No School Today? and Other Questions Homeschoolers Get Asked
No School Today?
It’s one of the most common questions homeschoolers get asked when they’re out and about during the school day.
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Questions Homeschoolers Get Asked
The level of questioning is akin to the level of questions one gets asked when pregnant.
At no other time would someone ask you such personal questions, but when you’re pregnant or homeschooling you suddenly become fair game.
Don’t believe me?
Well, here are the top five questions we get asked all of the time.
Top 5 Questions We Get Asked as Homeschoolers
1. “What, no school today?”
Asked by well meaning people every.single.time we’re out during hours when the public school is in session.
It doesn’t matter if we’re at the grocery store, post office, or library…it’s the homeschooler’s equivalent of the “When are you due?” pregnant-mom question.
2. “Do you like being homeschooled?”
Do people ask kids who go to public school this question?
No, never.
My daughter once answered, “Yes, because I get done my work quickly and then can play Minecraft.” The mean person who asked (and trust me, he was nasty) stared at her and said, “That’s a problem.” People.
Sometimes you just have to pray for them, because they need a whole lot of Jesus.
3. “But what about socialization?”
Sigh.
We believe our children should be able to talk with and carry on conversations with people of all ages, not just a class of 24 students of the same age.
4. “Are you going to homeschool them for high school?”
Honestly, we evaluate our decision to homeschool every single year to make sure that it’s the best thing for our kids and our family.
Situations change, kids change, and the family’s needs change, so we give ourselves permission to take it year by year.
And we’re okay with that.
5. “Do they give you stuff to teach?”
Sometimes when people ask this question they’re referring to actual materials and sometimes they’re referring to curriculum.
In both cases, no, no “they” don’t.
We have guidelines we need to follow according to the state, but what exactly we teach, how we teach, and what we teach with are all left up to us.
I used to not mind heading out during the school day when the kids were younger, but now that they’re all clearly of school age, I try to make our trips either early in the morning or mid-afternoon.
In all honesty, I’m just weary from the questions.
On one hand I want to say “our choices are none of your business” and leave it at that…much like the pregnant mom wants to slap the intrusive hand away from her belly and say, “personal space, please!”
On the other hand, I get it.
I understand that homeschooling is still an oddity and feel in some way that perhaps I am an ambassador for homeschooling.
That maybe if I take the question and answer it with grace and kindness, just maybe the person’s perception of homeschooling will change.
If you’re new to homeschooling, please know that you’re not alone in the questions you get asked.
In fact, the amazing ladies at iHomeschool Network have also shared some of their most common questions here.
Be sure to check them out!
So, what questions do you get asked most frequently about homeschooling or when you’re out with your kids during the week?
