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While you may not hear that statement from a homeschool parent, you may hear it from someone who doesn't approve of homeschooling.
I know I have.
Well, guess what! It's true! Your kids will be weird if you homeschool them.
I've homeschooled five kids over the last 17 years. Those kids are currently ages 30, 28, 25, 17 and 13.
In all those years, I've noticed some differences between kids who go to school and kids who don't.
Your Homeschool Kids Are Going To Be Weird
Let me assure you, there are differences.
Note: It is not my intent to pigeon hole anyone. There are public schooled kids who enjoy wonderful relationships with people of all ages, just as there are homeschoolers who are rotten to their siblings. We're all human, subject to our environments and imperfections. The following are generalized statements based upon my experience and observations.
Here are a few ways homeschool kids are weird.
There is no generation gap with homeschooled kids.
As a parent, one of my favorite aspects of homeschooling my kids has been the lack of a generation gap.Nowadays sociologists define a generation gap as being an "institutional age gap." They note that, when involved in primary activities, the individuals in the various age groups (childhood, midlife, and retirement) do not interact with one another.
That's not the case with homeschoolers.
Because they aren't spending their days separated according to age, they learn to interact with and relate to people of all ages. It's a different educational atmosphere.
My kids enjoy people of all ages.
- They get along with adults.
At homeschool group activities, I see teens treating younger children with care and respect. I see the older kids happily helping the younger ones. All of them respect the adults.
It's a beautiful thing.
Homeschool kids have strong bonds with their parents.
We're together all the time. We laugh, love, and play as a family. My kids come to me with their joys, upsets, and even their anger. They trust me with their feelings.Recently, Lorelai and I were watching a movie. It was one of those true stories made for TV. The teen girl in the movie was talking back, rolling her eyes, and yelling at her mom about how her mother just didn't understand and she'd do what she wanted anyway.
Lorelai was shocked and appalled.
Kids who are homeschooled in loving, healthy families don't experience that strained parent-child relationship. They genuinely like their parents.
Homeschool kids are close to their siblings.
No matter the age, the kids truly enjoy each other.My kids are 30, 28, 25, 17 and 13.
- My 28-year-old son often spends time with his 13-year-old sister, playing video games, hiking, or just walking around the neighborhood.
- He also spends time discussing music and art with my 17-year-old.
- My 25-year-old spends a lot of time with my two youngest. In fact, she takes at least one of them to her house for a few days each week. They hang out, talk, shop, and go to Disney.
- My two youngest are in the room goofing off, watching Dean and Jerry movies and giggling as I write this. They love old movies, classic TV, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.
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| Alexis and Lorelai hanging out with their sister and her baby. |
I could go on with this list, but I'm sure you see my point. Although my kids' age range spans 17 years from the youngest to the eldest, each of them has a common interest with each of the others, and they enjoy the company of all their siblings.
They are close-knit.
This happens when kids spend their lives together rather than being separated from each other to be grouped with others who share the same birth year.
That's not to say they never disagree or get into arguments. They are human after all. Any two humans, who are trying to live together, are going to have their moments. But their love for each other conquers all differences.
Homeschool children act their age.
Something else I deeply appreciate about homeschooling is that my kids act their age.In our family, we don't use phrases like "Thirteen going on thirty." Why? Because that's not the case.
My kids are kids. They live every second of their childhood rather than rushing past it to get to some older stage of life.
My 13-year-old, for instance, is right where she should be at that age. While she's into typical teen things like music, dance, and cheer, she also still plays with Barbies when her niece comes over.
My 17-year-old can be responsible, mature, and thoughtful in her decisions. Like an adult. But she also still enjoys being a kid.
These children are not interested in rushing into adulthood. They feel no pressure to be engaged in activities not suitable to their age or upbringing. They are free to be exactly who they were meant to be.
These are some of things that make my kids weird. And I'm OK with that.
These are traits that can be found in many good kids, homeschooled or not.
ReplyDeletePrecisely the reason I included the note at the beginning. :)
DeleteIm fourteen and homeschooled. Although I have a good education, I also have no freinds, and no means of making any. My mom dosen't let me leave the 2 acer property. When i bring up how lonley i am she just says "Your siblibgs are the best freinds you need and will ever have". She dosen't let me use social media or let me play video games, so i cant make any online freinds. I "borrow" her phone at nights to ask for advice/ see what other people do in a situation like mine.I used to get so depressed I would go where noone could see or hear me and punch bricks untill my fists bled or do a painfull action untill i tired out. My mom dosen't understand how I feel, and I don't think that she wants to. I have stopped hurting/injuring myself, and now I just benchpress instead. That minorly helps my depression, because I feel like I have accomplished something. I look forward to the day I leave and start my own life. Is there anything you can reccomend me saying to my mom to get her to understand?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're struggling. Unfortunately, some parents struggle with exactly how to do things. Depression is rough, and so is loneliness. Of course, many people who have depression feel lonely no matter what. (My kids have a form of depression, so I know.)
DeleteI would tell someone how you're feeling. Depression is a serious thing, and someone needs to listen. As well, your mom could find local homeschool groups to get your out and around other homeschoolers. They usually do lots of fun activities. You could ask your mom to email me if you'd like.
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ReplyDelete