Homeschooling

Does anyone else get the strange looks from passersby in grocery stores?

What I mean is, the oldsters who give you the stink eye for having a gaggle of kids w/ you during what is very obviously traditional public school hours?

Is anyone else tired of it?

Have you had anyone approach you?

For me, granted -- I understand my appearance is *unusual*. I have cherry red highlights in my hair and am often dressed in retro/vintage clothing. I could care less about what people think about how I look. But lately, I've had the feeling the stink eye comes from having my kids w/ me when they *should* be in school.

I *wish* someone WOULD approach me, but no one has.

I have had a neighbor comment about "your son looks like he could use a haircut! & How frusterating it must be for you to have a child who misses SO much school, I see him at home so often!"

The look on her face when I said he was growing his hair out to donate to Locks of Love & then I asked him if he missed ANYTHING about school was priceless.

Anyone else?

             

You sound like me. When I started homeschooling, I expected negativity from people because I had read about it so much on forums, but it never came. I had my arguments ready and was a bit disappointed that noone challenged me. We do get the odd "no school for you today?" to which we reply "we're homeschoolers" and then...nothin'! Not a single one of the rude comments I keep hearing that other hs'ers experience. not one. And I love a good argument too. What a waste! lol! Guess it's become too mainstream, and I so wanted to stand out. lol! Maybe I'll get the response I want if I coach my seven year old to say "I'm a 2nd grade dropout" I dunno.

J/K

I guess I got a few curious glances when we first started four years ago, but now I see others out with schoolage kids and I want to run up and ask them if they are homeschooling, too.  I don't but I just might at some point.  I have had people ask and then if it's curiosity then i will chat.  However, I'm still careful to always be with my kids.  My kids deliver the newspaper and on Wednesdays they deliver during the afternoon an advertisement section and I have them wait until 2pm.  One neighbor that knows the kids from karate commented that "We sure must have a lot of free days!"  Huh?  My kids are learning the value of working and working together and that money doesn't grow on trees.  How better way to learn it? 

Anyway, I don't notice the looks anymore.  I think even in 4 years it's just getting more and more common.  And I have to laugh when they ask my 5yo if he is in preschool.  Adults just trying to be friendly with a 5yo and they have nothing else to ask.  And he is clueless what they are talking about.  One lady kept asking while we were listening to my oldest two play at a fiddle concert and finally Eli just says  "I'm in the concert!!"  And I don't get this too often because he passes as younger than he is. 

When I first started off homeschooling there were some looks, but not too bad. That was back in the mid '90s. I, too, didn't dress in the "homeschool mom uniform". I wasn't extreme, but did tend to wear a lot of black. I think my whole wardrobe was black back then. *lol* Oh, and slim cut clothes (not now, but back then when I was thinner).  When I met up with other homeschoolers, I was the odd one. I looked different and thought different (You're not homeschooling because you were compelled by the LORD?!?!?). Oh... and I listen to WAY different music. (ever heard of Specimen? The Pixies? lol I bet you have!)

I used those experiences as teachable moments. How do homeschoolers learn to deal with bullies? The same way as others. People asking rude questions in the store or at he park... they are just bullies in disguise. No, they aren't taking your lunch money, but they are not trying to make you feel like they are being friendly.

Smile and move on!

   

  http://connect.ivillage.com/cl-phacademy

I *have* had another mom approach me in the grocery store asking if I homeschooled, because she did too. It was a nice moment. We chatted about curriculum, high fived each other.