16 Ways I’m not a Stereotypical Homeschooler

A lot of people have preconceived notions about what a homeschooling family looks like. Some of the ideas people have about homeschoolers are based on stereotypes they’ve heard. Sometimes, someone remembers a homeschooling family they once met and assumes that’s just how it’s done. Sometimes people are just making assumptions based on their own lives. Whatever your assumptions about homeschooling are, put them aside. Like any other group of people, no two homeschoolers are exactly alike.

Here are sixteen ways I break homeschool stereotypes. I’ve heard all of these from people in the past. Some of these assumptions are great qualities – just not ones I possess. Some of them are awful stereotypes and just need to end.

1. I wear pants. The last time I wore a denim jumper, I was five years old.
2. I don’t bake my own bread from grains I harvested myself.  I buy it at Aldi.
3. We don’t live in an RV. (But that would be really cool!)
4. My kids don’t speak Latin and I don’t have plans to change that.
5. I’m not super organized.
6. We’re not unschoolers, though I know and admire many unschoolers.
7. I don’t homeschool my kids to keep them away from the world. I homeschool them so they can spend more time in it.
8. My kids do not behave perfectly. In fact, when people imply that they do, I laugh.
9. I don’t think everyone should homeschool or that schools are evil. We’re just doing what works for our family.
10. We don’t homeschool because of super conservative religious beliefs.
11. My kids socialize with other kids. A lot. I promise. Please quit asking about this. Homeschoolers have a million ways to get out in the world and interact with people. My kids go to baseball, dance, classes with other homeschoolers, co-ops, the park, the library, museums, the store, church, friends’ houses, doctor appointments and about a thousand other places. Seriously. We’re almost never home, so let’s put an end to this one.
12. I do not have saint-like patience and I get frustrated just like other parents.
13. I don’t sew all of our clothes nor am I great at crafting in general.
14. I’m not a perfect parent.
15. I am not a dead-beat parent who is too lazy to get her kids to school on time.
16. My kids are not illiterate.

In the end, I am really not that different from any other mom. I want the best for my kids and I am trying my hardest to help guide them in this world. I think that most moms I know can agree that’s what we’re all aiming for.

Homeschoolers, what assumptions have others made about you because you educate your kids at home? If you don’t homeschool, maybe you learned something about families like mine. Let me know what you think!