HomeschoolMomwithQs

I said we are homeschooling and until they ask for those things and show they really want them, then no.

Thank you all for your responses. But I feel there are a lot of inaccurate, pretty unfair assumptions going on here. 1) My daughter didn't start being homeschooled until 12, meaning she went to a public elementary school from K-5 then a private middle school for one year. She's not socially awkward and knows a lot about school social norms. Likewise with my son, who spent a year in kindergarten at that same private school. 2) I just don't feel they will be the odd ones out. They show no signs of that in the first place. Remember, we're non-religious homeschoolers who don't overly restrict (with necessary exceptions) internet, phone, movie usage, etc. They're up to date with pop culture, modern humor, etc. 3) It is a major stereotype that all "sheltered" kids will go buck wild when in college and out on their own. This may be unconventional to some, but in order to not paint alcohol as such an extreme, tempting thing for our kids, we very occasionally allow our daughter to have some under our supervision. She hates the taste of it and shows no signs of going "crazy" over it when on her own one day. 4) Moreover, this is precisely the motivation behind my "method." Dealing with this stuff in childhood––when you are NOT prepared for it, where it burdens and handicaps your undeveloped mind––is not beneficial. But having an upbringing where you can connect to yourself, ground yourself in your dreams/convictions/who you are produces an adult who can strongly handle the toxicity of the world. Not a baggaged person already weighed down by toxicity they would have been better without in childhood/adolescence.

I need to explain: they're not inside the house literally all day. They converse with cashiers, tutors, other family members. Sometimes my husband and I take them to our social outings––we've been recently meeting up with two other couples from our gym for dinner and movies on the weekends––and they get along with them fine. My reasoning is that they'll get ready for the world by having the mental/emotional freedom to invest in themselves, have their parents' guidance (and we are very open about sexual matters and whatnot) and have their full spirits intact when they face the world at 20 or so.

Please read the full post. We began homeschooling our kids, “Jack” and “Jill”, when they were 6 and 12, respectively. Jack and Jill are now 9 and 15. First off: we are NOT so-called stereotypical homeschoolers. We are secular and encourage a robust education for our children. We are lucky to also have very self-motivated children and a daughter who has taken the lead to research needed course materials and plan out her education structure as well. We began homeschooling for one main reason: to avoid toxic socialization from the standard school system. Bullying, drug/sex peer pressure, and the general “robotification” that happens to students and flattens out their unique personalities into drones. We have five older kids from my husband’s first marriage. I saw what happened when they hit middle/high school-aged years: they changed for the worst. Moodier, less themselves, and suddenly the bad advice of their equally-lost friends was on a pedestal above the parents who loved them most. I'll admit it: I want my daughter to avoid the damaging encounters I went through with boys that age. I don’t want them to be encouraged into sex while still teenagers. Before he started school, my son experienced light bullying in swim classes and whatnot—I don’t want similar experiences to crush out his light. And so, without telling them, my husband and I have lightly decided to not “socialize” our kids, per say. It doesn’t matter if they are public-schooled or homeschooled kids—bad influence can come from either one. And we figure, if they really want to meet other kids or join a club, they will ask. Neither of them have yet. They have full, private access to the internet. We take them to movies of all ratings, have many outings around town. They can hold their own in conversations. They seem to be doing well. My vision is that they experience a childhood where they can grow up in a flexible schooling environment that meets their needs, individual interests, and without the toxic influence that burdens so many of our childhoods. And when they’re older, say in their 20s, they can meet and bond with people with a stronger state of mind than most and less baggage in their past. Per my browsings on the internet, I know this method is not popular. But, my question is: is it wrong? TL;DR We are homeschooling our kids without peer socialization so they can avoid negative influences. Is it a smart idea?