Working as a travel nurse I am afforded the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, all across the country, who have differing opinions on life than I do. Most folks are eager to converse, ask questions, and offer advice as I talk about my family. Since I travel with my husband and three daughters in an RV to different hospital assignments most people are intrigued by our roaming lifestyle. I’ve had many varied reactions to how we’ve chosen to live as a family, and most of them have been positive. In fact, most people proclaim how fun and adventurous it sounds, or how they wish they could do such a thing.
Living the dream.
Of course, as the conversation goes along most people ask pretty quickly what the children do about school. We were a homeschooling family for years before we became a traveling family so I’m very confident in my decision to homeschool. I’m just not quite so used to discussing that decision with so many strangers. Before we began traveling no one really came out and asked, “how do you educate your children.” But now that’s one of the first questions I get.
Again, most people are pretty positive about it, or appear to be. Homeschooling has become more commonplace over the years, so people aren’t shocked anymore. Some even say something like, “yeah, my niece homeschools.” But there’s always that one, strong-opinionated individual who feels compelled to offer their personal opinion on how I should educate my own children. And I get that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just may not be turning cartwheels to hear it when it talks condescendingly about something I am so passionate to pursue. Make sense? It’s like, why not just keep that to yourself?
I’ve heard a plethora of uneducated (on the issue of homeschooling) and stereotypical opinions about homeschooling, but here’s the most recent one I got from a patient’s family member who I had met all of five minutes.
“That’s great, just make sure you enroll them in real school by the time they’re teenagers. My kids went to college with homeschooled kids, and they had no idea how to act in the real world. Don’t do that to your kids. Let them learn how to socialize.” She instructed me with a knowing look.
Y’all, I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t say anything. I was just too dumbfounded to respond. Had I been able to pick up my jaw from the floor I might have answered something like this.
We don’t keep them locked up in a dungeon.
They’re not in an RV commune, sitting in the dirt, in their sack dresses, begging Paw if we can go to the picture show this weekend.
We don’t keep them trapped in their room, on their knees, praying for forgiveness, and hoping we’ll let them out in public today.
They play with other children. They also interact with a multitude of adults. They’re allowed to experience different areas of the country, different cultures, different people, and how to interact intelligently, politely, and lovingly with all types of people. It’s socialization at its best. We just happen to be present to help raise, guide, and mentor them through these differing situations rather than throwing them to the wolves with the hopes they’ll figure it out.
They go to church, Sunday School, playgrounds, community events, parties, and all kinds of activities. I would almost venture to say they have more of an opportunity to socialize than most young children their age. Instead of being trapped in the same environment, with the same people, same views, and even same closed-mindedness, they are given the awesome opportunity to learn and grow from the experiences of people from all over. Talk about socialization!
What they aren’t chained into believing is that there’s only one way to think in life, that there’s only one way to live life, that there’s no room for growth, adventure, or the opportunity to chase their dreams. Their opinions aren’t molded into conformity by the masses or their minds made up for them based on what’s socially acceptable in their small sampling of the world. They don’t think something is “cool” because that’s what their small circle of friends believe. They aren’t forced to follow the crowd, fit into a clique, or conform to a box. They are allowed independent thought based on the varying opinions they are allowed to glean from.
When they go to college (if they choose to go, because I won’t push a certain path upon them) they will not be lost. They will not be lost because we will have trained them up in the way they should go. They will be like straight and sure arrows, on target, led by the Lord as we have taught them. Or so I hope. But even if they falter and fall, I will not fret, for they belonged to the Lord before they did me, and they’ll belong to Him always. He just gives me the chance to raise them here on earth for Him until eternity comes. And in that regard we prayerfully and purposefully have chosen the educational path for our children that is homeschooling.
In the path we have chosen we don’t focus on what career you’ll have when you grow up, but rather what kind of person you’re going to be. We don’t focus of building winners, but rather creating children who are okay if they lose, children who can be servants, not just want to be the master of their own little universe.
We have certain morals and ideals that we are led to cultivate into the next generation. We’re not just raising doctors, lawyers, or Wall street executives. We’re raising kind kids who will show the light of Jesus in a lost and dying world. This is our focus.
We’re not so worried if they’ll be the most popular, captain of the team, or president of the class. We’re not just building a transcript; we’re building character. But since you’re so concerned if they’ll be that weird kid, the answer is “yeah, they probably will be.”
They’ll be the weird ones who help the hurting, befriend the outcast, and take second place to let someone else be first. They’ll be the weird ones following their moral compass rather than the crowd, or so I pray. But even if they falter or make mistakes (because they will; they’re human after all), they will know God’s grace. They’ll know it extends greater than grades, just as his mercy overshadows money-making any day.
Today as we were getting in the truck to leave an elderly woman in our current RV Park ran over.
“Can I say goodbye to the girls? We’re leaving today?” She explained breathlessly.
She proceeded to hug my daughters and explain how much fun she had watching them play. She added to me that they were so kind and polite, a true joy to be around, and that she would miss them! It touched my heart and made me realize that we’re doing okay at this crazy-hard thing called parenting. We’ll keep doing it the best we can, as God leads, and despite the well-intentioned opinion of strangers concerned for our educational methods. I believe we’re doing just fine over here.
Ruthie says
Yes.
Heather Terry says
We homeschool as well and get some of the same comments. It’s crazy how many times I hear that my kids should be in a public school to be around other kids. I’m thankful for the opportunity to homeschool!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Me too!
Dorothy says
Sigh…Brie, ya know-I shake my grey head in wonderment sometimess at the intrusive “suggestions” (judgements) some people assume are ok to “offer” to others. Yikes…
More n more I truly think that there’s not a darn thing to say in some circumstances except that wonderful old standby of “Bless your heart”
Rock on!
Next!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Lol! Exactly!
Amy says
Amen ????? a thousand times over.!! I get so tired of the comments. I am educated, I went to college and academically I am more than qualified to teach my kids. And to me, one of the points is that mi e will not act like the rif raf of today’s world… today’s public school graduates need a safe place when they do t get their way.. really? They are not sure of what gender they are.. they think there are 68… when God created only two… to not party and act stupid is not bow we should act so I would consider it a compliment that the kids that were homeschooled in her kids college did not know how to act.. they know how to act right and not stupid. Homeschooled kids learn better and socialize better and are the first choice for jobs and college…. thank you for your article, thank you.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Dave says
So happy & proud there are parents like you and your husband Brie who are able to home school your kids teaching them the values that Jesus wants us to have! I think the problems we see now are symptoms of kids being taught a secular curriculum that sounds like it its totally devoid of helping them to know their Creator or even the true history of the christian foundation this country was built on! Press on teaching these precious ones, and they are sooo cute in your picture, about how to plan their lives centered on Christ!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Lisa Pierce says
Awh, I have no doubt that your girls will be all you pray for them to be, and more!