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That Dreaded "S" Word
It seems that the question most often asked of homeschooling parents is
"What about socialization??
We have all felt the stifling effect this inevitible query has on our conversations....we know it is coming....*we* know how *we* feel about the "socialization" opportunities available to kids within the public school system, but it is so difficult to counter the well meaning, but often not well thought-out question from friends or family when we know they are genuinely concerned, but not necessarily seeing the homeschool advantage in this ... if they could only step back and see this from the other side.
How positive is the socialization kids receive in the public school system today? It is not a mirror of "real life" as many seem to think. How many people work only with people of their own age? How many parents want their children to get more input on dangerous subjects from their equally ignorant (or, worse, more experienced) peers than from the parents themselves? How many parents really want their children to be essentially unsupervised through much of their formative years? How often do you hear a parent say, "Oh, how wonderful, the latest fashions are so affordable!" If your child happens to have a learning disorder, the social ramifications can be staggering. Then, on an even more serious side, how many parents really feel that their children are safe in the schools today? What message does it send our kids when they have to go through metal detectors or pack searches on their way into a building that is supposed to be the center of their learning?
Certainly, in some areas, children are encouraged to think for themselves, but in far too many schools, it is fit the current chosen stereotype or else...with the "else" being anything from simple rejection to out and out violent treatment.
What would it be like if parents took more of the responsibility for the rearing of their own children?
What if they were actually around for most of their child's questions and experiences during these especially important young years?
What if they took it upon themselves to see to it that their children got to follow their dreams? ...
A friend, Mary, from one of the discussion boards had a great moment - one of those you really wish you'd had a tape recording or video of:
"My 12 yos joined a new soccer team. Nobody knew us. Nobody knew we have always homeschooled. After 2 practices, another mom came to me and poured out compliments about my son. 'He just mixed in so nicely with the team, like he's been with us for years! He is very friendly, and so nice.'I would have just had to offer the woman the option of calling me if she wanted to know more about homeschooling, LOL.
"Five minutes later this woman's dd, age 14, told her mother that she doesn't want to go to her new high school. (Too many loud, wild kids, dd said) Her mother turned to her dd, and said, 'Well, what do you want to do? Homeschool, and become a social misfit?'
"Can you picture the smirk on my face? I did not tell her that we homeschool. She'll find out eventually, I guess."
Many times we meet people who just don't seem to understand how we can "do this" to our children, but if the tables were turned....
I found this wonderfully plausible rendition of a....
"Conversation From the Future"
....on one of the Bulletin Boards.
I do not know who the author is, but they hit it right on the nailhead:
