Homeschool uniform
We are staying home.
So who cares anyway? Why would I bother to get dressed, or do my hair and makeup if I am going to be in my house all day?
Am I talking here about uniforms and button down shirts all around? Absolutely not for my gang, but maybe for you, let me elaborate.
How do you feel? Do you look different if you have a job interview, than if you are having coffee with a friend? What about if you are going into a corporate meeting to pitch your idea (and keep your job), or picnicking in the park with family. Cleaning the house all day, spring cleaning, touching up paint? Of course you do. We dress for the activity we are expecting to experience every day.
Keep this tidbit in mind though dear teacher, you have no idea what this day will throw at you. You would never show up for a new job in sweats and a semi-clean tee, with your unwashed hair in a messy bun, and a smudge of yesterday's mascara across your upper cheek. So why would you start your teaching day that way?
You've heard the old adage "dress for the job you want'. Well whether you are a "forced to homeschool hostage", a seasoned homeschool pro, or a new recruit to this crazy teach your own kids phenomena, you have a job. Dress for it.
WHO CARES?
You should, and here's why. When we "show up for work", it shows those we work with that we respect who they are and that we value our position. This in turn helps to assist them in valuing our position as well.
Picture, if you will, that you are in need of "management" or "supervisory" assistance in a place of business. Your bill is incorrect, or you have received the wrong item, perhaps a service you were in need of failed to meet your expectations. You are hopeful that whomever is being summoned will resolve your complex issue. You watch with expectation as the "one" with knowledge and experience is called to your rescue. Do your hopes for resolution fade when an unkempt manager still eating lunch, shuffles out of the backroom with mustard dripping from their mouth. Shirt soiled, and in need of a shower, harried and clearly annoyed at the interruption, are we headed for a positive customer service experience here? Probably not. How is your face? How is your hopeful expectation, has it changed? We get what we put in, and clearly this, possibly very competent manager/supervisor, has not put in much.
Because we are interactive beings, what you present is often what you receive back within an interaction. Do you see where I am going here?
If you take the time to pull yourself together before school, you are more prepared and ready to teach. In your process of getting ready you are preparing your brain for whatever you are expecting to do for that day. When your students first see you in the morning, they get the signal as well. What can they expect? Is school important enough to take seriously?
You know you. So keep in mind who you are, and who your kids are and what is comfortable, and what is so comfortable your brain and attitude take a vacation. Some of us can be productive in yoga pants, some of us go into relax mode and accomplish nothing. Be honest with yourself.
Consideration number two.
Your front door. Should there be an emergency in your circle of friends or family and you have to dash out, you may not have time to pull yourselves together. Or perhaps your curious but not very friendly neighbor reports you for having your school aged kids home on a school day...every day (likely not an issue in a post-covid world, but you never know), and the truant office is at your door. Another possibility is that a visitor happens by, and whether you like it or not you represent the home school world. How we present ourselves on a daily basis, may be the only impression a person in our society gets of "home schooler". "Who cares, not my problem, I am not concerned with what others think of me!", ok you rebel you, slow down just a second.
How you represent your home school, may just be the only exposure someone you come in contact with has with a home school family or home school student. Their interaction with you paints how they see all home schoolers, like it or not. You have the opportunity to thwart the myths and misconceptions our society has about what it looks like to home school. No pressure, right?! While you don't need to prep your children to recite the Gettysburg address in the produce aisle, it would be alright if you didn't disregard this unique opportunity you have either. Home school graduates are eligible and welcomed into colleges and universities nation wide, they are inventors, entrepreneurs, scientists artists, authors and every other thing people can be today! We help further the acceptance of this unique population of young citizens every time we have an interaction that is positive. We are almost to the place in our culture where job postings saying crazy things like “home schooled preferred” are not uncommon , if you know any amazing home schooled kids you know why!
I have met a few folks, that after meeting my crew, are very surprised that we home school. They tell me tales of others they have met that “home schooled”. Unkempt children in an uncared-for home, barely, if ever supervised. Angry, near feral reactions to neighbors or uninvited guests that dare approach their dwellings. No actual educating taking place, just folks using “home schooling” as an excuse to not deal with “the system”. Is this the norm? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Does this happen? Yes it does. So don’t be mistaken for the motley crew of basement dwellers I describe here. Be a family of home schoolers that are helpful, courteous, curious, polite, and let it be apparent that you take your task of educating tomorrow’s citizens seriously. On behalf of the rest of the past, present, and future home schooling community, I thank you.
~Jeanette
