Not Desiring Divisiveness
I just posted a cartoon. It basically makes fun of many public school atmospheres out there. And since we homeschool, and get so many critical questions about whether or not we’re doing the right thing, what about socialization, aren’t we over-insulating, my first reaction was ha! this is hysterical. And I posted it up tout suite, at about 4 this morning, when I couldn’t sleep.
I have a dear dear lifelong friend. Whose heart is as honestly desiring the best for her children, as any I’ve ever met. Who longs to raise her girls unto the Lord. And whose children go to public school, in a small town south of Atlanta, GA. Friend, I will keep your anonymnity, but I’d like to quote you here.
You KNOW I love you, and I KNOW your heart and that you do not sit in judgement of people who don’t homeschool. But, cartoons like the one posted … are very hurtful. Yes, it’s true, a lot of terrible things go on in public/private schools. But, a lot of terrible things go on at home, in families, too (and at church and the grocery store and at the office and basically everywhere in life). I have a very close friend whose family homeschooled and her father also slept with her from the time she was 11. The truth is most of us want to protect our children…most of us are doing the best we can, praying and making decisions accordingly…seeing something like that comic implies that some of us are intentionally putting our children in harm’s way with no regard for them. which, as you and I both know is NOT true in most situations. Things like that just give fuel to the judgemental, "we are right and you are wrong" group of people out there.
I think she may be right. The cartoon is a (sometimes) truth in jest, yes, but just may be more harsh than I intended to be, and add to that judgmental fire which I have no desire to fuel.
Thoughts like that pop into my head. Primarily as a response to the dubious questioning we often get, for our choice. But maybe should be screened a bit more carefully. What my friend says is true. Most parents are doing their very best. And their best, and where and what they’re led to do, just may not look like our household.
I asked the Colonel about it. I set him up. Hey, look at this (show the cartoon). He chuckled. And then I showed him my friend’s email. And he poured his coffee. Thunk on it. Added sugar and cream. Stirred. And said I don’t think that’s very Christ-like (the cartoon, not my friend’s email). Now, I’m not quite as tender as my sweet husband, and sometimes I get perverse pleasure out of being controversial and hard-headed, but he might be right. And if he’s not, I respect his gut on things enough to acknowlege I may have been hasty.
And even all that aside, and if I polled a thousand people who all said it was funny, and not hurtful in any way, shape or form, any thing I would or could ever due that would be hurtful to my friend, I am sorry for. Her feelings count more than me trying to figure out if I was right or wrong to ever post in the first place.
I love you, friend, and I am sorry if that silly cartoon caused any hurt. Thanks for pointing out another perspective.
Before some parents of children in public or private schools get riled, I know this is not every child’s experience. But if you are not aware, it is the sad experience of many. 
