Michael Farris:
Our biblical duty to honor our parents lasts for a lifetime—even when we are grown, married, and have children of our own. But the Bible does not teach that we must obey our parents when we are married. If you believe God has called you to homeschool your children, you need to follow that conviction even if your parents object.
However, in most cases, grandparents can be won over to the idea of homeschooling if you handle things wisely. If you've decided to homeschool, you should honor your parents by explaining your decision to homeschool your own children well in advance. You may find a great deal more resistance if they hear of your plans from someone else rather than directly from you. Another excellent way to win grandparents' hearts is to promise them that they will receive copies of your child's standardized achievement test scores. Nothing works better than success, especially if your child's test scores give them bragging rights with their friends.
Both my parents and in-laws had real hesitation about our beginning homeschooling. A year later, both sides of the family were enthusiastic supporters of homeschooling because of the dramatic change they saw in our oldest daughter, Christy, who had been two years in a Christian school.
Time is on your side. So be patient with grandparents. After all, they were patient with you. I'm Michael Farris.
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