Say your homeschooled, and have been for like 5 years, but want to go back to public school and your dad wont?

Question

let you, how do you get what you want and not make him angry with you???

Answer 1

Why not have a different focus? It sounds like it's all about your social life. Why not make a social life while you are homeschooled? He is your dad; he doesn't have to give you what you want if he's convinced that what you want isn't actually best for you. It also sounds like you haven't tried talking with him about the problem (no social life) but have instead tried to argue to get your way. That's not the way it should be.

Try to find a win-win solution. Being homeschooled isn't the problem and going to school isn't the only solution. Identify clearly what the problem is and talk to him about finding solutions. You seem to have a problem with him being stubborn and not giving into you, but you are doing the same! Find a middle ground. Otherwise you come across as a spoiled brat (a spoiled brat isn't someone who necessarily gets what s/he wants, but seems to expect it) who's trying to have the upper edge in her relationship with her dad!

If you haven't been able to make any friends, ask yourself why. How hard have you and your parents tried? Did you make an effort to keep in touch with your old friends? Have you joined any sports? Have you sought out community clubs or groups? Have you found out about any volunteering opportunities near you? Have you searched for local homeschoolers? There's probably a TON of social stuff going on near you--you've just got to get involved.

Answer 2

Suggest that you need friends outside of your immediate family.  Home schooling can limit the scope of your exposure to the outside world and thereby limit your choices for a career and college studies...  Only because you may not know what's out there...  Is he trying to protect you? Are the public school systems providing an education that is inferior to the one you're receiving at home?  Ask yourself why you really want to be educated outside your home and then go to your father... write it down if you have to... Good Luck!

Answer 3

How can you not have a life?!  If you are of legal age to work in your state, get a job at the local mall!  If your are of legal age to drive a car, by all means, go and get a job!  Consider taking classes outside, like what your dad said.  Take classes at the local high school.  You will make new friends.  Find a local homeschooling group in your area and you will make even more friends, especially if you live in a big homeschooling town.  

Join a homeschooling sports team.

Seriously, homeschooling gives you much more time to be around other homeschoolers.

Answer 4

You can always try to see if your Dad will let you take one or two classes at the public school and go from there.  I don't know the rules in every state regarding taking a class, but I imagine you should be able to work that out with the school (if Dad is ok with it).

Answer 5

It sounds like you are frustrated and need to re-frame this experience.  You have let your dad know how you feel, I take it and probably have written out a list of why and your frustrations!  Now it is up to you to try to make the best of the situation.

We home school and have MANY extracurricular activities.  Are you living in an area that allows you to interact with kids?  Are there home school groups to explore?  Would he start out a co-op in an area that he has expertise?  

It sounds like two things have happened:

1. You might be viewing the past through slightly "rose colored glasses - i.e. making it better in memory than the actual past.

2. You are wanting to develop your own autonomy more and are frustrated that you feel smothered.

It is typical for human nature, in retrospect look back and think, "if only, I wish, I had it so good."  Start by thinking about the past objectively.  It will help you tremendously.  Talk to your dad and ask him to tell you the good and bad of the past.

If your father has offered extra curriculars, GO FOR IT!!!

Here are some ideas from a home schooling taxi of a mom!

Literature clubs

Drama/acting

Soccer (AYSO, etc.)

Art leagues

Steel drum bands

Form your own band!

Swim teams

Writing clubs

Start a group/youth advisory at the library

Junior achievement - business club

home school co-ops - round robin teaching style

Field trips with other teens to academic places

Game parties

This is just a sampling of ideas.  Just take your talents, abilities and passions and create group activities around them.  This can be a blast, and I am sure there are a lot of great opportunities for you to explore. Just use your imagination.

Also the more open to the home school experience, and dad, the more slack he will give you.  Parenting 101 is that you can only give the child/teen as much freedom as the openess and maturity that they show.  Battle of the wills unfortunately dictates the unleashing of phenominal cosmic power!

This is a hard situation.  Peers are needed, in my opinion.  So is the focus on academics and coexistance!  Good Luck!

Answer 6

Explain to him why you want to go back to public school, without getting upset and angry. Listen to his reasons as to why you should be homeschooled. Practice your speech before you go to him so you know what you are going to say and what he will probably say.

Answer 7

How old are you? If you're 15 (or over), public school *may* let you enrol yourself without needing your parent's permission (but that depends very much on the rules where you live. It works here, that's all I can tell you. I can't promise you can do it wherever you live.)

What does your mum reckon about you going back to school? Does she not have an opinion?

If your dad's only concern is not paying school fees, couldn't you negotiate a compromise whereby you spend term times living with your grandparents or an aunt or uncle etc and attend public school there?

Answer 8

it depends on his reasons for not wanting to give in. Many parents believe that homeschooling is a much better curriculum than many public schools. I was home schooled for 9 years and when i went back into 11th grade I was much farther along education-wise then many others. The best way to approach this is to talk to your parent(s) and express your opinions and bring valid points to the table. Most importantly, listen to what they have to say and speak in a mature manner (ie. dont get upset and storm out of the room). If you speak like an adult, many times you will be treated like an adult.

Answer 9

I did homeschooling for several years and then decided to go to public school. For me, I realized very quickly that I had learned a lot of things about self discipline and independent thinking that made it really hard to relate to students that were more used to the "herd mentality" of public school so I went back to home schooling. However, if you want to give it a try, think of all the pros and cons of where you're at and what you want to do. Really think hard about why you want to go to public school. Then sit down with your Dad and have an honest, open, mature conversation stating all these facts. That you've approached him calmly and with a well thought out argument for your cause will make it easier to either get your way or come to some sort of compromise that you both can live with. If you're craving more social interaction and he's really not comfortable with you in public school, maybe a sports team, dance class or (if you're old enough) class for teenagers at your local community college would be something you both can agree on. If money isn't a problem, look into a local Montassouri school. Generally, they have very small classes with a lot of independent study. It might be the best of both worlds for you and your Dad.

Answer 10

So start with what he DID give you...the extra curriculur activities.  You have a legal right to participate in these things as a homeschooler.  Do you want to play soccer, run in track, or be a cheerleader?  These are all things you can do as a homeschooler at the local schools.  You will meet people there, and in time you will have friends.  You can even go to the dances and go to watch games.

If he's really that hardheaded about it, I don't think you're going to change it.  Just go to him and say, ok, dad, I would like to sign up for X at the school here.  Maybe it's a club - Science Club or something like that.  You can call the school and find out what activities are available.

Answer 11

To start with you are schooling to get an education and not to socialize and make friends. You can still have friends and homeschool, my kids do it. You do not need a boyfriend either, you are much too young to be worrying about boys. Get involved in a church youth group, soccer team, softball team, drama team, art club, book club, horse riding group, anything.

You should get on your knees and thank your lucky stars your dad loves you this much and doesn't just toss you in public school and not think twice. He's doing this because he wants you to get an education and not be ruined by the public schools poor standards and negative morals, not because he wants to ruin your life.

My father never cared and was never there, I struggled throughout public school and now give my own children a better chance with homeschooling because I love them. Things could be so much worse!!