I always just tell people I'm an anarchist. That tends to stop the conversation cold - even with fellow homeschoolers.
Maybe they are afraid I will hurl a molotov cocktail?
hahahahaha.
I wish I could homeschool, but I'm a single mom with a deadbeat ex so we'd starve, while living in our cardboard box. I always tell my girls that if I ever win the lottery that the first thing I'm doing is pulling them out of school and we're going on a field trip to Japan as our first home-schooling excursion.
I like the anarchist answer. My aunt homeschooled my cousin and they decided to tell everyone she went to the "Love Street School" after their street. Unfortunately for my cousin, they should have called it the "Dillards School" because they spent most of their time at the mall and my cousin is woefully unprepared for college/life aside from shopping.
I just found your blog and couldn't agree more! We recently moved from Texas to Utah and EVERYONE wants to give me their advice on the public schools here. They can't understand why I choose to teach my kids and not "enjoy the free time" that public school offers.
Of course, I'd LOVE free time, but I think that my kids' education just may take priority over that.
I love the way Rocketboy learned about small talk. That is such a great skill. and I think your friend Lexy might be right. Which is a shame. Links a bit to your discussion the other day about anti-kid stuff. People just don't have much of an idea about how to relate to kids. They think they are such different beings that they don't talk to them about the kinds of things they might talk to an adult about.
Yep, my kids are still working on that answer. They usually look at me for the "If you were in school, you'd be. . ." kind of answer. I loved the #3 reason: "School is a waste of time." My kids are okay wasting their own time, thank you. I remember hours of bored waiting in school. I'd rather have them wasting it in creative anarchy at home.
Hey! Maybe that's the answer.
I always go for the short answer, too. I just explain about the life-threatening food allergies and they back-off immediately. My son also stopped mentioning homeschooling when asked and just gives a number. Honestly, the not having to get up early thing is probably the biggest reason for us. I'm doing the giddy happy dance now that school's started again. Somehow I just enjoy that extra sleep in the morning so much more during the school year.
I asked my 13 year old daughter what she would say (if she were homeschooled, fortunately I did get her into a great public school here) and she said, "If I were Rocketboy I'd tell them that I was in college and let them wonder." 
I just admire you homeschoolers a whole hell of alot. I frequently question why I *don't* home school especially since I'm constantly complaining that the public schools are trying to jam my kids into square holes. Interestingly enough, my kids are not squares.
Damn, I wish some of you Anarchist Mommies were my neighbors! West Michigan, anyone? Anyone at all? Beuhler?
Oh, I should add that the main reason I don't homeschool is because, although I work from home, I'm the primary bread winner, and I have yet to figure out how to do both.
Thanks for the link to Greg Shurman's acticle; it's a timely read for me - I blogged last week about a family member asking if I am crazy because we choose to homeschool. I wish I would have had a much better crafted response. I'm just learning how to navigate these situations and see how tricky it is at times!
Hi -- I am delighted your son in spending hours reading The American Story -- it's just what I would have done with this book if I'd had it as a kid. As it is, I had to write it!
I hope the book inspires an unprecedented love of history in every kid who picks it up.
All best,
I plan on homeschooling my child as well. I happen to live in one of the top five school districts in the country (after moving here from Texas..7th generation Texan! Yee-haw!)It's not about the quality of the schools to me. But then you know that. Can I get some advice on what method you use? Where you get your supplies. I'm currently doing a little Montessori (Child's only 2 but can read!) a little crazy mamma, and a little Waldorf now. There seems to be SO MUCH out there, I want to get the best.
Commenting by HaloScan
