What about Socialization?

Roy:

When we first started homeschooling 5 years ago it was simply out of practical necessity.  Hollie was spending over 20 hours per week just driving the kids to various private schools, kindergartens, and preschools (we had moved way out in the country and there was no convenient bus service for all of them).  I told her, “Just stay at home and I bet you could teach them in half the time you’re spending being their chauffer!”  And thus began our homeschooling journey.

At the time one of our biggest concerns was, “are they going to be able to develop adequate social skills outside of public education?”  One strike against them is that they have my genes, and no one has ever accused me of excelling at social graces! (and I even had the benefit of going to public school J).  I think our experience on the road has given us the answer.

At nearly every one of our stops our children have come into contact with one group of kids or another.  Sometimes it has been longtime friends they haven’t seen in years.  Sometimes it is children of our friends that they have just met.  Sometimes, it is just children they encounter on the playground of a park for less than an hour.  Every single time, without exception, there has been some significant bond that has blossomed almost immediately.  They end up having a WONDERFUL time playing together, regardless of any age difference or cultural difference or geographic separation: laughing and running and exploring and sharing together. When it comes time to say goodbye there are often tears on both sides and promises to keep in touch through various electronic devices (the norm I guess in this day and age).

We started out worrying that homeschooling was going to impede our kids socially.  We’ve been pleasantly surprised to find just the opposite to be true.

Hollie:  We met my friend Janice from college with all of her kids at Plymouth Plantation.  It was great for our kids to meet and play.  She too has chosen to homeschool for various reasons.  Again, it would be great to live next to them and share our lives and kids.