Perhaps it’s just been my experience, but I’ve noticed that homeschool parents and public school parents seem inclined to think of the differences between themselves rather than their similarities. This can lead to feelings of “us” and “them,” and inhibits us from making close friendships with those around us who might have chosen a different educational philosophy. I’d like to take a minute to focus on the things we have in common.
1. We love our children immensely. Regardless of where our children go to school, we love them with all our hearts and we feel responsible for them and connected to them.
2. We want our children to succeed in life. Yes, we have chosen two different ways to prepare them for that life, but we each have earnest, sincere desires to see them accomplish their dreams and to find joy in their success.
3. We are involved in their learning. A parent who sends their child to public school might not be involved in every aspect of their learning, as a homeschool parent would be, but in each case, they talk about homework and what the child learned that day, and they assist with projects and volunteer in classrooms.
4. Our families are the focus of our lives. Whether we stay at home or have careers, whether we homeschool or public school, we think about our families all the time and make our decisions based on what is best for them. They might not be with us all the time, but they are in the forefront of our minds and our hearts and priorities.
No matter what path of education you are taking with your family, the underlying fact is that we are all parents. We all love our kids, we all want what’s best for them, and those commonalities are stronger and are more important than focusing on the things we do that might be different. It might be odd to us that Mrs. Brown has to pick up her four kids at four different times throughout the afternoon, or it might be odd to us that Mrs. Jones has set up flags in her back yard to represent the many countries in Europe. The important thing is that every child feels loved and edified. The rest is just details.
Related Blogs:
Are Homeschool Parents Arrogant?
Do You Think Homeschooling Parents Are Strange?