Homeschooling and the "S" Word

Socialization.

Everybody assumes that if you homeschool your kids that they are unsocialized weirdos who cannot function in the "real" world. What a load of bologna!

When I am asked if I am concerned that my children are not receiving enough socialization, I first clench my fists, take a couple of deep cleansing breaths, and then respond as follows: I do not want my kids socializing with the majority of the kids in public school. There. I said it.

Instead, we take the time to choose the circle of influences of our children. We know exactly who they are socializing with at all times.

I have one very social child, although she is just as content to hang out at home with her family. And then I have one who gets very over-stimulated around other kids his age. Both of the kids are introverts, like me, and get their energy from being at home in the quiet. Brynne does, however, enjoy friendship time so we make sure she has as much interaction with her gal friends as she desires. She plays sports so gets to hang out with her friends often. She has a couple of "besties" who come over for one-on-one time and sleepovers.

Eli, however, can only handle friend time in short doses. If he has a friend over, which is not often, he only desires to spend about two hours with him. Then he is ready to get back to his solitude.

Public school would not change these personalities of my children. Well, actually, it might make them feel like they were wrong for being introverts who enjoy being alone, and they would fight their natural tendencies their whole lives not able to figure out why they were miserable and drained the majority of the time.

Brynne had her birthday party this past weekend and invited a gaggle of girls. They had a great time playing volleyball, tag, hide-and-seek, and throwing water balloons.

Poor thing looks desperately unsocialized, doesn't she?

At Eli's birthday party last December he invited his two best friends over to play video games. The party lasted two hours and he was spent and ready for them to go home at the end of the party. He had a great time! But that was all he could handle.

So, if you are wondering, we do not think about nor worry about the socialization of our homeschooled children. They are doing just fine!