I'll just add that the last question gets *really* easy after the oldest child goes to college. People assume that the kids you have with you are your *only* kids. "I have a kid in college/accepted/about to start," is a quickj and short answer for hte busy-bodies. The peole who genuinely want to *know*, get a longer, more pratical answer.
Actual conversation I have had:
Them: "But how will your kids land a job?"
Me: "Um, my oldest is at work right now. We haven't found it a problem."
And KUDOS for the answers - we don't have to offend curious people as we try to change their minds. 
"Well then, what are you going to do to make sure she has friends?"
You mean I was supposed to have a Fairy Godmother in public school who made sure that I had some friends? I wish's I'd known that. {snark}
I usually tell folk that teachers always said that we were *not* there to socialize. I go on to say that socialization comes not from sitting in a room hearing a lecture. It comes from spending time with your friends, getting to know them, building trust. Which goes back to HSers having more time to do so.
Wonderful essay.
"But don't you get tired of staying at home with your children all day?"
I tend to hear, "Oh, I couldn't be home with my kids all day", and I swear it takes all my willpower some days not to tell these parents, "Oh, I couldn't be home all day with your kids either"...
We've been hs'ing for only a few years, but it's a small community and most of the questions have stopped. The ones that come tend to be from the genuinely curious, and for them I'll answer their questions nicely. Every one else gets a hint of whimsy (like your pearl-clutching one lol) or the "pass the bean dip" treatment...
Hardly anyone asks me questions about hs'ing. Occasionally I'll get a puzzled question - it's inevitably from someone new to Canada (we live in an area with lots of new immigrants). They're just genuinely puzzled.
I think it depends on how you say it. If you say "We, uh, homeschool?" with that little question mark at then of the sentence (which so many people seem to use in their speech cadence), it invites further comment. I've also heard some people say it almost apologetically.
And it's partly cultural - I find it incredibly rude and intrusive for people I barely know to be questioning my life. I suspect my countenance doesn't invite much of that type of comment or questions. Yup. Just call me a cold *itch.
loved the wiki wiki bird.
Good post Natalie. When I first started homeschooling my Mom was totally against it and I got most of the questions. At least Mom did think I was qualified to teach so I didn't have to justify that one. But you had some terrific answers.
Hornblower,
I think the open banter with strangers is a Southern thing. We're real comfortable striking up inane discussions on the price of ground sirloin, then they notice the school aged children who, obviously, are not in school and ask, "Are we sick today?" or some other passive-aggressive question aimed at getting to the bottom of things.
Sometimes it's comical and you come away with a new friend. Other times it's not, and you walk away wondering if you should seek a restraining order (well, not exactly, but some people have no concept of boundaries).
You're right, I think it depends on how you answer the question. A wimpy, apologetic response invites criticism. Sometimes I get fed up early and answer "why homeschool?" with "because I CAN" and three snaps in a Z. Ok, not really.
But I want to.
Pretty cool essay. It certainly will help me. I especially get stuck on that "I don't know HOW you do it, staying home ALL day with the kids." I almost invariably say "I don't know how I do it either!" And they usually look scared of me then. Like maybe I'm not really perfect. It is good to try to figure out what their issue is and why they feel the need to lay it on you at the moment. Thanks for thinking it through so well!
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