My oldest daughter, 21 now, resisted homeschooling as a teen when we'd been homeschooling her since 2nd grade. Socializing was her reason. I never intended to keep her from socializing, I just preferred she learn when it was time to learn and socialize when it was time to socialize. I'd realized early on since I felt led by God to home school and was also a bit of a recluse, that I was just going to have to come out of my shell so she'd be able to socialize with other children and it was a great thing for me that I did so. I also became more open to having lots of children over to play and met other parents and that turned out to be a great thing too. That worked for quite awhile, until we moved. There were no children at all after that, as we lived in the woods, there were no homeschool groups in the area at all, even if willing to drive far, and our church was such a blessing to us but mostly elderly who brought the grandchildren, or great grandchildren, so much younger than herself. My other children are closer in age and have always kept one another company in times of friendship drought, and I understood her pain but felt so strongly that putting her back into a school I knew God didn't want her in for socialization when she should be learning where she would receive substandard education learning who knows what just seemed insane. I tried to explain this to her in so many different ways and asked her if we couldn't brainstorm some ways she might interact with others her age instead, until finally just saying no, because she was being unreasonable and stubborn. She wasn't very happy with me at all...in fact I think this was probably the only time in her life that she's ever been angry with me. It broke my heart, I really wanted her to be happy but I know it always turns out better than good when I follow God's will. 2 years after that she entered community college early, at 16, made a few new friends, mostly older, and heard all their high school horror stories (probably when she was griping about having been homeschooled to them 
). She came to me after that and told me about how vain, materialistic, backstabbing and even mean some of the younger, high-school aged students that were also attending were- none of their focus on education at all and after comparing notes with other friends she'd made, came to the conclusion that homeschooling was the very best thing I could have done for her and she thanked me. Again, not a year ago she began to notice the difference in other families and called to thank me again, because we are very close and kind to one another, just very different than most she's encountering while away at college. I'm sure believer's families are very different in general, no matter their educational choices (although I imagine it's much harder to accomplish with so little time and so much outside influence), but homeschooling allowed us the time and heart to build the strong foundation and deep bonds that we have with one another.
We were lower income because I was unable to work, I was late furthering my education (and still haven't wrapped that up) so income still isn't so great, but when I sit back and look at my children...who they are and how they treat me and one another as well as complete strangers, how they tackle learning truth with such joy, and how excited my teen sons are to just do a bible study together or go to the beach to watch the sunrise with their mom and little sister (at 15 and 16)... it was all worth it and I can only imagine how different it might have been otherwise. I wouldn't trade what we've done for anything and my daughter wouldn't either, NOW, though she certainly would have when younger. It's interesting to me that my other children, who have never been anything but homeschooled, have never had a desire to go to public school at all, and I do think this is due to always having had their education separate from socialization. (I don't think those two things go real well together anyhow and never have lol.)
for you all!
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Matthew 6:19-21 ~
Originally Posted by Green Darner
Sometimes when children are young they balk at things unfamiliar to them. It can be hard for them to grasp things for example as a detailed list of pros and cons because they are ideas on paper and not concrete experiences. Children live in the moment and sometimes no amout of explaining will help until they experience them.)
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