What About My Kids' Social Life? Part 1
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Question
Do you feel that your kids have enough social time with other kids and adults to understand interactions outside of family rules? (My only homeschooled friend had a very hard time talking to other adults besides her mom bc her mom was soft spoken so every one else scared her. Social interactions like these confused her - not just with peers).
Though this is a really common question, I usually hear it in the form of "What! You were homeschooled?!?! But you're so normal!"
A Homeschool Fail
If a homeschooler is at home all day long and never has enough interaction to be able to converse with others (barring major mental issues), I'd say that's an absolute homeschool fail! It's not going to happen to normal kids whose parents want them to interact with the world. It won't happen to your kids.
Available Resources
Homeschoolers have choirs, orchestras, and even athletic leagues of their own. Moms of homeschoolers are really supported when the have a co-op that they participate in. In Cheyenne, currently we have park days, service groups, bowling, and field trips to Denver already set up. The good news is that homeschooling is pretty popular nowadays so there are a lot of families doing it! At our local library, they even have a dedicated librarian to help homeschoolers get the resources they need to have a good experience.
What About When I was Little?
Even though homeschooling wasn't as popular when I was little, I attended a homeschool choir, art class, roller-skating meet-ups, and even day-time symphonies with other homeschoolers.
Museums
Trips to the Denver Zoo and Museum of Nature and Science and the Acquarium were highlights. We also visited the Cheyenne Botanical Gardens, local Children's Museum, and the State Museum.
Homeschool groups
Another group I attended met at each other's homes to play capture the flag, go sledding, make candles, visit the elderly, play clue, remodel a friends' investment property, and listen to local government representatives speak.
Business trips
My dad took us on business trips with him. For instance, I stayed overnight with a nice couple in a cabin in Jackson Hole, WY where we played Chinese Checkers and then I accompanied my dad to his business meetings and inspections. He taught me about mortgages and whether I would choose a fixed interest rate or a balloon payment etc.
Your kids
Oh, and my mom is one who LOVES being home. She was also sick with Multiple Sclerosis. Your kids will probably be involved in even more activities. They will probably be like me; when I could go play at a park on the first beautiful spring morning and feel sun on my face, I was the luckiest kid in the world!
