Thread: Who gives you the most grief about homeschooling?

I've been following some interesting discussions on the forum this week about family members second guessing a parent's choice to homeschool. So I couldn't help but wonder if this is true for most of you, or if your "grief" comes from elsewhere. Do tell...

We are very lucky. No one has given us any grief at all. Although it's not like I ask for their opinions. LOL

I had a friend who gave me slight problems. We're no longer friends for other reasons, or maybe it was part of it. We were just too different in many too many ways.

My sister waffles, but respects, which is how I feel about her putting her baby in daycare. I don't say anything and neither does she. We both agree that we have the right to raise our families in our own way, even if it's dramatically different from each other.

So, I guess his doctor? Whatever. Do your exam and keep you opinions to yourself.

Maybe its my habit of not listening and/or not caring what people say as opposed to not being told?

I was really lucky that when I chose to pull my specail needs kid out of school, his pediatricain, his psychiatrist, and his home-room teacher all praised my decision. When we later had a few visits with his old therapist, she kept telling me what a great job I was doing too. the only person who even looked at me funny was a neighbor who teaches kindergarten . . . and lets her destructo-boy run around the neighborhood unsupervised while she's on the phone or, at halloween, drinking in the street. So it didnt really matter to me at all.

It's been pretty easy for us. Folks either don't care or keep their opinions to themselves. There's an occasional person who's genuinely interested in how we're doing, like the twins' speech pathologist.

It's rare that I've gotten any grief over it but I think it has something to do with how I carry myself about it. I don't invite people to "go there" so to speak and nips things real quick if they do.

Originally Posted by Melyssa

It's rare that I've gotten any grief over it but I think it has something to do with how I carry myself about it. I don't invite people to "go there" so to speak and nips things real quick if they do.

Ditto. And I really dislike having to type at least 10 characters for my replies to appear. That is all.

The grandparents questioned it, and did things like quizzed our kids on math and such. But no one else bothers us. Utah is a strong homeschooling state.

I think older generations find it harder to fathom...? There are plenty of homeschoolers... or people who would be, if they had kids... in my crowd. We're not the conforming type, and value learning (geekery!) and peaceful, egalitarian ways. The newer generations get it.

The only flack we've ever really had has been from acquaintances or strangers. If anyone in our family ever had any misgivings, they've known well enough to keep their mouths shut about it For the most part, though, even strangers have been positive. We've only had one truly nasty experience in the last 8 years, and it turned out that the woman was a public school teacher. Maybe she was feeling threatened...?

I think people are used to hearing about homeschooling now. The worst attitude I get is from complete strangers (usually like retail store staff) but even that is few and far between.