Since this blog focuses on homeschooling and homeschoolers, I thought it would be appropriate to post a brief tribute to former homeschooler Lauren Ashley McCain, who was killed at Virginia Tech last week. According to CBS News, Lauren was a 20-year-old freshman, a Christian, and even lived in my home state of Texas for part of her childhood.
My prayers go out to Lauren’s family and friends, and the family and friends of everyone who died in this tragedy.
Categories: Events and Issues · Robyn
Recently, I was at a dinner event and mentioned in conversation that I intend to be a homeschooling mother “when I grow up.” An acquaintance and fellow student sitting next to me responded that he was terribly glad his parents hadn’t chosen to homeschool him, as he would have gone crazy if his mother had taught him all he knew academically. Interestingly, that’s not a very uncommon reaction.
I have two significant reactions to that sort of remark. The first is to wonder why it is that someone who probably knows very little about homeschooling feels as if they should criticize someone else’s parenting decisions. It doesn’t make me mad, and it isn’t a very critical remark, but it’s such a frequent reaction and I have a hard time understanding it. After all, I would consider it tactless to say things like, “I’m glad I didn’t go to public school; they’re so dangerous” when someone mentions they went to public school.
The thing that really strikes me, though, is the way people seem unable to imagine happily spending that much time with their families. Looking back on my childhood, having my mom always around and available and involved in my life was a huge deal. She was, and still is, a role model to me. Sure, we had our fights, but even in the middle of them I knew she loved me.
When I started going to public high school, Mom always packed my lunches for me and decorated the paper bags with stickers and silly quotes. My friends laughed, but they always wanted to see what was on my bag each day, and I loved it because I knew my mom loved me and took the time to look for things to make me smile. Once I forgot my lunch at home, and Mom brought it to me even as one of my teachers disgustedly declared, “I would never do that for my kids!” (And I’m glad I’m not your kid, I thought to myself).
When I left for college, Mom was still home with my younger brothers, and I could call her in the middle of the day to talk for a few minutes when something exciting happened or I had a question or was a little homesick. A couple years later she started substitute teaching in our school district at home, and I couldn’t always get in touch with her. Now she teaches full time, and I always have to remind myself not to call her before 4 p.m. It was strange to realize at age 20 what it’s like to have a “working mother.”
All this is to say that I just don’t understand why so many non-homeschoolers seem to recoil at the idea of spending so much time with their parents and siblings. I think one of the benefits of homeschooling is the close family ties that are formed.
Categories: Homeschooling · Robyn
