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Mar. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by michellyn

Wow, what a weird question! I haven't gotten it yet, but I agree that avoiding the prom would be yet another good reason to homeschool. I was blessed enough to be home educated myself, and I never felt cheated out of a prom.

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Mar. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SmallWorld

On the other side of things, there are lots of homeschooling groups that sponsor formals (AKA, proms). Our group is having one on April. I have been tremendously impressed at the amount of time and planning that goes into this from the parents who are guiding the process and the dozen teens who are doing the planning. The girls have to sign a paper saying that they understand the dress code and then their dresses are approved by an adult leader. The music list has to be pre-approved. The formal is not just for high schoolers, but parents are invited and encouraged to come, as well. Hardly anyone has a date. For months ahead of time, the kids can take ballroom and/or line-dancing lessons as a group. Afterwards, the teens and parents go out to eat at iHop.

So there are alternatives. I happened to have wonderful memories of my own high school formals, and I'm glad that I belong to a group that sponsors such an event, in a modified, Christian environment. If my kids wish to go to a formal, there will be one in place. Perhaps another response to people who ask that question might be, "I wouldn't choose to have a my child attend a prom, but there are lots of support groups that do offer like-events."

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Mar. 21, 2008 - Prom Question...

Posted by Buckeyeblog

I don't remember getting that question until the girls started getting into Jr and Sr high ages. And, I agree, it's AMAZING the importance people put on very un-important issues. Just another "concern" those who go to (went to) public school put on what homeschoolers are "missing" that DOESN'T include acadmics!

Well, I'm here to tell you that they CAN and DO survive never going to a prom...or a homecoming dance...or a sweetheart dance...or a Sadie Hawkins dance...or anything else that the school "system" devises to get hormonal teens all together in a dark room. Tia, your descriptions of the restrooms and such were hysterical! You're exacty right! :-)

We follow what we refer to as a "modified courtship" model. Right off the bat, this requires that they do not even think about "dating," or anything similar until they are old enough - and mature enough - to consider marriage. And WHEN that time comes, the young man must understand that this requires LOTS of group activities and time with family...ours and his. Very little alone time, which...if things progress to a potentially serious nature...will happen, just NOT right away.

Our oldest daughter, Jasper, has JUST started this "modified courtship" w/a young man from our church...and she is 20. Of course, there have been little crushes here and there, as any teen will have, but never anything that had potential.

When this first became "official," we had the young man out to our house and we sat down and explained exactly where our family was coming from. I'm sure, being a young man who was raised in a public school setting and who has had girlfriends in the past, that he probably thought some of this was for the birds, but...as I told Jasper...THAT is part of learning how earnest and how sincere any young man is about her, too...If he is willing or is he bulks at any limitations. We explained to him that we are required, by God, to be her guardians until she is married; she may be 20 years old and looked upon as an adult by "the world" but she is OUR daughter and we have raised her to be virtuous until marriage and the rules we have set up, and the way we have raised her is a part of that. "And IF you turn out to be 'the one,' you will appreciate that!"

We try not to get too personal or vivid in our conversation on this topic, but we are still frank concerning what we expect of both of them.

They are both very active w/our young adult group - which is how they met - and they see each other there often, and at church. They also go to a friend's home for a weekly Friday movie night (w/parents at home) w/a group of life-long homeschool friends. So, far they have only been "alone" when they have gone out to eat after church together instead of w/our family and the group we usually lunch w/on Sundays.

We're praying and working it out as we go.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

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Mar. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by humpty

Oh, I got that question. I usually said I'd deal with it if it ever came up. I had a steady boyfriend my Junior and Senior years and did not even go to my prom so prom was not on my priority list.

The homeschool support group that we associated with did not do dances, although they had a very nice formal banquet for the Seniors.

I had only boys and each of them went to at least 3 proms with girls from different public schools that went to our church. It was not a big deal. They were not boyfriend/girlfriend kind of dates. They just had fun dressing up and doing something fun. No big deal.

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