This weeks assignment is in two parts. The first part is to list any damage done to us emotionally by other homeschooling families that caused us to question our idea of homeschooling.
My reply to the first part is that I honestly cannot think of a single homeschool family that has ever caused this problem. All the ones that I've been blessed enough to meet have been nothing short of wonderful. I will say that at some of the gathering we've attended, I would feel a little left out when the veterans would hang together and chit-chat. Mostly that is because I'm actually a very shy person and am always afraid to appear rude by butting in. Other than that though, we've not really been discouraged by anyone. In fact, one of the reasons I'd never want to send my children back to public school is the fact that I'd miss out on these parents that truly enjoy their children. So many of the parents of the other students my children used to go to school with couldn't care less about their children's education. I know that may be a harsh assessment, because there were a few other mom's that volunteered to read to the classes, that was there for the school parties, helped out the PTA, and so on, but the vast majority was just happy when summertime was over so they didn't have to deal with their kids for a while (direct quote from more than one person). Fall was always my worst time of year, I hated sending my kids away for the best part of the days. I'm so glad I met so many other mom's that feel the same way I do!
Part two of this assignment is to see where we may be a negetive influence to other homeschooling families and list how we can improve that area.
My reply to this part is that I really don't think I am a negetive influence to others that are homeschooling. In fact, I try to encourage other non-homeschooling families to give homeschooling a try! One woman at our meetings freely loans out all sorts of curriculum and various other books that she isn't currently using, and I do want to do more of that too. So while I don't think I am a bad influence, I do feel I can be a better one. I also need to not judge ALL non-homeschooling families that I know by the ones that my children used to attend school with. I mean after all, I was at one time a non-homeschooling family too! | 
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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment
I think of one family in particular. I was invited over to their house for Sunday lunch and was chatting with their 8th grader. She was having health class and learning "sex ed." I asked a LOT of questions to her. The mom later told me she was shocked because she didn't even know that and it kind of opened her eyes that she needed to be a little more attentive.