Yet when they encounter what they give lip service to, it feels weird because it’s not what they’re used to seeing in their own world.

They do dress differently. It stands out. It appears that they aren’t as concerned with appearance and styles and such. They aren’t trying to look like miniature adults, or celebrities. I don’t say that to be cruel and some may even find that a compliment–I know I would bounce between both feelings myself. It’s just an observation. And then I question myself–is that so bad? These kids are comfortable with themselves… I am assuming. I am very un-materialistic and yet I have two sons who are highly motivated by materialism. I don’t like that so many of our young girls dress like teens, or worse yet–hoochie mamas… and yet a child dressing like a child almost seems odd to me.

These children play outside of the classroom we have been loaned for this one hour a week opportunity. Teenagers playing! Physically running and chasing and giggling! Boys! as well as girls. I find it endearing and “weird” at the same time. Why? Because it goes against everything I know or see or hear about teenagers–I’ve raised 6 so far and taught I don’t know how many. And then I have to question why does it “bother me” for lack of a better word? It doesn’t really. But then it does.

These kids often have a parent in tow… attending class with them, learning aside them. Or even participating in the chasing or ball game outside. Again, endearing and odd for me. Why? It goes against what I know of adults… and yet it is what I loved most as a child: when my parents actually played with me.

I guess they “seem” different because they are different in many ways… BUT, they are also the same in so many ways. They enjoy each others company, they laugh and talk in class when they should be listening, they make silly guesses to questions and then make brilliant ones, they show interest when the subject or presenter is interesting. The girls will congregate at times and whisper and such and then they will play and interact with all the kids, they climb into the trees and challenge themselves the same as most kids–but there isn’t a yard duty aid there to tell them to get down, to warn them of pending danger, to protect the liability of anybody.

These kids are normal! They just seem more relaxed about so many things… and their parents seem so much more relaxed about letting them be themselves. These children may appear different on the surface, but it is my thinking that needs to be checked, not their way of being. Their THINKING is different… and I don’t think that is so bad.

I am still checking my premises when these thoughts pop into my head… we are all different in some degree and we are all the same. Homeschoolers just don’t seem to care what others think as much as non-homeschoolers, I guess.

I’m no evolutionary biologist and not to quarrel but I’m fairly sure that in simple fact, these ARE normal human social behaviors, all.

I think we can easily fall into that.

Another thought I had while reading this article and thinking of the many others I’ve read about the opportunities homeschoolers have. The more we look like school (field trips, class rooms, proms, graduations, etc.) the more we are accepted. Is that really the best argument we can come up with? That we aren’t that different from school in the first place?

1. Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical

Personally, I think homeschooling is more natural and that the family is and should be the central place where education takes place. But I don’t think enough people really agree with me to make that a standard typifying American life.

Homeschooled kids are normal. I wish all kids could experience the freedom that homeschooling affords.

And it is just part of our mentality at times. Yesterday my daughter asked if the church had had its picnic this year and I said yes. She got confused and I suddenly realized she was talking about 2009, not this academic year. Why is it so natural to think of the 2008/2009 school year as a “year?”

~Luke

In our family, one child is homeschooled while the other is not. As a result, our lives tend to revolve around the schedule of the child who is in a school. Also, both kids are in scout groups with kids in my daughter’s private school, and the local public school. Again, we schedule meetings and activities around their calendar.

I often wish we could have a completely homeschool lifestyle, with the freedom to go where we want, when we want. However, even as homeschoolers, we’re part of a larger community that includes families who’ve made a variety of education choices.