During decades of homeschooling and observing homeschoolers, I observed a cycle. We start by caring what non-homeschoolers think. Next, we bond with homeschoolers and arrive at a place where we don’t care what outsiders think. However, we care too much what other homeschoolers think—at times to the detriment of our family.
Homeschool peer pressure may keep us—or at least delay us—from taking a needed break from homeschooling, or abandoning a popular curriculum, or pulling out of group classes that do not meet our needs.
While being pressured to take advice from others, I came across a principle I still remember.
Decision-making belongs to the person who carries the responsibility for the consequences of the decision.
I needed that reminder.
During driver training, other drivers honked for our sons to turn right on red and into oncoming traffic. Honking encouraged other reckless driving. We told our sons, “It is your injury, and your regrets, and your court date, and our car, and our insurance premium if you have an accident. Not the person honking.”
Our family bore the serious consequences for our driving behavior, not hurried drivers. Therefore, our family made those decisions.
Anyone honking at you?
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