A fellow homeschooling mom up in Alberta was giving her opinion on a thread in our egroup about how we answer the question (often asked quite snidely) WHY do you homeschool… she okayed my sharing of her words so I figured it needed to be shared beyond the homeschooling communities I am part of! Thank you so much for your amazing ability to explain why we do what we do!!! Enjoy! Again I cannot take responsibility for the words but I can agree with the sentiments!

I have been thinking a lot about our home ed experiences and what others think about it. It is actually helping be redesign my thinking for I am often at a loss of what to say when people criticize with tone of voice, words and actions. This time of year when so much of societal focus is on School it seems to be especially dominant. Sometimes it just gets overwhelming with the insensitivity that others show. I am finding myself obviously from my previous post being insensitive back. Right, wrong or indifferent. Just is!

Then I thought about the other posts and thoughts shared by others online and in real life…lol….really it comes from my inability to briefly explain home education to those who have no idea even what it means other than you spend all day with your children.

It is leading me to seriously think about what we do as a family and why we do what we do. 

So today, I received a comment from a mom that I am just getting to know. I asked her if I could ask her a few questions because we get that comment a lot and I am trying to understand it. She had not a problem sharing. I asked her what she thought home schooling was. She said schooling at home. I asked what does schooling mean to you? She said doing assignments, reading …really learning. I then said not to infringe and you can tell me to take a hike. I am just curious and trying to learn more about myself and how to best understand and clarify my own thoughts and actions.

Then I asked since leaving school what is the most important thing you have learned? She said how to be a spouse and a mother. I asked….how did you learn that. She paused and said, ” by experiencing being a family together…..pause….I did read a few books and like to check the internet when I need help or have questions. I smiled….she paused…..and..she said….mostly I learn from others and just going through each day as it comes. I smiled….she smiled. At almost the same time we both said….I get it. I am sure we were getting different aspects of what was being said but it didn’t matter. 

I suspect that a majority of the population belief that home school means simply schooling (as related to a school) at home. I suspect that several home educators, educate in this manner; however, I believe it is not just about the book work or what knowledge facts we teach our children. I think what we need to understand is that it is so much more that. It may be part of our journey but the true benefits is the ability to live and learn from one another in our family, extended family, friends, activities, support groups, etc. while supporting family values, thoughts and ideals with minimal negative socialization (compared to schools). Having just adopted we see all too well the importance of supporting our children in a unique way. It has nothing to do with the books I put in front of them. 

So far, I have come to the conclusion (which will probably be different than in a year or two from now as I learn more on this journey) that we don’t home school. We life school. It is a type of living education that best supports each person involved just as they are in any given moment. Today it might be cuddling on the couch in front of the fire place with a good book. Tomorrow it might be learning a new language together. The day after it might be working in a math book. The day after that it might mean having a jammy day while wiping the tears away. The good and bad we learn together supported by a belief that we don’t have to wait until we are adults to learn by watching, listening and doing. Not many of us will remember the books and workbooks…but most of us will remember the day we fed the poor, the day we gave our toys and clothes to those who needed than more than we did….the moment we held each other so tight when we received sad news….the day we reach the top of the mountain on our first climbing trip….the time when our little sister took her first steps and held onto their sibling….the time they made and took food to the neighbor who just came home from the hospital….the moment we heard I’m Sorry after a disagreement…. Living education is not just what we do…it is part of who we are and who we hope our children to become. It takes many forms. No matter how we achieve it…it is always beautiful.

Learning together