by AMY ANDERSON
Last blog, I briefly mentioned homeschooling. At the risk of offending some people, I’m going to share my honest opinion: I think most people who homeschool are nuts.
Remember, I said most, not all. But we all know the stereotypes – the conservative religious parents, the overprotective parents, and of course, the hippie parents who only “flush it down when it’s brown.” I’ve always felt those people were a little bananas, and I’ve met my fair share of homeschooled adults who are, for lack of a better word, socially awkward.
OK, maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but homeschooling has always seemed a little goofy to me. But last March, something creepy happened: I started homeschooling Aubrey. Duh, duh duh!
The 2013-14 season of Modern Family almost killed us. Fortunately, Aubrey is a bright girl and didn’t suffer academically, but the constant juggle of school, work and the extra driving as well as repeatedly asking teachers to send us schoolwork early or last minute were a nightmare.
Then there was the social drama.
Towards the end of the season, Modern Family shot an episode in Australia. While the trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Aubrey ended up attending regular school for only three days out of the last five weeks of production. On one of those days, the “mean girl” from her class told her, “I’m glad you went to Australia. I didn’t miss you at all because I hate you.”
How sweet. Her parents must be so proud. Regardless, even the nice girls had inevitably formed distinct social circles that didn’t really include Aubrey. It was distracting for her and heartbreaking for both of us.
I was jamming a square peg into a round hole, and something had to change. That something was school.
So, I researched and found an independent K-12 school in a local public district that caters to children with professional schedules. Most of its students are working artists and athletes, while others are special learners, who benefit from a home school environment. Aubrey is basically still a public school student, following the district’s curriculum. She uses the same books and studies the same subjects taught in public schools, but instead, she’s homeschooled by studio teachers and myself. There are even field teachers who visit the studio school if necessary.
On days when Aubrey isn’t filming, we have breakfast, clear the dishes and the dining table becomes Aubrey Elementary with me as her teacher. We follow a weekly schedule at our own pace, with the option of working ahead or skipping work on any given day. I just have to make sure Aubrey completes her assignments in time for when we meet with her teacher every week. And why not work ahead on one day so we can go to the beach or Disneyland on another day? Best idea ever.
Pictured above: Aubrey studies with her elementary teacher from the homeschool program. They meet once a week for an hour-long one-on-one, where the teacher makes sure Aubrey understands the material.
We even have daily P.E., which Aubrey used to dread in regular school. Instead of running laps around a field in 90-degree heat, she can now do cartwheels and splits in the back yard, ride her pony or play a dance game on the Wii.
On shooting days, we bring Aubrey’s books to the set, where the Modern Family kids have their own classroom. Her studio teachers are excellent. The child labor laws require her to attend three hours of studio school on workdays, so this is when I get a break to do my own work. As a matter of fact, Aubrey is in studio school right now, as I write this.
So far, homeschooling has been the perfect solution for us, and the square peg family is very happy, once again.
I still hesitate a little to tell people that we homeschool. When people ask me about it, I try not to say the word “homeschool” like I’m saying “turd sandwich.” I’m getting better, I swear. We all do what we feel is best for our children and who am I to judge? Remind me of this post in 10 years when I’m posting pictures of Aubrey as a prom queen with our dog dressed as the king, wearing a little crown. If we’re still homeschooling by then, I’m sure it might seem totally normal.
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Amy Anderson is a Korean American adoptee, comedian and actress. She created and hosted the first Asian American standup showcase “ChopSchtick Comedy” at the Hollywood Improv. She has appeared on Comedy Central, VH1, AZN, and the Game Show Network. Her daughter Aubrey Anderson-Emmons plays the role of Lily on the Emmy-winning show Modern Family.
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