The title of today’s post is one of the most hated questions asked of homeschooling parents. There are so many silly things that are said about homeschooling. I had to hear a few tonight. Here are the details:
While we were waiting for my daughter’s dance class to end, my son was playing with some boys who were waiting for their sisters and I chatted with some moms. There were a few new moms there tonight that you could tell were trying hard to fit in with the “cool” moms in the room, lol.
A couple of the new moms started talking about school. Mom A said something about a recent special section of the newspaper that had articles about local school districts and homeschooling. (Just as a side note – our local homeschooling group was featured in the article.) Mom B stated “I can spot a homeschool freak a mile away. Those children have no possible positive future.” She went on to ramble about how homeschooling is such a disservice to the children, that public school is the best and only way to educate children and how she questions the sanity of any parent who decides to homeschool. I asked her how she could spot such “freaks”. Her response “They are the ones that don’t know how to play. They stay right by their mother like some scared little rabbit.”
I started laughing, I couldn’t help myself. She thought I was laughing about her joke, so she elaborated about her thoughts on homeschooling even more. Finally I told her that I knew two of the boys in the room were homeschooled. I asked her if she could pick them out. She said that they all “look too normal” and she couldn’t believe any of those boys were homeschooled.
I called my son and the other homeschool child over and asked them to introduce themselves to Mom B. Imagine her surprise when my son said, “Hello Mom B, my name is Heathen Son. It is a pleasure to meet you.” The other boy introduced himself in a similar fashion. When they returned to the group of boys, I asked her exactly how my son was a “freak” that she could spot so easily —- her response never came.
It is still amazing to me that so many parents feel the need to degrade another family’s educational choices. I don’t expect Mom B to justify why she sends her children to public school. She shouldn’t expect me to defend our decision to homeschool.
I love how you handled it. Maybe not so funny to Mom B, but funny to me that you called her out on her stereotyped thinking. Everyone wants to put things into nice little boxes to make it easy for themselves. Sometimes it is good when someone smashes down the walls of our box and shows us the reality.
Wow, that makes me so unbelievably stomach sick. I am so sorry you had to deal with one of these moms. That’s worse than the baby-talking mom I blogged about last week.
Sometimes I wish *I* had a little less “socialization.”
I remember the odd mom cliques in my daughter’s ballet classes. It was bizarre, but a fantastic use of my sociology classes lol
You did sooo well!!
I am also amazed at the mom groups. I always have fun watching the odd interactions, lol!
What a great way to give a lesson to this person who is so judgmental! Nicely done.
I just found your blog, but I must say this made me laugh. Good job!
Glad you found my blog! I have made a commitment to myself that I will start writing even more here at Heathen Homeschoolers. I hope you visit again!
So funny!
). They even have a head teacher who is enthusiastic about our plans and will help us with any red tape that comes along.
Whn you see “adults” acting like bitchy school girls it really only makes the homeschool debate swing in your favour…People never seem to leave the old school gate insecurities so they? Still need to be the “cool kids”.
I’m planning on homeschooling my kids at 11, they go to a tiny (21 pupil) village school and have a real family atmosphere..nothing like te huge school I went to (and hated
Fantastic blog…found you on twitter..will be back soon!!
So glad you found me! That’s why I love twitter! So many people find my blog after they see a tweet!