As a homeschool parent, you eventually get used to being interrogated by family, friends, and of course by complete strangers. Even though home education is becoming much more common these days, there will be moments where you’re tossed, turned, and judged unless you live in complete solitude. (Of which you’ll be accused anyway.)
Your homeschooled kids are also going to be questioned. “Wouldn’t you rather be in school?” “What’s 8×7?” “Do you get to play with kids your age?” “What’s the diameter of Earth?” “Do you really like being homeschooled?” All because the combination of looking happy and “normal” and being homeschooled is confusing to some people.
Here is a collection of the most popular homeschool questions I’ve been asked so far as a homeschool mom. (Sometimes it’s hard to keep a straight face! But I try.)
Most popular homeschool questions…
#1 Is that even legal???
Crap. I’m about two steps away from being fingerprinted and booked. OF COURSE IT’S PERFECTLY LEGAL. Otherwise I wouldn’t be telling you…?
#2 Oh, so you’re a teacher! Followed with… Don’t you have to be a teacher?!
No.
The answer to both is no.
NO!!!
I don’t have a degree in teaching, and you don’t need one either in order to homeschool your kids. Shocking, I know.
#3 Teaching the extent of a school curriculum at home must be overwhelming…
Actually, one of the main reasons we homeschool is that we don’t have to adhere to a standardized curriculum. In fact, we don’t follow any specific grade-level curriculum. We transitioned to interest-led learning within the first few months of homeschooling. It works. It’s amazing, really.
[SILENCE]
#4 Aren’t you worried about socialization?
Drum roll please!!! Hands down, this question wins the Most Frequently Asked Homeschool Question award…
Well, let me see here… Socialization is about “connecting,” right? The definition of socialization is as follows:
- The activity of mixing socially with others.
- The process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society.
We’re out here, mixing socially with all kinds of other people and, um, you just had a conversation with my homeschooled child…?
#5 Do your kids have friends since you homeschool and all that?
No. We’re committed to raising two sociopaths. Friends are not allowed, and we strive to eliminate the stubborn ones as we go.
Look, our kids don’t have a whole class of peers to invite to a birthday party out of courtesy (thank goodness) so it may look like they’re being socially deprived to some people. But they see other kids and spend time with them. Often when most kids are sitting in class in silence.
#6 Aren’t you worried your kids won’t have NORMAL childhood?
Define NORMAL.
Peer pressure? Bullying? Overcrowded classrooms? Long days at school? Lack of physical exercise? Common Core Math? No, I’m not worried about not giving them all that.
#7 But it’s only for now, right? ‘Cause you can’t homeschool the whole time…
Actually, I can legally homeschool my kids all the way through high school.
[MORE SILENCE]
#8 But… what about PROM!?
Bahahahaha. GOOD ONE!!!
Wait, you’re being serious?
Right. Prom.
Two words: Homeschool Prom. (No, it doesn’t take place in a basement. Although it could. Don’t judge?)
#9 But wait, that means no college!?
Nothing prevents homeschooled kids from applying to college even if they’ve been educated at home all the way through high school. They may even start early if they’re ready. Isn’t that awesome?
#10 How do you grade you child?
Oh I have this great system and keep all our records in my yellow spiral notebook in my special folder and…
I DON’T.
I check my kid’s work for accuracy and effort. Other than that, real life progress, happy faces, and thirst for knowledge is how I grade.
But if you insist, both my kids are straight-A students.
#11 So you gave up your life and career to homeschool your kids?
Well, I’m a parent. Parents basically give up their lives, that’s pretty much how this parenting gig works, right? My kids are my passion and joy (and the reason I drink), and to me nothing is more important than giving them the best I could have given them.
If I can make ends meet without having to pretend that someone else’s business is more important than my family, then I think it worked out pretty well for us…?
All of these homeschool questions are valid, all are genuine.
Some make me chuckle, but I will say, out of all of them – #8, really??? I get that one A LOT!
Related: 9 Reasons You Shouldn’t Homeschool
Related: 15 Reasons Homeschooling Rocks!
