I received some email questions this weekend from a student who is researching homeschooling. This student had some very good and informed questions, and so I thought I would present some of his questions here, with my answers. The first questions involve my decision to homeschool. Another question asked about criticism and support. This question is about the family relationship.
Personal communication: how close are you to your children, and how close are your children to you? I feel that my children and I are extremely close. We are at least a lot closer than I ever imagined we would be at almost 11 and 13. I would say we are as close today as we were when they were four or five, before they were put in school.
This closeness has its rewards and its difficulties. My kids still hold my hand… even in public (momentarily). My kids still hug me and let me hug them. They tell me they love me, and like hanging out with me. The problem comes in that they have the bodies of pre-teens and I have the body of someone who is darn near 40. Some of the things they want me to do with them cannot be done. Sometimes I have to disappoint them because I have adult things to do, and they are left to entertain themselves, or hunt down their friends. I often have to remind them that I am their parent, and not necessarily their friend. I cannot always put the bills, my work, and the house aside to play a game. However, I feel it is a great blessing that they still like me, and want time with my husband and me.
How does that compare to what you observe with “public school” family? I do not know for sure that my relationship with my kids are drastically different (on an emotional level) from that of a public school family. I have observed however that the display of affection between a homeschooling family, and a public schooled family is remarkably different. Nine out of ten times, when I see a teenage girl walk over to her mother and wrap her arms around her for more than 5 seconds, that the girl is homeschooled. Four out of five times when a boy takes his sister’s arm as she crosses the street, they are homeschooled. Likewise, if you see a young man hug his father is public, the chances of him being homeschooled is high.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!
* Have you seen the homeschooling curriculum glossary?