Advice on family not agreeing

[my3andme1]

Hello, I homeschooled my children in 2023, which my family did not fully agree with. I felt pressured and sent them back to school due to constant criticism about how they needed to be in school.
Now that September is quickly approaching, I would really like to withdraw them again. I love having them home, and they don't want to return; they want to be homeschooled again. However, I need advice on taking the leap again with a family that is not on board.
I know they are my children, and therefore it is my decision, but the thought of all the negative criticism from my family is daunting..

A little background:
My youngest son has many hospital appointments and sick days due to two rare chromosome disorders, along with a long list of other issues he suffers from, so his attendance at school is terrible.
He also has incontinence issues, so more often than not, I am called into the school to bring a third or fourth pair of clothes.

My eldest son has adhd and autism he finds school setting too much and he is the main one that cries all the time to come back out of school.

My daughter also speaks about how homeschooling was the best time, as we had lots of adventures, visited museums and art shows, and she was always excited to see what we would be doing each day instead of sitting in a classroom all day with only an hour of sunlight..

Any advice is highly appreciated. Thank you.

You might find the Stark Raving Dad podcasts useful, there are a couple on getting people on board.
Join HEFA (home education for all) on Facebook if you haven't already. Ultimately I would go with the line that you are doing what is best for your children. It really is no one else's business. If someone brings it up state that the matter isn't up for discussion and change the subject.
They think school is the only option, they're wrong. Certainly your youngest will benefit from you being able to fit education around them.

Hi yeah I am still on all the home ed forums, Facebook pages etc. I did say last time I wasn't asking for permission from them, I have been thinking of telling them ok we tried going back to school it's not what the children want to carry on doing therefore I will be withdrawing them again

You need to psychologically separate from your family's opinions, unless you're accepting their help for childcare or financially, then they don't get a say. Home Education can be a wonderful experience. You need to advocate for your and your children's best interests.

Do you have a partner, and if so is your partner in agreement with the idea? Or do the children have another parent who objects to home ed? That's pretty significant. People who don't live with you, and who aren't the children's parents, are rather easier to deal with.

The only solution to this problem is you drawing a hard line with your family members and sticking to it. A backbone is needed, sharpish. You will not be listening to their comments about homeschooling and you will not be discussing or justifying your decision to do so. The end. You're not a child, op, you don't have to tolerate this nonsense.

If it’s better for your children then why are you bowing to your family’s opinion on this?

Yes I definitely do need to grow a backbone and point blank tell them again I am not asking for permission.
No there is no partner and no father to the children he was stripped of parental responsibility or seeing the children at court due to his actions.

Yes I agree, I think you need to say similar to what you have said to us. Then say it’s non negotiable and that is your decision as a family. You stand firm. I agree on the stark raving dad podcast. Who is it in particular- your parents? What are their main concerns? Because it’s obviously not your children’s mental health!