…which is not to say that I am preemptively defensive or bitter or anything like it. Just as I was surfing for useful information, I keep coming across cute little answers for common questions. They’re all utterly adorable and utterly safe to forward to your grandma, and after reading a bunch of them I was smiling and wishing that they were more in line with my similarly adorable but slightly less forward-to-your-grandmaable humor.
Like: “Hey shouldn’t your kids be in school today?”
“Why don’t you go stick a corn cobb up your ass?”
(Bonus points if one of your children adds: “Sideways.”)
Because I’m obnoxious and not very mature.
But the truth is that I’ve never been asked any interesting questions because we’ve only been doing this for um, a week? And nobody knows except Nina and Alisha and my parents. And the internet. Besides, this is Georgia, and we live in a town where there are more churches than squirrels — people sort of assume that there’s a good chance you’re homeschooling.
Not that towns with an overabundance of squirrels are necessarily against homeschooling. My point was more that — oh, nevermind.
So! Anyway. Yes. Um. The only need for silly defensive responses to hard questions is in my own mind, mainly as I imagine what will happen when my father in law notices what we are doing.
It’s always good to have your answers ready for the really rude questions. And I don’t think all squirrels are against home schooling. ;-)
I’m always rude to the imaginary judgmental people too. And sometimes the real judgmental people…like my in-laws. My favorite argument I’ve heard so far is “But, homeschooled kids always grow up to be WEIRD.” Yes, smart people ARE weird. Totally.
Heh. I get it. I’d just thought, Dannnnnng! She’s already fielding these questions and I’m sure she hasn’t been homeschooling for more than a week or so. I’m sure you’ll encounter those people, but try to keep in mind that most of those questions are because they’re curious, not because they think you’re a freak. You don’t owe anyone an explanation other than, “Because it works out best for us.”
Given what I’ve read on your blog homeschooling sounds like a great choice for your and your oldest.
You are exactly right, Rosie. And really curiosity is awesome, and even though it’s fun to be indignant the boring truth is that it takes a serious effort to offend me. Like I said I’m mainly bracing for guff from one particular person who is 95% likely to freak out.
Let him freak. It’ll be fun to watch. By the way, your replies are great. I didn’t want that to get lost in my INCREDIBLE ADVICE ;).