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.

I will say, I have felt very discouraged by a family who's children are over- achievers and they brag too much about it. When I first began HS, we had a friend who was very strict with her school and her child's schedule, and often when we talked she would brag about her child’s grades, her achievements, goals and etc.... it was non-stop. She would also make indirect smart comments about my DD and her school needs. This caused a lot of presser with my DD's relationship some days.  I was new at this, so I really wasn't very assertive at the beginning of this friendship. What I felt most of the time was that I was very inadequate to HS. We finally pulled away from it, not because we did not like them, only for the fact we felt this was not a very encouraging, healthy relationship.
Please don't take me wrong, I absolutely have nothing against over-achievers. I have a problem with bragging and making people feel less then they are. We never know where people are and what they have been through in their lives. I believe friends are to encourage and build each other, where we are, not just brag and brag about ourselves.

On the contrary to this, I also had some very sweet friends through the years.  Friends who were so encouraging and loving towards my DD and I. I treasure some of these friends, they are the ones whom God used in my HS journey to gives us a solid foundation to where we are now.

Part two of this assignment is to see where we may be a negative influence to other homeschooling families and list how we can improve that area. 

I don't believe I've ever discouraged anyone concerning HS. I pray that God will let me know if I have.  On the contrary, I find reasons to encourage families who are thinking of putting their children back in PS to keep them home. I often think where we have been and the trials we have had along the way. I pray the Lord will guide me to be sensitive to needs of others in this area.