One reason (among many) that so many are uncomfortable with homeschooling: it's a mirror.
Much like viewing a statue of a Greek hero reveals with absolute certainty that your physical form is less than it could be, homeschooling your child is a daily reminder of what you lack.
In a very real sense, your child is you. If you are prone to certain behaviors, there is a strong likelihood that your child will be too. Especially if you have not yet mastered this part of yourself and it is on display for your child to observe.
This can be extremely uncomfortable! You may see a statue of Achilles just one time. Your child, on the other hand, will be a judge that stares you in the face every day. Your faults, which you may be perfectly happy to ignore, will be presented to you as an external factor. Why is your child a certain way? Chances are, it's your fault, and you have to come to grips with that.
However, if you choose to homeschool willingly, and with an attitude of doing what is best for your child...
You have the best opportunity you will ever have to improve yourself. If you have anger issues, for example, you get to work together with your child to find the best way for your particular sets of DNA to mitigate anger. You can fix yourself AND give your child the childhood you wish you had--one that isn't dominated by impulsive anger.
This is a genuine cost of sending your kids to public school that no one seems to talk about. Yes, it is sending your unique and wonderful individual child off to be stamped into something more uniform, more predictable, more conformed to the particular society in which you live.
But it's also rejecting your best chance to learn who you are, come to grips with it, and improve...and depriving your child of the same.
(Note: This was originally posted on Facebook. The publish date has been set to match the original.)
