Homeschool Horror Stories - Dear Mom

Cristen talks about her homeschooling past and the most common questions people ask when they find out she was homeschooled.

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[FrootbatBat]

We love homeschool because it allows us to embrace relaxed learning, to enjoy the process, and to explore learning 'outside the lines'. When my son was 12, I was frustrated with him and his lack of motivation so I asked him "Okay, fine, what do YOU want to learn today for science?" His answer? "How about what Dark Matter is?" Um...Dark Matter? So we found some fascinating documentaries on the topic, theories, and lectures. It was awesome.

[emmapeach]

I am currently in 11th grade, and I have been home-schooled since kindergarten. I often have people asking me if I ever actually do any work. YES, I do! We decided to homeschool so that we could travel whenever we wanted. Because of that I have experienced different cultures, and made friends all over. I have also had people ask if I want to go to public school, and if my mother is forcing me to stay at home. The answer to that is an absolute NO. It's always been a choice for me. I have not once felt like I have missed out on anything because I do my school at home. I have a social life (despite what some may think- it is possible for homeschoolers), and I get to spend a lot of time with my family. People should understand that homeschooling is not inherently a bad thing made for bad students.    

[CarlosPenasGrl]

I was home-schooled for a year int he 8th grade, and the program was great, I just didn't do well personally because it just wasn't for me. My sister on the other hand was home-school from third grade to eighth because she was bullied so horribly and it left her with terrible anxiety that she's still dealing with as a high school senior. For her, home-schooling is the best choice because in subjects she's good in she can work as fast as she wants, and in ones she isn't good in she can mostly work as slow as she wants. She's back in home-schooling for her final semester because of personal issues, but she's never done better in school than when she got back into home-schooling.

[meredithritchie]

I was proud to be homeschooled up to and including 8th grade (with 3 siblings still homeschooled) and I can agree 100% with everything said in this video. Freshman year in a "real" school was, granted, a culture shock (GETTING UP AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING WTF), but today I receive many of the same questions as Cristen, including..."How are you so normal?" Golly gee whiz I guess I forgot to stop by the local kindergarden and get my "normal" shots one morning when I was about 5. Meanwhile, my homeschool-educated sister turns 13 this year and is a social butterfly with a million friends and a better grasp of slang and (gasp) swearing than I had at that ago so I suppose she, too is headed in the direction of (double gasp) normal-ness.
Granted, I've had fun with the "aura of mystery" surrounding homeschooling and once managed to convince a male friend that I'd simply skipped from the 5th to 9th grade which was why I was younger than him. (He fell for it despite the fact that I'm OLDER than him)
Hope to see you YouTubers on the streets to answer your questions because, to be honest, I LOVE answering confused people's questions about homeschooling (and sneaking in some statistics on sub-standard American public education *cough*).

[cassiusvoidkin]

I'm eager to homeschool my kids. I just feel like it's a more constructive way to actually learn. And honestly, I really believe going to public school is WHY I have so much social anxiety. Intense constant forced socialization, not good for introverted children. Also, my teachers took my books from me. 

[SkerryC]

Was home schooled from 1st grade through 8th, and I absolutely loved it! Got addicted to books, learned how I learn, and how to solve problems on my own. The only qualm I have with it, was we lived 13 miles from the closest town... and that did not do my social skills any favors. Kind of paid for it in high school. 

[kaymcarthy]

I have been homeschooled since third grade and I absolutely love it! It can help you understand subjects better at your pace than just randomly memorizing things. According to public school standards I should be going into tenth grade; however, instead I will be attending my local college. The same is true for many of my other friends! Homeschooling is fantastic as long as you put sincere effort into your education! : )

[gsusfrk]

I attended public school from Pre-K through the 9th grade.  My step-mother, who had homeschooled my sister from the very beginning, then decided to take me and my brother out of the public school system to continue our education at home.

After some discussion, we decided that it would be best if I took an extra year between college to complete my studies, and so, I was at home for 10-12th and an extra year before starting at University.

We may disagree on some decisions that I've made in life, but I will always appreciate the sacrifices that my step-mother made to make sure that her children received the best education possible - an education that went beyond consumption and regurgitation of facts to learning to think for myself and applying knowledge to life situations and opportunities.

[the.walkiest]

I was homeschooled, too, from kindergarten until I graduated high school, and I loved it :)
my favorite question asked by public school kids was, "do you own a backpack?"

[zoep-j]

I was homeschooled from 5th grade through the 8th. And I'm with you Cristen: super delighted to have "missed out" on the middle school experience.

[sheltiegirl]

I was homeschooled and I am SO glad I was! I am so thankful that my parents, particularly my mom, invested the time and energy to give me and my sister such a constructive, personalized education. I was also lucky enough to live in an area with lots of other homeschoolers, so finding other kids to socialize with was never an issue. I was homeschooled through the end of 8th grade and then attended high school and college, and 1. I'm so glad I got to skip the horror that I've heard is middle school, and 2. I in no way felt unprepared for the work I was expected to do once I got to school. I was afraid that some skills like math and science would be lacking, because my sister and I had very little structured education in those areas (we basically just read all the time, everything we could get our hands on), but I actually felt more prepared than some of my school-going peers. I also hadn't had the motivation and excitement about learning stamped out of me by years of forced classroom learning, so I stood out to my teachers as a hard-working, motivated student.

[TheMariaMEEP]

I'm so glad I missed out on middle school, through my investigations I've found it seems there is no good use for middle school.

[HChris]

I was homeschooled and loved it! I did so well in college, I dual enrolled and graduated community college at 18 with my A.A degree. No regrets.

[gabriellekonieczny]

so i know this is an older video, but i was always homeschooled and my family and i i are studying abroad in places like Norway and Brazil, and it's a great learning experience 

[zade]

I love home school it's so much faster. Plus I'm head of the year book comity, top athlete of in my class, and the most popular kid in my school.

[evolvingboard]

I've been a homeschooler since 4th grade, i'm a senior in highschool now and still homeschooled, I like it because it gives me the freedom to focus on things that matter to me (even if I still have to do math), and take classes that I wouldn't otherwise have access to.

[samanthamoody]

Oh my gosh. I have NEVER seen a video that has been more real about being homeschooled! LOVE IT!

[caralynnelizabeth]

I went from public school to homeschool during middle school and I discovered that I really need need peer pressure to want to learn and that a classroom might be slower but motivates me more. I now have a 3.0 GPA in college though.

[elisaklaassen]

I was homeschooled through 8th grade and I got those questions all the time! I still hate when I have to tell people I was homeschooled. But it definitely was great academically and I was always involved in lots of social activities

[r.s.dorian]

Homeschooled 90's kid here. I relate so much. Thanks for making this vid.