Advise for Weird Homeschoolers

We started back to school this week.

We do school at home....we are homeschoolers.

I feel like I'm at a homeschoolers anonymous meeting,

"Hi, I'm Amy, and I home school."

Now you all say together

"Hi Amy"

I don't really talk much about homeschooling here on my blog. I'm not really sure why.

When I first became a momma, I had a small circle of friends who were first time mommas. There were five of us who had all just recently given birth, or adopted. We would get together occasionally just to chat, and watch our babies pull each others hair. I was the youngest new mom in the group.

Those other four women L.O.V.E.D to talk about baby gear. Yes, baby GEAR! They could converse for hours, FOR HOURS, about the latest car seat, and it's attributes, or the greatest new stroller. Those convos bored me stiff! I loved my baby, and being a momma,(a good one), was my greatest desire, but when I had the opportunity to interact with other adults, that wasn't my subject of choice. I don't know why, it just wasn't. I would have loved to have had a book club, or discussed current events, or even more helpful would have been just a good ol' bible study, anything really would have interested me more then a debate over highchairs and baby bottles.

Years later when I entered the homeschooling ranks I felt much the same way. Homeschoolers L.O.V.E. to talk curricula, and wrangle over the latest and greatest. They thrive on teaching techniques and learning styles, and field trips. I would rather stick needles in my eyes then "compare" notes on where my child is in any given subject. It so often feels like one upmanship to me. I have enough self doubt all on my own, I don't need anyone to help me in that area. When a mother tells me her 3rd grader is doing pre-algebra, or that Jr. has already memorised the entire old testament, I begin to question what I am doing, and whether or not I am doing enough.

I have strong opinions about home schooling, but I doubt you want to hear them, or would agree with them, so in the interest of being a nice blogger, I will spare you. If you are a homeschooler though, I would like to share just two pieces of advise that I have picked up along the way. I think these two are particularly important for your homeschooling journey.

1. Nike made it popular, but it is still true,

JUST DO IT!

It doesn't matter how much money you pour into curriculum or how many conventions and workshops you attend, if your child isn't doing school at home, then you are not a homeschooler. period. end of story. In order to call yourself a homeschooler, you must actually do school, so if you are saying you are doing it, then just do it! When you don't, you give the rest of us a bad rap!

2. DON'T GET WEIRD

I don't think I have to explain myself here. Just don't. We are aliens and strangers yes, but that does not mean that we have to dress in arm pit choking 80s jeans, or ask one thousand embarrassingly ridiculous questions on a field trip, or dissect every dead animal we find on the side of the road.

That's just weird,

don't do that. You give the rest of us a bad rap!

I hope this helps.