HGTV’s Erin Napier pointed to a harmful experience she had as a child as support for her and husband Ben Napier’s decision to homeschool their daughters.
“Imagine having the best elementary history, Bible, math and poetry teacher ever who tells you stories about the world that make you want to go see them in real life while you listen to spaghetti western soundtracks and that’s homeschool with @scotsman.co,” she captioned a recent Instagram post alongside pictures of Ben reading to their girls.
While most of the comments were supportive, some questioned the wisdom of homeschooling, saying it would affect the couple’s daughters’ social development.
Related: HGTV Star Shares Homeschool ‘Dream’ For Daughters: ‘I Want To Be With Them’
“Is everyone in the real world the exact same age, in one place together every day? No,” Erin replied to one commenter. “Our kids interact with all ages every day in sports, art classes, dance classes, field trips, coming on set with us, and working together to do their chores every day. I know it’s what is familiar to you, but it is absolutely not the only way.”
She also said she “absolutely should and will keep them away from children whose parents make bad decisions for them.”
“I was exposed to porn on a school bus by a boy my age in 5th grade. That was the one and only time I rode the bus, because my parents cared enough to change it immediately,” Erin explained. “I am happy to be criticized if this is the (poor) argument you want to make.”
Erin has been keeping fans updated on her family’s homeschooling journey. In a post from this past May, she wrote, “Somehow, we did it! 2nd grade / k-4 are ✅.”
“This is what I want you parents who think you’d like to homeschool but you’re afraid you can’t: if you can find 2 hours a day and ‘open and go’ curriculums, you can do it,” she continued. “These girls are so happy, so good at communicating with all ages and types of people. And we feel like we soaked up every moment of growing up they did, instead of feeling shocked by it each passing week. We found the hack to slowing down childhood. It’s not for everyone, but it was medicine for our whole family this year.”
While homeschooling is not for everyone, the Napiers have found a system that works for them — and keeps their daughters safe from bad decisions.
Read Next: This HGTV Mom Thanks God She Gets to Homeschool Her Children
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