Talking About Online Home Schooling with Well-Meaning Relatives

Every member of your family won't agree with your decision to try online home school for your student. In fact, in some cases, your relatives and friends may become downright passionate or even hateful about something that doesn't concern them at all. While you have the right to avoid the conversation altogether, in some cases, you may feel obligated to honestly explain your decision to concerned relatives. If you're worried about beginning that conversation, think about it ahead of time and decide how much information you want to share.

Explain your reasons. Most people don't choose online high school for their students "just because." Chances are excellent that for some reason, a traditional brick and mortar school wasn't working for your child. Maybe it was due to health problems: your child was too ill to attend school more days than they were able to go, or wasn't able to make it through a full day even when they could. Perhaps your child has sports commitments that were taking up too much of their time. Maybe you chose online school because your child was struggling in class and you couldn't get them the help they needed in a brick and mortar school. Your child could be so far ahead of their classmates that they were bored out of their minds, or they might have been the victim of bullying--or some combination of all of the above. You don't have to go on a rant against the public school system. Just quietly explain the reasons behind your decision to use online home school for your student.

Discuss the advantages. There are a number of advantages to online home school that brick and mortar schools simply don't have. You have a great deal more freedom throughout your day that enables you to plan your schedule around your child's other activities, rather than around the school day. One of the primary benefits to online home school is your child's ability to work at their own pace. If they're able to fly through lessons, they can do so and move on to the next one. On the other hand, if they're struggling with a particular concept or lesson, your child can spend as much time as they need on the material in order to grasp it fully. You have a great deal more control over what your child is seeing and absorbing every day. While you can't shelter your child from everything in the world, you can prevent them from being exposed to things that they simply aren't ready for--and that can help them retain their innocence for a little bit longer.

Keep it simple. Chances are excellent that Aunt Millicent doesn't need to know everything about your child's academic history. A brief explanation is often best. If you're meeting resistance, you can always explain that you think this is the best academic choice for your child at this time, and that you and your spouse (if relevant) have been grateful for the opportunity. You don't have to engage in a long, drawn-out discussion that covers all the details about your child's academic future and your hopes for this process. Making it clear that you're done discussing it might not be enough to put off everyone, but at least it's clear that the decision has already been made.

The decision to use an online home school is a very personal one. It's unique to each child and family, and everyone makes it for their own reasons. For some, it's simple convenience. For others, it's a matter of academic or social necessity. You don't have to explain your choices, but being prepared for that conversation ahead of time can help you avoid getting tongue-tied or angry when it comes up.