Interesting Conversation with the Sears Repair Man...

Today, the Sears repair man came to my home to fix my washer.  He was a frail-looking, elderly man. To get to my laundry room, he had to first pass through my classroom.  When his work was done, he asked me if I homeschooled someone.  I told him that I had homeschooled my children, who are now all grown, and now I am homeschooling my grandson.  This led to a very interesting conversation.  He commented that he had been in other homes where homeschooling took place and he had noticed how well-behaved the kids were.  He also commented that the kids would even converse with him.  He seemed surprised that the kids would want to talk to him.  He said most kids would not do that, that they are usually caught up in their own little world.  While he was telling me this, I thought to myself, 'If my little grandson were here, he'd be talking your ears off! lol!'  I did basically tell him, though, how that homeschooled kids interact with people of all ages on a regular basis - that is why they are comfortable talking with anyone. 

In a round-about way he mentioned peer pressure among kids at public school and how they feel they must conform to the wishes of their same-age group in that environment.  I told him of how homeschooling promoted independence in kids, to be their own person and make their own decisions without regard to what other kids may think of them.

He also asked me questions about my own kids, now grown - how they turned out.  I was very glad to tell him of what they ended up doing with their lives.