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Homeschooling fosters family togetherness
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What do most people think of when they hear the word homeschoolers? I can’t speak for everyone, of course, but it does seem that the most common conceptions of homeschooling involve either super-genius children, religious fanatics, or social misfits. While those fringe groups may certainly partake in homeschooling, I really believe that more “mainstream” (if there is such a thing) families constitute the backbone of home education. And, while academics and/or religious values play a role in many such instances, other vital consequences often result from a family’s decision to homeschool.
One of the most prevalent characteristics found in homeschooling families is that of cohesive closeness - family members are connected. Whether it is a by-product of the lifestyle or a conscious effort made by the participants, homeschooling families relate to one another in a manner more intimate than many who spend the majority of their days in separate worlds. Now, some may argue about the positive and negative aspects of this arrangement, but the fact remains that homeschoolers are a tight knit family unit.
I recently read a comment from a television actress regarding the time she spends with her family versus the hours she puts in at work, and I must admit I was a bit taken aback by her assertion that she would rather spend one hour of fun time with her kids than 8 hours of bad. I see her point - who likes family squabbles and unpleasantries - but isn’t part of being a family sharing all the ups and downs of daily life? I can’t say I would purposely choose to participate in arguments and battles with my children, but I also wouldn’t sacrifice the hours we spend together in order to just have a smooth and easy ride. I think that by the very quantity of time we are together, we know each other through and through - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
With homeschooling, siblings, especially, have the opportunity to build a personal relationship with one another that is not usually available to those who go to school outside the home. With that, of course, come the inevitable tensions and disagreements, but also the support system and friendship. I know that my own two children know better than anyone else how to push the other’s buttons, but also that whenever anything of interest happens to one, the first person they wish to tell is the other. Even when my daughter states adamantly that her brother is impossible, she still looks to him as a confidant, a game participant, and a cohort in facing the world.
Parents, also, benefit from the hours spent homeschooling together. We spend more time talking about all sorts of topics of interest, issues controversial and trivial, and anything else that pops into someone’s head in the middle of a lesson than we’d ever have the chance to do if our children were out of the house for 7-8 hours every day. By being at home with them, parents have the ability to know what their children feel about certain ideas, what bothers or intrigues them, and how they think. In this fast-paced, busy world, it is increasingly harder and harder to find time to listen and talk, but as homeschoolers, it’s what we do all day.
So, for all the preconceived notions of what homeschooling means, there are underlying characteristics that may go unnoticed, but they don’t go without import. Sometimes, those factors are the hidden treasures we gain in this crazy process. Are there any elements of homeschooling you find especially meaningful?
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