Being open-minded

I used to think I was a pretty open-minded person.  I mean, I have my opinions, but always considered what other people said or were doing or thought.  Wondering if there was something I should change (though, usually pretty stubborn to not change much).  Only recently I realized that I haven't been nearly as open minded as I thought I was or at all as much as other people.  Not until I started home-schooling my children.  Now all my paradigms are shifting.  It's really bizarre.  It's weird and kind of hard when beliefs or ways of thinking your whole life are challenged and/or need to be a bit modified.  I don't mean my religious beliefs, but just beliefs about life in general.  Or expectations.  Or goals. 

I haven't felt much antaganism from people much since I started home schooling.  And in fact, I started in GA and it was pretty mainstream in the area where I was.  My whole life I was appalled at home schoolers because they weren't doing things the "right" way, and partly because some of them I knew reminded me of pioneerish type families, not really into fashion much, real low-key.  But you could never argue about the kids.  Always great kids, polite, could carry on a conversation with anyone.  In GA I met beautiful, fashionable, women home schooling their children and that opened my eyes as I realized I was missing out and I thought, "what am I doing to myself?"  I'd not been open minded enough to see what was really happening and what this might actually mean to my family if we continued to home-school.  And since then, talked to several "grandmas" who encourage or say they wish their grandkids were home schoolled.  I mention grandmas because I always try to listen to what those older then me have to say because they, are, well, older and have more life experience then me, and were most likely, at some point, against home schooling too. 

Recently, I guess, "what comes around, goes around", as I've been hit with that same prejudism/antaganism from some that I used to give to others.  One sad thing for me is that I had some friendships before I started home-schooling which have now changed in a big way.  And then there are new people I'm meeting who want nothing to do with me because I am home schooling.  The worst part for me is that I go to church with these people.  And I find comfort, some from other church members, but also from my home school group. 

But I'm trying to find the compassion and understanding in myself for a lot of different things right now, including, knowing home schooling isn't for everyone, and empathizing with their "not able to ever do it"iveness.  And I may not always home school every child at every time.  I mean, who knows?  You never know what's going to happen, really, until it's time.  But for now, this year, again, I'll be home schooling. 

One woman shared with us a commencement address to a group of home schoolers, and it really hits the mark, so I thought I'd share it here.  It's come at a good time for me, only reaffirming my decision to continue on and keep doing what I'm doing.  Of course, so do so many talks in the General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I think to myself, "Really?  Did they not hear what I just heard?"  In the end, you are responsible for your childrens' education whether public, private or at home, and not just in teaching religious beliefs, but in all facets of life.  And if you choose a school setting, great for you!  Can we still be friends? 

http://blog.bravewriter.com/2010/05/18/congratulations-class-of-2010/