Now it’s time informing your relatives regarding the homeschooling decision. This is the one step where most parents back out, and the one that requires the most courage and belief in what you are doing. Chances are that your extended family will not be too happy with your decision for several reasons.
In fact, most almost ended up sending my children to school because they think that they wouldn’t be able to deal with there family on this issue, but eventually if you have worked hard on the first two steps, your belief in the importance of homeschooling will win, and you will end up doing it, and eventually you will also end up dealing with your relatives accordingly.
Understanding Reactions on Homeschooling
Emotional Reaction 1: Make them feel wrong
Understanding this, never discuss your decision in a way that insults their decisions or makes them feel bad. Talk about it as what is best for your family in your situation, and that every family is different and needs to choose what is best for them. Let them understand that you know they made the best decision for you back then, but times have changed, and now this is what is best for your kids. This should make them more accepting of your choice.
Emotional Reaction 2 : What Will People Say?
You also need to inform them that you are doing what you believe is best for your children. Over time, they will be proud of your decision and the results it led to. If you have time and authority, you may also want to wean them off the “what will be people say” mentality, because that is not a good mind-set to live with.
Emotional Reaction 3: How Will They Socialize?
At this stage, it would suffice to answer them by informing them of the other ways in which your children will have an active social life through extracurricular activities, etc.
We have covered the issue of socializing in more details. We have listed a series of extracurricular activities that your children could enrol for, but our advice is to enrol them for the benefits, not the socialization.
Socializing Just A Myth!!
Inform the grandparents first
Depending on your relationship with them, usually you should inform your parents while your spouse informs theirs. Be prepared for a barrage of questions, objections, and maybe even anger. All of this is to be expected if you spring your decision on them suddenly. It can avoided, if you slowly hint, discuss, give them resources, etc. before informing them of the decision.
Some grandparents will be happy that their children have taken an interest in finding a better means of education for their grandchildren. Especially if they worried about the condition of schools today. You may capitalize on their dislike for schools to win there heart.
Others may be upset due to the reasons mentioned earlier. In such cases, you need to deal with their questions and objections patiently. Read through the FAQ section and prepare to receive such questions from them, and rehearse your responses accordingly.
Be prepared for some heated discussions, your patience, control of temper and emotions is going to be tested. Ready to defend your decision politely, yet firmly. If you get through this and win over your parents to your side, it will be easier to deal with other relatives.
Informing Others
Such are the challenges of swimming against the stream and choosing a unique path through life, it is something we all have to deal with. The questions never end, and people are always surprised to meet people who choose to do things differently.
Stand Your Ground
Whenever someone tries to do so, such efforts are usually met initially with opposition, then when you stand your ground and deliver the results, that opposition morphs into admiration. The same people who oppose your decision today will tomorrow admire your resolve and courage to try something different.
When it comes to advising others, the best advice I can give you is to stand by your convictions and do not allow the fears, insecurities, myths, and emotions of others to sway your decision.
If you change your decision to homeschool, do so based on your own knowledge of what is best for your family, not because of the pressure from others. As with any other choice in life, changing a social norm means being ready to deal with opposition.
