Well, we all have and there are many reasons why. Homeschooling is such a radical change in how an entire family functions in today culture that it’s often misunderstood no matter how you approach the subject.
To fully explain to someone why you home school would take a complete change in how what they believe about their roles and responsibilities as a parent. Homeschoolers have many reasons for homeschooling but most of their reasoning is based on a completely different set of standards and goals.
You see, the first response of a non-homeschooling parent is usually something like;
- “Why would you want to stay home with your kids”
- “Why would you not just take advantage of the free public schools”
- “Why would you want to burden yourself with teaching your kids”
- “Why would you want to live with less income, by living on a single income”
The answers to these questions are obvious to a homeschooling parent, which reveals just how different a homeschooler thinks. It's not that homeschooling parents have not thought about these questions. In fact, it is because of these culturally conflicting questions, that the decision takes much greater reasoning as homeschool parents contemplate the alternatives and way the costs; they logically conclude that homeschooling is their best option.
Parents choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons including, religious convictions, protecting children from dangerous and harmful teachings, academic goals, teaching positive socialization and behavior coping skills and letting kids grow up with their parents and siblings as their closest friends.
The bottom line is that homeschooling parents believe that the most important and fulfilling role they can have is to focus on their family, and homeschooling provides a much better childhood and learning environment for their children than their given alternatives.
It is this conviction that is rejected by many parents today, whether they realize what they are trading or not. The dangers of institutionalizing children, while moving parents roles into the workplace has had widespread effects on dissolving the family unit over the last several decades. Homeschooling is about reclaiming your children and your family as well as your culture and family heritage. Teaching your children what you believe and giving them the privilege of learning from you is exactly what they want and need to grow into adults with a clear understanding of who they are and what they believe in.
Parents that do not share these convictions will continue to struggle to rationalize homeschooling. It’s as if they are blind to the dangers of the present culture, hoping for the best while many live beyond their means in search for a “sense of important”, while missing the most important and fulfilling role that they could be a part of - parenting.