It seems there are a lot of people now choosing to homeschool their children, and that's GREAT!  One thing though that I have seen, is that some people give up, or some people don't even try, because they say things like, "Well, it wasn't for me" or "I've tried, but I just can't do it."  etc.  There have been times when I felt like I wasn't adequate enough (still do!) and thought maybe Ashley might be better off at a Christian school, but now I see things differently.  I remember a year and a half ago, when we were thinking of homeschooling, because back then, the only 
Christian school was taking in all the "rejects" (the worst of the worst who weren't even accepted in public schools anymore) and the teachers were morally corrupt, and I just couldn't take it anymore, so we decided to attend a S.C.O.P.E. homeschool conference in Sacramento, CA.  I still remember just about everything.  The day was so full of the Spirit of God dealing with me on several things, that there were times I couldn't keep from crying throughout the day....I just stood in awe of God that day and what He had begun in my husband and I.  Hearing the speakers talk about not just "homeschooling", but instead focusing on training up our children to learn God's Word, and secondly education.  The priority wasn't making college entrance, but in teaching the children how to love God, love learning, and love...life!  Since children are so different, you can't possibly give each child what they truly need in a classroom setting.  And, usually they end up learning more than just "school"....things from "Johnny" down the street, who smokes, cusses, and does other things that we can't mention....  Well, homeschooling that day was no longer an option for me.  It became a conviction.  After learning that the responsibility of teaching and training my own children are mine, not the public or even Christian school teachers, and learning that that is the way God ordered it all along, was learning in a family setting, at home, and that the parents were the teachers (because they still are, even if they do go to school!) and that is the way children were raised for centuries, it made me really think.  Again, we have become victims of our own society, and this generation has missed so many things that our forefathers got to experience. 

I have heard people say that the homeschoolers they knew were "weird" or "not sociable".  Hmm....the ones I met were neither one!  They are very sociable, and not weird at all - they may be more Godly than public school kids, and they may be smarter and more polite, but I've rarely seen homeschooled kids that were "weird". 

If you are worried your kids will turn "weird," well - you will be their teacher, so if you are weird then I guess they will be, but if you aren't, then why do you fear?  I don't know why so many people fear the "socialization" thing - if your children interact with other siblings, you as parents, and church families, etc. then what have we to fear?  We aren't isolating them alone on an island somewhere!  If anything, you can mold and train your children to be more polite, and treat others with respect, instead of learning from other kids in school disrespect and dishonoring adults. 

Just some random thoughts this morning....