~Amanda~ Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I can't even explain it exactly. I pick up these girls from the school and provide transportation from school to gymnastics; just helping out their mom. I can't help but feel on a daily basis that I'm failing in some way by not letting my kids go to PS. we've been there, done that, didn't work for us. But I'm still feeling like fail. My kids don't have any interaction with kids their age. Not regular, anyway. They don't have any friends. but they didn't have any when they were going to school, anyway. We dealt with bullying issues, and girl drama issues, and it was just better all around to not go to school. I remember all this. but ... still feel like I'm not making the right decision. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I get that same feeling about once a month. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NASDAQ Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Okay, so there are a couple of things here. Is it that your children are introverted, and they're just not that interested in having a bunch of non-family friends? Or do they struggle socially and would like to have friends but other kids are put off, like an Aspergers-type situation? It sounds like it's not just that they've never had the opportunity for social interaction, because they didn't make friends easily at public school. I have one social butterfly and one happy introvert. Both, FTR, are way better socialised than I ever was. But the first enjoys counting out her friends, preparing several hours in advance for the most minor social occasion, and what have you. The second thinks that the perfect day is one where he doesn't need to put on pants. He has one good friend and a few others, but it's not a driving engine in his life. As I had to tell my husband, home schooled kids _are_ more likely to be introverted and even a bit odd, because _those are the types of people who are most likely to choose to home school._ Not everyone by a long shot, but come on -- this is still a somewhat eccentric thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Amanda~ Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 my daughter is more introverted; but she has moments where she wished she had a friend to call up. She's lost touch with most of her friends because, well, when she gets "done" with them, she leaves them hanging in a way. She goes off to do her own thing; drawing or reading or whatever, and her friend is stuck with her little siblings. My son I think is a bit more extroverted, but he doesn't seem to do well with other boys his age for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Why don't they have any friends? Have you joined a homeschool group? Or perhaps you r library had some activities? I had to start my own homeschool group so my children could meet kids and while it has taken time, they now have friends and an active social life. Hugs:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Amanda~ Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 there aren't any secular homeschooling groups around here; all that are here are christian based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 there aren't any secular homeschooling groups around here; all that are here are christian based. That was the same thing here, so i started my own! We now have 50 families! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Rose Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 We are in a HS group, but I just started my own sub-group for our specific area so my kids could make friends a) in a smaller group setting and b) that live close to us. We got a pretty good response and have now scheduled weekly park dates. So now we have our big group field trips and our smaller group play dates. My kids really look forward to these events. I just used FB to set it up. Easy! Kids and moms need friends! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Fairy Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 And I'd feel like a failure if I had to send my kids to ps. We moms just can't win! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphus Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Woah...I so needed to see this right now! My boys are upstairs having a "brother sleepover". They sleep in older ds room, in his big bed. Which sounds darling, right? Except that it just heightens my awareness that they haven't got anyone else to have a sleepover with. And yeah, I actually cried a few minutes ago, because I feel like a big, fat FAIL. No public school, we've moved 9 times in my 14 year olds life...fail. :grouphug: No advice, but hugs for us both. My kids seem relatively happy, but I remember my friends from that time, and they were so special...I want them to have that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWOB Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 You are NOT failing your kids. Say this at least 1,000 times. You are a good mom trying her very best. We all have those moments where we feel as though we are somehow depriving our children. Then we remember our own public school crazy times and get over it. Things I love about my homeschooled kids: - they can relate to/converse with any age group, from babies to seniors. Think about it. How many of your friends/acquaintances have birthdays within 1 year of yours? - they have the freedom to grow into the people they were meant to be, not the people their equally-aged peers tell them they need to be. - they have the freedom to explore their own interests. - they lack drama in their schooling. Well, I do have a rather dramatic 5yo, but everyone has to like her because she is their sister. :tongue_smilie: Again, I think we all feel the same way you do from time to time. But for our family, the socialization one gets from homeschooling is so much more realistic and applicable to the real world. My dh works with guys from 5 years younger to 25 years older than he is. Most people are in the same boat. My dd12's best friend range from age 9-14. Same with ds9. Did I mention the lack of drama? You will be fine. Your kids will be fine. It will be ok. And it is completely valid for you to have doubts, but your little people will be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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