This Homeschool Life is Crazy!

Why in the world is this blog named “This Crazy Homeschool Life?”

What kind of blogger names their blog “Crazy?”

Why would she ever do that?

Why is she telling the world that homeschoolers are crazy?

Is it even politically correct to use the term “crazy”?

    I know these are some of the questions you’re asking as you’ve landed here!  It’s ok, I have already talked them over with my husband when he gave me the “Huh?” face the first time I said, “I think I’m going to name the blog This Crazy Homeschool Life!”  After a long conversation, he agreed that I might still be a little on the weird side, but I was on the right track with the name.

The name of this site came about in May while he was out of town on a business trip.  The kids and I had gone to see friends who live a couple states away from us and were staying with them for the week.  She has six kids, I have three, and we were traveling around her area in her 15 passenger van.  The back of the van says “Homeschool Bus” and we were getting weird looks all over the place.  However, we were also having a downright BLAST.  The kids were all with buddies they hadn’t seen in a couple months, she and I were enjoying talking to another adult, and we were all exploring new places.  As we pulled into a pizza place for dinner and saw the faces of the group of people sitting on the patio, we started laughing and one of us said, “Sometimes, you’ve just got to embrace the crazy!!”!

Well, I started thinking about that statement.  From the beginning of my parenting journey, there’s always been someone saying, “You’re crazy!” when we have made parenting decisions that were best for our family.  We had two of our three at home after years of research, and it was the right decision for our family, but we still heard that crazy statement.  We lived in NC and had family in Missouri, and every time we would drive to visit our family, we’d hear that statement again.  When we looked at the educational options in our county and realized that homeschooling would be the best option for us, the peanut gallery got even louder with their crazy statements.  I’ve realized something though.  They were right.

One of the definitions of “crazy” is “extremely enthusiastic” and another is “extreme.”  I can say without any problem, “I’m extremely enthusiastic about giving my kids the best start and education that I possibly can.”  I can change that sentence to “I’m crazy about giving my kids the best start and education.”  I, by definition, am crazy.  I have stepped outside the normal framework for our society, and am now living an extreme life.  My family is now living an extreme life.  We are different from 95% of the people that we interact with on a daily basis, but that’s ok!

It’s ok because this life is awesome!  We get to do things most families don’t get to do.  We get to travel when most families don’t get to travel.  My kids get to have friends from all parts of the age spectrum.  I don’t have to worry about the PTA or the EOGs or any other part of the school system alphabet soup.  We stay within the legal definition of homeschooling for our state, then we get to LIVE!  We have friends that are more like cousins because they get to play together – not sit in a classroom worrying about the testing at the end of the year.  My kids are going to be able to function in real life, because they live it every day!  We are embracing and thriving on the adventure that’s the result of choosing “This Crazy Homeschool Life.”

I have been very, very blessed to have several other moms that have been a support system for me since my oldest was three months old.  That support system has only grown as we have started our homeschool journey and gotten to know other families in our community.  There has been more than one time when our life has gotten hard or frustrating, and this community has been there to encourage and support us.  It’s been that community that in large part makes our crazy homeschool life so wonderful and doable.  As I was discussing this with my husband and several close friends, the idea of this blog was born.  The purpose of this blog is to support our crazy families and celebrate this journey together.  It’s one awesome journey, and I can’t wait to get to know all of you along the way!

-Lesli

*One little note: I realized that there is a definition of the word “Crazy” that means mentally deranged.  There will be absolutely no use of that definition of the word on this site.  All use of the word crazy refers to the definition that means extreme, extremely enthusiastic.  We in no way are demeaning or degrading any part of the population.

Want to join in on the adventure and be a part of our family?  Fill out the form below to become part of our blog family and receive FREE updates, printables, and more!