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- I wanted to homeschool my daughter, but everyone in my family told me it was a bad idea. I did it anyway. (businessinsider.com)
Local Mom Braves Family Doubts for Homeschooling Journey
A local mother’s decision to homeschool her kindergarten-aged daughter, driven by concerns over school safety and a desire for a more holistic education, initially faced a barrage of skepticism from family and friends. Despite internalizing these doubts, she persevered, and her daughter is now thriving in their home-based learning environment.
The pervasive fear surrounding school safety profoundly impacted Tiffany Tuttle’s decision. Recalling her own elementary school experience during the Columbine shooting, Tuttle vividly remembers the shattering of her childhood innocence.
As a mother, the constant evolution of school safety protocols and the increasing regularity of active shooter drills fueled her daily anxieties. “I didn’t want to live in that daily state of worry,” Tuttle expressed.
Beyond safety, Tuttle also harbored concerns that traditional schooling might not adequately address critical aspects of her daughter’s development, such as physical safety, emotional intelligence, self-care, and spiritual growth. For Tuttle, homeschooling became the “natural choice” to provide a well-rounded education.
However, her unconventional path was met with immediate resistance. “Are you excited to start school soon?”
was a common question directed at her five-year-old daughter throughout the summer. The enthusiastic smiles of family, friends, and even strangers quickly faded when they learned the girl would be learning in her dining room with her mother as her teacher.
“Why would you do that?” “Don’t you want a break?”
“You’re not even a real teacher,” were the questions that followed. Tuttle admitted to internalizing these opinions, leading to self-doubt and an overwhelming pressure to prove her teaching capabilities.
The myriad choices, from curriculum selection to teaching styles, left her feeling “stuck.”
Initially, Tuttle viewed these challenges as signs of a misguided decision, believing a rigid learning plan would offer a solution. This approach, however, only made the experience “miserable” for both her and her daughter. The allure of a quiet home and free time began to tempt her to reconsider.
Despite these struggles, Tuttle committed to seeing her decision through. She eventually settled on a formal curriculum to complement the daily routines and life skills she was already imparting. “My daughter grasped the academic subjects quickly as I mixed the things she thrived in with new concepts,” Tuttle shared.
Crucially, Tuttle shifted her focus from being a “good teacher” to being “the kind of mom I always wanted to be: one who teaches her daughter holistically.” Her daughter’s enthusiasm and natural adaptation to learning became the driving force for Tuttle to embrace a learning rhythm that works for their family, regardless of external opinions.
Tuttle expressed her satisfaction with her steadfast vision for her daughter’s education, emphasizing that it has provided “learning experiences that include intention, curiosity, and freedom.” Despite confronting both her own doubts and those of her family, Tuttle believes they are now experiencing the success and safety she always envisioned for their home.