Doubters

As homeschooling is legal across the US, it certainly SHOULD mean that, once you explain that your school aged child who is outside on a “school day” is playing, that the questioner should cease and desist.

But the problem with the world is that it’s full of people.
Worse, still, it’s full of well-intentioned people who think they know better what you and your family need than you do.

Homeschooling is a little like breast-feeding.
It’s legal in all 50 states.
It’s championed by many; it’s practiced by many.
It’s still seen as a little weird by many; it’s seen as vulgar by many.

I would be quite firm with police or CPS at the door, both on the protection of homeschooling side of things, and as a 4th amendment thing.  With the neighbors (when we had them), and now with anyone else who expresses doubts, I gush about all the wonderful things we do until they feel the need to explain why they use the schools–and then I smile sweetly at them, and say I think that’s a fine choice for them to have made.

I think the more of us (homeschoolers) who live openly, the more it’s becoming less counter-cultural, more accepted, and more widely understood.  There’s a TON of articles out right this moment on how important play is–I’d get yourself a little cache of those (physical or just keep it in your head), and wax poetic about the importance of play, and how all the experts think that children aren’t getting enough of it, are stressed out with over-booked schedules . . . how you think exercise and fresh air and long lengths of uninterrupted imaginary play and time to read and time to write and time to be with  one’s self and create are just so important–that you agree with “the experts.”  Keep that line up long enough, and whomever you’re talking to will find h**self suddenly defending institutional school, or agreeing with you.