I want some HSing friends!

[eli's mama]

Hi everyone! I've posted on the HS board a couple of times (ok, maybe once) anyway, I wanted to officially say "Hi!" and hopefully make some connections if only online.  

I'm Jessie and I have 3 kids, I'm officially taking my oldest out of school in a short while and I am kinda terrified.  I thought I had myself all figured out and I probably would be fine if it weren't for my crazy in laws.  They are questioning everything and making me really nutty.  They are making DH doubtful (he wasn't 100% on board in the first place but willing to give it a try).  They make me feel like I need to report to them and I can just see them quizzing ds1 all year long and just making me feel bad in general the rest of the time.  

So anyway, I just wanted to say hello and I guess let you all know that I will probably be needing your support.  For so many years I have been leaning on MDC when things get crazy and I'm so grateful for your experience.

[mattemma04]

Best wishes for you and the family. Nip the discussions.There is really no need to discuss it with anyone.Dh will get a lot of flack,but if he is smart he will nip it as well. There is no guarantee the kids would do better at ps,but many seem to think that ps is the norm for all. It just isn't the case anymore!

Do a yahoo search for local groups.That is how I found some of mine.

Younger kids often need your help when dealing with family/friends,but some kids young and old have come up with some really great responses when they get questioned and quized. Lol,some kids quiz the adults right back....and the adults can't give the correct answer.

When/if you hit bumps in the road watch out for the *I told you so*  or *put them back in real school*.Work through the issues and move forward.

[amygrimis]

Hi and welcome!  My suggestion is to sit down with dh ... if it were me, I'd tell him, 'look, you were on board, so I need you to fully commit for x amount of time ... in that time, you let your parents know that we are the parents and while we appreciate their concern, of course, that this is what is best for our family right now'.  Doesn't have to be in an argument type of conversation either, depending on your relationships.  When I was a new mom, my husband was deployed, so before he left he told his parents that they needed to just get behind me and support me, but not criticize or knock me down (there weren't problems, he was just trying to set me up for support).  Anyway, good luck to you, I hope that your in-laws jump in to support you!

[eli's mama]

Hi ladies!  Thanks for the responses and kind words.  So far we have just not talked about it with any or our family.  My mom and sister know and are really supportive but we are just keeping a low profile with everyone else.  I hope for support and encouragement but I'm fairly sure it won't come.  That's why I come here!

[SundayCrepes]

My mom is 150% supportive of our homeschooling. My MIL was pretty against it. I bought her this book: http://www.amazon.com/Homeschooling-Rediscovered-Socialization-Education-Family/dp/1430308257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301983781&sr=8-1

I did not get it to convince her of our choice, I got it to attend to her concerns. She is a retired kindergarten teacher. From her perspective what we were doing is so hurtful to her grandkids. She expressed her disagreement with our choice because she was worried. So, I wanted to help her feel better and gave her the book. (Both my husband and I read it first.) She was able to wish us well on our path. 

So, don't try to convince anyone, but if it's someone close consider their worries. They know absolutely nothing about what homeschooling is. In their mind you are doing something that could hurt the children they care about. It's all ignorance on their part, but it's understandable.

[MrsJewelsRae]

Welcome to the world of homeschooling!  It is sometimes overwhelming, has its frustrating moments, is often rewarding, and I never regret it!  :)  My ILs were not supportive either, my FIL was a ps teacher for 30 years and the only people they knew who hs'd suposedly did a horrible job.  MIL would ask ds every time we saw them "so, did you hs today?" - as if to check up on me, like she doesn't trust me to actually school him.  annoying.  Anyhow, most of the time ds would shrug, or say "I guess" or "no" cause our methods were so fun it didn't feel like "school"- I'm not one for much early rigorous formal academics, we did classical ed, nature study, unit studies, math and phonics on the windows with window markers- learned lots and had fun! :)  Dh finally had to talk to her about it and she's mostly quieted down about it, he explained that it's kind of like when the kid goes to ps and the parent asks "what'd you learn at school today?" and the kid typically answers "nothing" with a shrug- we know they didn't really learn nothing (hopefully!).  She is a lot more positive about hs now, as she sees how great the kids are doing, how well read they are, and she has no complaints about them being sheltered from today's public schools- she's seeing the benefits of it. 

I'm really lucky in that I have a lot of homeschooling support and friends.  My SIL is hs'ing her kids as well, her eldest is the same age as mine, we go to hs conventions together.  My younger sister is planning to hs once her children reach school age.   My good friend from church also hs her 6 kids (3 have graduated, her youngest 2 are my kids' ages) and we do lots of stuff together.  I also joined a Christian hs group which I am really loving!  We do such fun stuff and it is so nice to sit around with all the moms and either shoot the breeze about purses and shoes, or discuss more serious issues like curriculum and learning styles- I have learned so much! :)