Hey y'all,

We've been homeschooling for quite a while, in fact this upcoming year will be our 9th, and it didn't take me long to discover the truth in this statement:  The people in your world who are supposed to love you best are often the ones who support you the least.  This includes parents, siblings, your closest friends, your church family and even your pastor.  Most of them don't MEAN to be unsupportive.  However, they don't seem to miss an opportunity to question, create doubt and even speak against your homeschooling and child-rearing styles.  Does any of this sound familiar?

~~What about learning to get along with others?  Are you sure?  What about when he starts algebra?  But you went to public school and you turned out alright!  Are you really sure?  What about sports, socialization, college??  But are you SURE?  You know, you can't shelter them forever! Well okkkaayyyy, if you think so.  (AND NOW, my personal favorite...body language: crossed arms, rolling eyes and mutter "Mmmhmmm")~~

Worse than what people say to you is what they say when you're not around.  Even well-meaning folks have plenty of comments and discussions, complete with eye-rolling, head-shaking and sighs.  As if this isn't enough to dissuade, often we discourage each other by being too critical of different methods or styles, by 'knowing it all', by making false assumptions.  We should be embracing each other, uplifting and supporting, lending a helping hand...not a slapped wrist, a harsh word, or a turned-up nose.  I've lost count of the times people have been appalled at some facet of our homeschooling.  I can't keep 'em all happy!

Every homeschooling family is different.  That bears repeating:

EVERY homeschooling family is different. 

What works for you may not work for me, and vice versa.  Don't assume that your way of learning, while it runs like a well-oiled machine at your house, would solve the dilemmas at my house.  Blowing off my issues does not show compassion; "I told you so" is not helpful.  I confess, there are times that I would pay good money to see one of these 'my way is the only way' people dropped into my household!  That wouldn't work either, because you see, we all have different goals.  Sure, we are similar in that we want the best for our children-- the best raising, the best learning, the best attitudes, the best family life.  But the details change, even within our own households at times.

If you are the grandparent, aunt, or close friend of a homeschooling family, be truly supportive; tell that mom how proud you are of her accomplishments, tell her that you know what she may have sacrificed in order to provide this environment for her children and what a good job she's doing.  Tell that dad that you're proud of him for providing for his family and creating a home where mom can teach, and for the teaching that he provides himself in spite of his busy work week.  If you're in church with a homeschooler, take a minute this Sunday to compliment the children's behavior, pat them on the back and say 'well done, good job!'  And if you're a homeschooler yourself, remember that every homeschool family is not like yours.  In fact, none of them are!  Support each other, greet one another with a hug, give someone a call and say, "Hey, I was just thinking about you!"  Don't try to 'fix them.'  Listen, listen, listen; remember God gave us twice as many ears as mouths, so use them accordingly.  And hey, homeschool mom?  I'm proud of you!