Eclectic Parent

The socialization issue is the thorn in the side of every homeschooler. Either you worry about it yourself or others worry about it for you. Usually it is the latter. Everyone worries about your children’s socialization from family to totally strangers. “You’re homeschooled?,” asks the cashier at the grocery store. Then looking at you adds, “I knew someone who was homeschooled; they were totally weird.” My husband’s favorite counter point is the kid’s in Columbine; they went to school and had friends.

I will willingly, happily admit some homeschoolers are weird, but the same can be said for kids in school. In fact, homeschoolers probably are more weird that schooled children. But only in the way that they are free to be themselves, explore new ideas and creatively live their lives. They are not squashed into little molds from a young age. They are not surrounded with school “friends” telling them what to wear, which music to listen to and the latest toy they just have to have.

Then there is the idea that homeschooled children stay in their house all day. “Oh, I could never homeschool them,” says the random mother on the park bench next to you. “They love to have friends and do stuff.” Of course. Because our children stay quietly in their rooms, or perhaps hide in closets, for days on end and then we occasionally drag them outside to get the minimum required sun exposure for vitamin D absorption. I’m not sure where society gets the idea that homeschoolers are basement-hiding wierdos that never interact with anyone outside of their own family, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Which brings me to this blog post. I’m days behind. Why? Been to busy to post. Gone all day . . . with the children, out in the world and everything, seeing people and doing things. Tuesday we went to the park with friends. Wednesday we had swimming in the morning, raced to the symphony and then had dog training in the evening. Thursday both the boys had three hours of art with other homeschooled children and then we went to the children’s museum with them afterward. That evening D had gymnastics practice with 15 or so other 6, 7, and 8 yo boys. Friday was D’s day at homeschool enrichment, Casa Vida, immediately followed by his birthday party. Saturday was a practice meet for D’s gymnastics team to get ready before the competition season begins. And Sunday was a birthday party for a girl in his class at Casa Vida where he ran around all afternoon with friends. Today is Monday. We’re home. Our unfortunate homeschooled children are trapped back home until they are sprung free again (tomorrow). It’s noon and so far we’ve videotaped a play the kids put on, we are making homemade thank you cards for D’s birthday party and the kids are waiting to do ghost feet and a Halloween wreath. Oh . . . and we have to grocery shop . . . and plan the next birthday party . . . book a hotel room in San Diego for the homeschool trip to Legoland . . . and . . . and . . . and . . .

I’ll pencil in “worry about socialization” on my calendar, but I don’t know if I’ll get to it. Unschooling Voices“>