Homeschool Fun with Friends

Socialization. It's one of the biggest fears of people who consider homeschooling. It's one of the arguments against homeschooling. It's also one of the best ways for teacher and student/s to learn to overcome fears and explore new ways to have fun with others.

For the first time ever, our 4th of July get-together did not include careless spending on fireworks. My daughter invited friends to our home from her homeschooling group. It turned out to be one of the best 4th of July fun times we've ever had.

One of the moms opted to stay and visit. She brought some tasty treats to share with us, including her homemade crockpot bbq meatballs. Her teen daughter cooked delicious peanut butter brownies (there were none left afterwards). Another teen brought a home-grown watermelon from her brothers batch ( very juicy and naturally sweet). My son and his father-in-law grilled burgers. My daughter-in-law cut up vegetables for the burgers.

The teens had a blast watching videos on their laptops, taking silly photos, and sharing their comedic Internet finds. The laughter was so loud, it sometimes drowned out the sound of our own conversations and movie. The door was kept open. They interacted well together and were respectful to us adults. We were not overly intrusive, giving them a certain amount of space and respect while still maintaining the parental guidance.

Our visiting mom brought a game called Boggle for us to play. Her almost-teen son, she, and myself took a health walk while the teens relaxed after our meal. The teens also drew pictures on my daughter's poster paper that covers the door to her room, which is put there just for that purpose. (She is gaining quite a nice collection of the artwork of her talented friends.) Adults played a game of dominoes and chattered. We interacted with the kids and teens with ease, mindful of each others' presence yet understanding and cooperative.

When my daughter reminisces about her public school versus homeschool decision, this sort of memory is the kind that makes her thankful we opted to homeschool after her 7th grade year of public schooling. Now our fun with friends is more relaxed, comfortable, and welcoming. Were it not for our decision to change our educational status, she would have missed making some of the most wholesome friendships of her life. She's had more fun and felt more accepted than ever before. The kids are not all the same ages, stuck in cliques, and worried about being the same. In fact, they invite differences in people and make the most of those differences to bring out the best in each person.

We have learned to create opportunities we did not have had the courage to embrace until we began to homeschool. While it is not the best choice for everyone, it has certainly been a blessing for us. Socialization has become a fun and welcome curiosity rather than a dreadful anxiety.