Monday, March 19, 2012

A Homeschooling Encounter

This last Friday a family at our church invited us over for dinner. They are a very kind couple, with 3 beautiful children ages 8-11.

They are a great family, and have tried for many months to have us over to their home for dinner. After so many conflicting schedules, we ended up going there Friday for a seriously delicious dinner.

Their children are homeschooled. Their middle child has diabetes and the mom did not feel comfortable sending him off to school. When the older child saw him staying home for school, she complained that she wanted to do that same.

My husband and I were truly flabbergasted by these children. I have always been pro-homeschooling. My mom homeschooled my siblings for much of elementary school, but ended up having to send them to the local public school when my brother showed some serious reading and speech issues. No matter what she did, my mom could not help him. Luckily we lived in a nice conservative town with wonderful public schools.

I was the only one of my siblings to never be homeschooled at all. Again, I was lucky that we lived where we did. I have told my husband many times that I wish for our children to be homeschooled, or in the least to attend a private Christian school. My husband was happy with that plan, and we had just decided to wait and see what our future children’s needs are before we decide.

And then, we met these children last Friday. I have often heard that one of the best things about homeschooling is that kids are able to relate to people of all ages and not just other kids. That was so much the case with these kids. They sat with us at the dinner table and took part in all of the conversation. They had incredibly manners and were very respectful to their parents and to us (of course, their parents seemed to be good parents too!). They didn’t whine that they were bored, and waited respectfully for everyone to be finished with dinner before they asked to be excused.

They still acted like kids, but it was obvious that they were comfortable interacting with adults as their peers. They asked us questions, told us jokes, and giggled at what we had to say. It was just so obvious that their parents have invested so much into their character.

After dinner we went to the living room to chat, and the kids sat with us to talk. They wandered in and out here and there, but were happy for the most part to talk with us and enjoy our company. They then asked us to tour their bedrooms (which were WAY cleaner than mine was when I was a child!), which we of course complied with.

The kids are learning Latin in their homeschool group (which they attend once per week). The 8 year old proceeded to recite John 3 to us in Latin. Then she recited to us her square roots table. I don’t remember learning square roots in 2nd grade!

When we were about to leave, the oldest daughter (age 11), said to us “We should do this again”. So grown-up! It was shocking to me.

My husband and I went to the car and looked at each other. My husband immediately said “we are homeschooling”. I have seen compliant kids before. I have seen kids with good manners. This was beyond that. These were children who had not conformed to act like their peers, but rather held up their parent’s standard of behavior. Their parents were their peers.

I was so encouraged seeing these children. I have been leaning toward homeschooling for a long time, but seeing these kids this past weekend reinforced my belief that homeschooling is almost always what is best for children.

People often say “homeschooled kids don’t have social skills” or “homeschooled kids are too sheltered”. If by sheltered and asocial they mean what I saw last week, I’ll take it.

3 comments:

  1. Wonderful. We homeschooled for 7-1/2 years. Awesome...but when we adopted our African children...it wouldn't work...they were older and had never been to school...and I wasn't prepared for it. But seeing now issues...we are homeschooling one of them after spring break.

    I think it also comes down to the parents. Our children are amazing young women now...but we also know lots of homeschooled children who basically cannot function in the "real world" becuase they were so stifled by their homeschool parents. They cannot even have conversations with adults...let alone their own pears. So it comes down to parenting as well.

    This home that you visited sounds like the parents are definitely on the right track and raising amazing children.

    Thanks for sharing this post. God's blessings to you as you persue homeschooling.

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  2. Homeschooling is wonderful... I sounds like these kids have some great parents. Be careful that you do not assume that homeschooling is what makes these children so delightful... It has much more to do with their parents. I know many children both homeschooled and enrolled in public school- There are plenty of delightful children who go to public schools, and plenty of homeschooled children who are not so delightful. As a homeschool graduate myself, I saw (and still do) many fall into the trap of assuming that homeschooling will produce great children. Good luck to you in your endeavors with your own children!

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    1. Thank you for your comment! I completely agree. It was obvious that these parents poured a lot of time, energy, and love into their children. And while I have met many great kids that are not homeschooled (and some homeschooled kids that aren't so great), there was something in particular about these kids which was very noticeable. It was obvious that they had an ability to socialize with adults which I have never seen in a publicly/privately educated child before.

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I love to fellowship with others and hear what they have to say. I would ask, however, that you be mindful of what you write and try to be uplifting and respectful. Thank you for sharing!