Community Question is a category inspired by you. Here and there readers write in with questions that are better served by the varied, experiential knowledge of those who read and contribute in the comments. Please respond to this post in the comments, but if you have a question for the community email it to Heather.
The following question is from Renee V.
“How do you handle people who do not seem to value the time it takes to homeschool? Currently, I only have one kindergartner homeschooling, and two coming up behind him, so it isn’t a huge time commitment. However, often family will ask things of me that cut right into our learning day (ie – to babysit their kids, go to the playground, have mid-week sleepovers – all with their younger ones who are not yet in full-time school).
It’s tough because homeschooling is often boasted as being so flexible, but at the same time we DO have work that needs to get done, lessons that need to be learned. I’m all for taking a day off, but as much as possible I like to know in advance so we can plan our schedule accordingly. When I say I can’t do something because my son has schoolwork to do, they look at me like I’m crazy. I’ve been called strict and a mean mommy (in jest) because I’m making my 5 year old get his work done. Meanwhile all the others are at school 5 days a week, 6 hours a day. School around here also doesn’t start until September, so I received a lot of flack when I started at the beginning of August.”