How can I be sure it’s not for me, istead of for my daughter?

I really want to homeschool my daughter (who is currently in a local pre-k program.) I am totally PRO-HS. I really don’t see any negative effects of teaching your child at home, as long as you are a responsible adult. On the other hand, my mother recently pointed out that I’m probably considering homeschool because I have been in a “seperation anxiety” kind of phase since I found out I was pregnant 4 yrs ago. (I am an extreme worrier. When I look around at the way the world us, I just can’t help it!)
I do live in a rural area. There’s not a very large homeschool community as far as I have yet seen. AND, there is so few activities for children to become involved in. So, my mother is concerned that I’m sheltering her under the guise of providing a better education. She suggests that I let her go to public school, become actively involved at school when I can, and provide supplemental education to what she’s already learning. I only want what’s best for her. Any thoughts?

My mom tried that one on me too…it was just concern, but it really irked me. We’re starting our 4th year of homeschooling, and after spending time with my son this summer, she dropped the socialization/overprotective/ worry thing and admitted that I really am doing the best thing for him. He’s truly thriving, even though he’s not in a room with 28 other 10yo’s for 7-8 hours a day. (Actually, he’s probably thriving BECAUSE he’s not in that room!)

Since she’s already in a PreK program, it seems that your mom might be stretching things a bit. If you truly had a problem letting go of your daughter, she wouldn’t be in an outside program.

Does your mom understand what homeschooling really is? There is a misconception that is very common, that homeschoolers sit at the kitchen table all day long, with the shades drawn, completely sequestered from the world. So not true!

Do you go to the grocery store? The library? The bank? The post office? WalMart/Target/Shopko/whatever? Unless you live in a cave, your daughter is getting real life experiences and social interaction. Does she have playdates? Church program? Girl Scouts or something similar when she’s older? There’s the other part of your social interaction. Promise, she doesn’t need to be in an age-segregated classroom all day long in order to learn social skills. (That’s just the biggest missile that anyone has to throw at homeschoolers, so they try to put all the emphasis on it they can.)

As many others have stated, she’s YOUR daughter…your mom needs to be Grandma and stand by whatever decision you make. Yes, she can give you her advice, and you should weigh it, but in the end the decision should be yours. Homeschooling does not mean social ostracisization…it means that you have the final say over what your daughter learns, when, in what environment, and from whom. It means that you can tailor her education and extracurricular involvement to her specific needs. If you don’t feel that the school can give you that, and if it’s important to you, then that (in my opinion at least) is a good reason to homeschool.

(And honestly, if for some reason it doesn’t work for her at some point down the line, the school is right there.)

Hope that helps – and good luck!

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