Talking to People About Homeschooling with Respect

I really enjoyed this article by Jennifer Fitz on Catholic Mom: You're Ruining Your Child. Pass the Yams, Please. Like Jennifer, I've been homeschooling for a while, and thankfully, no one in my family ever regarded me as a freak because of it (or perhaps they already regarded me as being a bit odd and therefore felt it was merely more of the same). But, there are definitely times when homeschooling comes up as a topic of conversation in other places.

She offers some good ways to discuss homeschooling in ways people unfamiliar with the concept can understand. However, I especially appreciate her comment: Reality Check: If you’re attacking everyone else’s educational choices, you don’t get to cry when they attack yours.  Make the decision to show respect for the decisions of the other parents in the room. After all, they, not you, have been entrusted with the role of educating their own children.

And there you have it - the key to discussing any parenting/educational choice is respect. We are all trying to do the best we can for our children. AND - here's the kicker - different choices can be the best choice for different families and even different children within the same family, or the same children at different times. God likes variety, and He demonstrates that every day.