anything about their identity, they are friends we met through the children on an online forum years ago. Because those children are homeschooled, they have the freedom to stay at our house and will make up their schoolwork on their own, at home when they get back later today. My own children have been doing some of their lessons in between activities with their friends and our everyday schedules.

My son attends the high school full time. He enjoys it and is having a good experience but today, he missed out on the visitors' last day and a trip to the apple orchard. Like a responsible kid, he rebuffed my efforts to allow him to "play hooky" and come along with us (since this family lives far away and we aren't able to visit often). He was disappointed that we were "...going to have fun without me!" but knew that he wouldn't be able to make up the work in Algebra or make up the three tests he knew he had today. He made a choice and has to be okay with the consequences, even though they may be disappointing for right now.

Since homeschooling is demanding most days (we have to really work to maintain standarized test grades so we can't slack off as often as people THINK we do), I appreciate the flexibility it allows for doctor and dentist visits, family emergencies or the occasional family break that all families need.

When a family has an educational "mix", such as ours, it can be a little bit hectic, keeping up with all of the needs of all of the students. I know my public schooled son needs breaks now and then too but he knows his own educational limits (One could argue that he formed that self-understanding in his homeschooling years...naw, I think it's just his nature!) so we just have to come to terms with the fact that he might "miss out" occasionally.

Part of the reason we started homeschooling in the first place was that it is nice to spend a lot of time with the family and form strong bonds with people we know and trust, in order to give the children a strong base to be raised up from.

I don't mean to imply that one choice in education is any greater than the other for everyone...the public school district here is very good at keeping up with daily grades and assignments so that I can see, every day, what my son may be "missing out" on and the classes in which he is really doing a great job. I am not "missing out" on his education at all and even though I don't homeschool him anymore he is still learning at home...as all children do!

I guess I'm just trying to illustrate that you shouldn't feel sorry for homeschoolers (I can't tell you how many times I get a sorrowful look from parents that think it must be awful to "miss out" on prom, school lunch, or the whole high school "experience"...whatever that may be to that individual's own positive high school memories.) or think that we are sacrificing something without great reward and peace.

There is a very large homeschooling community in our area. Please, take the time to ask questions of a homeschooler, if you have them. They won't automatically think you are criticising their way of life and most would welcome the opportunity to explain their choice to you!