Well, let's just say socialization is not an issue!!

One of the first questions I am usually asked as soon as someone finds out that we homeschool is this: "What about her socialization?" Depending on what day it is this question can irritate me, sometimes just make me angry, and other days like the last few days, I laugh! I have gotten so I don't really answer the question anymore. I usually just say, "Have you met Leesha?" Spend a few minutes talking with her and see if you think there is a socialization issue. Yes, she has a lisp because she has two very loose teeth at the moment so don't hold that against her and if you can't understand her just ask her to slow down and repeat what she said because she gets so excited telling you about all that she is doing that she speaks too fast sometimes. Yes, she is my daughter and I think she is great but honestly, socialization is not an issue.

This child is in a coop with 17 other children every Monday for 2 hours. She gets in trouble with the best of them. She also takes care of the younger children even though she is not related to them at all. She can carry on conversations with adults, teenagers, older children, children her own age, and loves to spend time with the little ones and even loves to hold the babies for a few minutes. She is quick to tell you when those babies have grown too heavy for her! She kept an older gentlemen that she had just met at Wal-mart the other day occupied with her tales of making galaxies out of sugar cookies and gymnastics. I was loading groceries in the cart and paying for groceries and she was in my line of sight at all times on the bench with the older gentlemen. When I was finished, she jumped up, stuck out her hand and said, "It was very nice talking with you. My mom is done now and we need to go finish my math." It cracked me up. The older gentlemen looked at me and said, " I take it you homeschool and I said "yes, we sure do." He then went on to complement Leesha and say how well behaved he thought she was and how incredibly smart she was." I said Thank you but in the back of my mind I was thinking. ummm..yeah....she is great but don't ask her to clean her room or do her chores. hee hee....

Anyway, back to socialization. This child also has gymnastics on Friday. Yes, all the children in the class are homeschooled. But she loves it. She is literally sad when it is time to go. She enjoys it so much. This is also the child that had 3 different parties to attend this week. LOL! Yeah, she is soooo unsocialized! I have come to realize that the socialization question comes out because the person asking the question has no idea about homeschooling. They just don't understand and they don't get it. Yes, this question has even come from our church family. You know, maybe 25 years ago socialization was an issue. But that was before homeschooling became more well known. Now there are even homeschooling sports team that compete against other schools and all kinds of things. So from now on, instead of letting this question irritate me, I will just take the opportunity to educate that person on homeschooling.

Here's something to think about though. Why should I have to defend my choice as a parent to homeschool? I don't ask you why you chose to send your children to public school or why you chose to send your child to private school? Why do homeschoolers have to defend their right as parents to parent their child in the way that they feel God is leading them?

Honestly, I am concerned about socialization. I want to be able to choose the children and the adults that my child socializes with! I want to keep my child innocent for a little while longer. I don't want to have to teach her about sex at 6 years old because she learned something on a school bus. I also don't want to have to teach her why someone would come into a school and shoot children. She will learn about that life way too soon anyway. And believe me, she has overheard stories on the news and there are always tons of questions so she is not totally sheltered but yes, I choose to shelter her a little while longer. Our children grow up way too fast as it is. Let's keep our little ones little for a while longer. All too soon, you blink and they have turned 6 years old. Yeah, there will be a birthday post coming in about ten days. Can you believe she is turning SIX?????