School at home, our style.

Sure enough. Homeschool. Classes at home. Nontraditional schooling.

Call it what you will (we do!), we're not in a "regular" school. Believe it or not, we like it this way.

A few things to get out of the way first: We don't force our children into this. They know there are other schooling options available and they know we would support them in a different venture. They keep picking this because they like it and it works well for us. I don't homeschool out of obligation or the nature of our school district. I keep choosing this because I like it and it works well for us.

No, it doesn't work all the time. Nothing works all the time. Yes, we actually do like it. It doesn't need fixing. It isn't a hail mary pass. No, we don't have a classroom and desks. Yes, we have books. And we even read them! Silliness aside, homeschooling is a HUGE part of our lives. I spend a ton of time preparing lessons, researching curriculum, driving the kids to extracurricular activities, grading papers, and more.

 This venture also greatly impacts the way we view our interaction with society. No, we didn't just shift into a conversation about socialization. As another homeschool mom likes to say "we socialize puppies, not children."  But homeschooling regularly challenges our traditional interaction with society. How we interact, with whom, under what circumstances become thoughtful, intentional acts. Our setup is easy, especially because of involved, close to home grandparents. Not every family is as blessed as we are. But every homeschool family has to make these choices in interaction.

Homeschooling evolved along with my desire to increase our self-sustenance. They feed each other. These ideas challenge a society that typically runs one way.

I don't think these endeavors make me or anyone else better than someone who's more traditional. The fact is that everyone has their own thing. It just turns out that homeschooling is part of OUR thing.