Book Review: Homeschooling for The Rest of Us
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sonya Haskins has done a great job writing this book. Her experience, wisdom, empathy, as well as her passion for homeschooling have enabled her to greatly help the homeschooling community.
Haskins starts out by reminding us that the perfect families that we see in the magazines are usually not so perfect: they have their bad days, too. She reminds us that we need not set our goals so high that they can never be reached. Homeschooling families often stress themselves out, burn themselves out, and then give up due to setting goals that are simply unreasonable. Haskins reminds us that each family is unique and must set goals wisely.
From scheduling lessons to activities and outside involvement, Haskins reminds us to keep one thing in view: we are teaching and training our children. Nothing should get in the way of that.
The author also helps us to understand why some people respond negatively to those who homeschool. It is not that they are always against homeschooling as much as they sometimes feel inadequate when comparing themselves with homeschooling families, or they may even feel that homeschooling parents are passing judgment on them for not homeschooling their children.
What does one say in reply to innocent, or not so innocent remarks that are made by people when they see your homeschooling family? Haskins has a section in which she deals with these things and gives suggestions concerning how we may politely reply to these questions.
Whether one is new at homeschooling, or is a veteran, I cannot help but think that Homeschooling for the Rest of Us will provide much help.