Over the years, I have suffered through many conversations with people who are, at best, skeptical, of homeschooling and homeschoolers. Their logic is often flawed, based on a lack of information and a lack of, well, rational thinking. As I mentioned awhile back in "Oh, Really", I have tried hard in many of these conversations to answer without offending. I’m not sure why it took me so long to realize that I was worrying about offending people who weren’t worried about offending me!!
Well, in a conversation not long ago, I found rational thinking in a very unexpected place. I was attending a homeschool convention in Wichita, Kansas, and was checking into my hotel. The desk clerk was a very pleasant, very….let’s see, how to be nice here….unusual looking young man. Let’s just say he was really into weird hair styles, tattoos, and body piercings. But he was a VERY personable, very engaging kid.
As he checked me in, he asked a question he probably asked many times every day.
"What are you doing in Wichita?"
I replied that I had come to attend a homeschool convention.
"Oh, do you homeschool?"
"Yes, I’ve homeschooled my children for the last 16 years".
"Wow, that’s cool. I’ve heard of that. Don’t you worry about how your kids will get socialization?"
Honestly, it kind of cracked me up to hear that question from this particular young man, but I stiffled a smile and began to give my standard answer.
"Well, I…"
But he cut in before I had a chance to finish.
"Wait, forget I asked that." He grinned. "I’m the most socially maladjusted person I know, and I went to public school, so I guess it’s kind of a dumb question isn’t it?"
I think maybe I’ll go get a tattoo.
That is too, too awesome. Really, I wish more people thought like him–most of the people I know who ask those very questions are the ones who complain the loudest about how maladjusted their students are–yup, I am talking about all the public school teachers I know, and I know many since my family is ALL public school teachers and so are all their friends. 🙂 Of course they always blame it on the parents. 🙂
Next time you're in Wichita, give us a heads up! We don't live there, but we always enjoy a heads up!
When are you getting your tattoo? I'll go with you….not to get one, but I'll be moral support!
pretty cool that he recognized that.
I had a tattoo once (temporary one) – freaked out all the old ladies at church. It was a very nice barbed wire with roses going around my upper arm. It took several weeks to wear off. It was a hoot.
Hey there,
I dropped by from KimC's blog at Life in a Shoe (I was intrigued by your comment that your pregnancy at 40 was your toughest, and as I'll be turning 40 next month, and as I am hoping to have maybe 'nother baby or two, your comment grabbed my attention, and I decided to see who you were!)
🙂
All that to say that this was a hilarious post – It's not often that I laugh out loud at something (despite all of the LOL's out there – which I don't think I've ever used, because I really rarely LAUGH OUT LOUD at the computer!).
Anyway (wow, this a parenthetical comment, isn't it?!), thanks for the smile tonight.
Bless you.
Karen, in WA state…
http://www.engstromfamily.blogspot.com