Homeschooling

This picture was too hilarious not to share. The sign we're holding says "First Day
of School 2001", which would make Will about 1 1/2...poor guy was so bummed
out he didn't get to come to school with Sarah and I!

So what I'm about to say is definitely going to offend some people, possibly even people that I really love and admire. But one of the blog prompts I chose was "What do you feel #SorryNotSorry about today?" And so, I gotta say it. Brace yourselves.

I. HATE. Homeschooling.

Don't get me wrong; there are some amazing school programs other than public school. And there are some kids who need to be homeschooled for whatever reason: social anxiety, bullying, a family that moves a lot, etc. And some families can make it work, giving their kids the education and social stimulation that they need. But overall, this is how I feel about homeschooling:

The public school systems is pretty messed up in a plethora of different ways, no matter where in the United States you live. There are always going to be evil teachers and crazy principals and strange kids, but you know what? That's life. That's the real world. No matter where you go, there are going to be people you don't like. And when you grow up and go to college/get a job, you're gonna have to interact with people that make you want to rip your hair out and crawl under a hole, never to be seen by society again. But that's how life is.

And while there evil teachers, there are also some incredible ones. I would have never pursued my goals of becoming an English teacher if not for the amazing examples I had. Not all of them were amazing, though. I've always loved English, but some teachers made me almost hate it because of their attitude towards teaching/their students, or even life in general. But again, that's just how the real world works!

Whatever form of school you decide to provide for your kids, they need exposure to people outside of their family or immediate circle of friends from church, the neighborhood, or wherever. Part of growing up is doing new things, meeting new people, and experiencing things that can be scary. These adventures help shape us into who we are, and give us a better idea of how we should interact with others.