Pajama Schooling?

Before I started homeschooling in earnest, I spent a lot of time reading about homeschooling. I still do, but not as much, now that I’m a little bit busy all day. One of the most common things I saw was how everybody was just so relaxed about their attire, and school in pajamas seemed to be a common theme. I thought that sounded a little (sorry) lazy, so I’ve only tried it a few times, just to see how it went.

I was right. It’s lazy. The few times I’ve allowed the kids to go all day in pajamas, I got exactly what you’d expect from such lenience: utter chaos. I have no doubt that there are people in this world who have the kind of self-discipline it takes to get work done while still in their sleeping-clothes. I am not one of these people. I need signals, folks. Pajamas mean sleep. Shoelessness means relaxation. Day-clothes, right down to the shoes, are pretty much the only way I can convince myself that it’s daytime and there’s work to be done.

Besides, it’s a respect thing. I respect my family enough to put on some clothes and look alive for them. I respect my neighbors and the mail lady enough to care what they think of our family. I respect myself, and don’t want to live my life as if I were in a dream. There’s a whole world out there! I want to be ready to run out and meet it when the mood strikes.

Not that I haven’t forgotten to dress a child or two every now and then, but as a rule, we wear clothes. Granted, sometimes they look like this:

But they are at least dressed.

This post is linked up at The Homeschool Village’s Thursday Link-up. Browse the other homeschool bloggers’ answers and see what others think.