The Lower Mainland homelearners organize an annual not back to school picnic on the first day of school (which is always the Tuesday after Labour Day in these parts). (this year 209 parents & kids attended)
So it's officially begun. Yes, the annoying conversations with strangers have started.
"Short day in school today?"
"Did you have a nice time in school today?"
"Aren't you glad school is back?" (that one is directed to me)
This year, I'm doing a breezy "Oh no, no, no. We don't do that, we homeschool" smile, and exit quickly. OK, it's just people making conversation and trying to be nice. And to be honest, most people, when they hear the word homeschool, don't recoil in horror as if you'd just announced that you're excused from school because of leprosy. Most just kind of stupidly repeat it. "Oh, homeschool?!" For which there is no appropriate short response. That's where the smile & quick exit come in.
I don't have the time or energy to explain, yes, homeschool, and yes, it's legal, and no, I'm not a teacher, and no, it isn't that much work, and yes, I must really like my kids. Hey, maybe that would be a good t-shirt for hs parents.
2 comments:
I knew we'd be in for a lot of comments this year because the two youngest are ready for K and grade 1. I've had comments ranging from, "Oh, you'll have an empty house with all of them on the bus now" to "It'll be nice and quiet at home."
Being a snarky ex-NYer, though, I actually enjoy the, er, conversations. I take a small step forward toward the speaker lol, smile hugely, and say, "Why, we homeschool so I'm lucky to have them all at home with me." The kids are also good at answering enthusiastically. And to be fair, on Tuesday, we met an acquaintance at the supermarket in the early afternoon, and when she asked the "why aren't you in school" question and I told her, *she* smiled hugely and said "Good for you!" Made my day :).
Our private school that provides us legal opportunity to homeschool had shirts made that said "I'm not talking to myself..I'm having a parent teacher conference!"
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