“Are you considered a real homeschooler if you don’t wear a prairie skirt?”

A friend of mine recently asked me this question noting the fact that I did NOT look like a stereotypical homeschooler with my rhinestone encrusted T-shirt and French manicure.  At first, this question made me laugh, but I realized soon enough that she was seriously wondering how I fit in with this strange looking crowd of people.

The answer to her question is, no.  You do NOT have to wear an ankle length prairie skirt to be considered a real homeschooler.  As a matter of fact, you can even cut your hair and wear eyeliner if you want!  (he he)

Stereotypes aside, many modern, mainstream families are now taking a long hard look at the option of homeschooling their children.  No longer are homeschoolers weird underground extremists. Average families, just like mine, are making the decision to step into the full-time homeschool world every day.  The Homeschool Legal Defense Association estimates that 2 million plus students are now being homeschooled in the United States.  This is roughly a 74% increase from 1999.  WOW!!!  That makes the super-cool homeschooling crowd one of the fastest growing sub-cultures in the United States.

While these families have very different reasons for entering the homeschool world, I think that I have finally figured out the one thing that so many full-time homeschooling mothers have in common - and NO, it’s not a prairie skirt!

It’s Determination. 

Homeschooling mothers are driven with great conviction and determination to educate their children in their own way.  They are so determined, in fact, that they sacrifice money and great amounts of time to do so. 

Has God called all mother’s to homeschool their children?...of course not!  I don’t believe that God makes cookie cutter people.  He has purposes and plans for every mother that may or may not include homeschooling.   I just have a very special place in my heart for homeschoolers and try to cheer them on whenever I can.

Are you interested in learning more about homeschooling your children?  Check out a post that I wrote called, “Newbies & Wannabes” on my personal blog.   I discovered a few important things that every mother should have before starting down the homeschool path.  Guess what’s NOT on my list?….a prairie skirt!!!  :)

Blessings & Happy Homeschooling,

Sue

My personal site: The Homeschool Chick (http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/)