Dealing with the naysayers

Most of us have experienced it at some point or another: a well-meaning (or not so well-meaning!) friend or family member—usually someone who has never seen your homeschooling in action, which would probably make them think about their “words of wisdom” again—denounces your homeschooling.

Maybe they say something along the lines of, “Isn’t it time that she went to school?” as if it were a phase, as I once had a family member say. Maybe they take words that you say during a bad day when you could use a break and retort that you could have one if you “just sent them to school.” I have heard all kinds of things, and I’ll tell you what: when people tell me these things, I no longer even try to explain. It is not my duty to explain, as I have so many times. It is your own burden to educate yourself regarding issues upon which you remain ignorant. I am happy to not talk to these people anymore until they’re ready to mind their own business. I can point you toward people who can attest to this fact.

I could question why they’d send their kids away to strangers every day, learning about things they have no idea they are learning about. I could ask why they feel a teacher or administrator knows their child better than they do. I could even question whether they love their children as much as I love mine, which would be a horrible thing to say. I don’t really believe this statement, but you can bet that ruffled feathers inspire it to dance on my tongue.

You probably detect some hostility in today’s post. That’s because every time this occurs, I do feel a bit hostile—especially when it’s coming from someone who actually matters to me. It feels like how people used to snidely question my vegetarianism—it’s my life you are criticizing, not a movie selection or a book I reviewed.

Let’s make a deal. I won’t talk about your politics or your faith or your beliefs or anything (unless you bring them up to me—or my child) if you don’t judge a lifestyle you don’t even comprehend.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia