Proud Homeschooling Mom

In response to Dr. Phil's un-enlightened episode on homeschooling on October 16th.


I am an extremely proud homeschooling mother of two beautiful children! I have the privilege of watching my children learn and explore their world through their eyes everyday. I can say with pride, I saw my childrens first steps, and heard them read their first words. I see the succeed everyday in every way. My children aren't social outcasts. They aren't behind in school. As a matter of fact my daughter excels in all areas of academics. She just turned 5 and reads and writes better than most 2nd graders. She is a social butterfly. Any time we go out she politely makes conversation with adults and kids alike. Shes a wonderful ray of sunshine. She is this way because I can instill in her daily, the mindset and attitudes that are appropriate for getting along in the world. I am in charge of her every day. I make the choices of what she is exposed to and what she will learn and when. When my daughter is approached by an unkind child at the park, we can sit and talk about it. I dont have to find out months later when she comes home from school devastated that someone was mean to her at school. My daughter attended preschool. A Chrisitan Preschool. Every day that I picked her up from school, the teachers had something negative to say about her. This is not the kind of influences I wanted on my daughter. I want more for her than what public school offers. I want to instill a love for learning and the love of people. I want her to know she can make a difference in the world. How? By participating in community service activities, volunteering etc. At 5 she has a kindness and a passion for others that far surpasses most high schoolers. And this because I have the impact to help her to develop into a productive part of society, not an outcast.

My husband and I both attended public schools, my husband in Canada and myself here in the states. There isn't a difference. My husband is extremely gifted and was bored through the majority of his school years. He was beat up on a daily basis because he was smart and didn't fit into the "mold". He had teachers tell him he wouldn't amount to anything as an adult! (his mother verified this to be true she fought many times for him in the school system, she was a teacher in that system).

Now for me, in 5th grade, myself and the other kids in my class were unable recite our multiplication facts. By the time I was a junior in high school, I hated attending school so much that I missed 75 days that year. It took me 5 times to pass the PSAT test to graduate. I left my Senior year to attend College and excelled. My first year of College I learned more than I had in my 3 years of highschool. In highschool I was more worried about why my friends decided not to speak to me on a particular day instead of listening to what was going on in class. And hearing the chuckles of those same so called friends and crying through most of my classes, being told to grow tougher skin. A whole new world opened to me, and for the first time I was thrilled to learn! I was sponge soaking up as much knowledge as I could still hungry for more. A passion I had never known before.

I swore at the age of 19, that when I had children it would be different. At that time I didn't know how it would be different but it would be.

Everyone sees homeschooling as parents locking their kids in their homes doing school all day and never seeing the light of day. All you hear is what about sociallzation, the kids will be weird, they wont know how to act in public. What people dont understand is, Socialization is the reason TO homeschool. The kind of socialization my daughter and son will learn in public school is the kind I will pass on. There are many kids that leave public school without social skills. Social skills dont have to be developed just inside of school. My daughter partcipates in Homeschooling Soccer, church activiites, swimming, we goto plays and shows and parks and have playdates weekly with other homeschoolers, and many field trips each month with other homeschoolers. My daughter is able to participate in more as a homeschooler than she ever would in a public school. When She has questions we stop and answer them, if she wants to learn about something we stop and spend as much time as she is interested in to learn about that topic. My daughter can tell you the lifecycle of a plant, what anemonies are, what it means to be a loving person, and how to include others and be kind. Already she far exceeds most adults. Because she has learned to love, care for others, and listen to other needs. If thats all she learns till shes 10, I have succeeded in educating my daughter.


The world today is one that honors gay marriage, sex before marriage, teaching children about homosexuality in kindergarten, publically selling Porn in magazines in the corner mag stands, but when it comes to parents schooling their children its considered abusive. The world does not fit into a tidy box. Its filled with diverse individuals. And who are we to judge people for their differences or how they choose to live their lives. You may not agree, but we as homeschoolers never asked for your permission in the first place. But we ask for the peace to raise our children the way we see fit without the interferance from those who are ignorant about the process. Educate yourself and just maybe you might be enlightened.


I gave birth to these children. God gave them to me to raise. And raising them is what I will do....up to and including school.

EDUCATION
(Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.