To homeschool or not?

You are the only one who can decide what is best for your child. I know a couple of people who homeschool and it is different in each case. The one family, when her kids are around others, they don't socialize with them. They are use to being with mom all the time and when all the kids are together, they tend to just hang with mom. I feel bad when we are all together because her kids seem to be the outcasts. I had another friend who is a teacher and she took off to homeschool her kids. She did it for one year and said, never again. They didn't get the socialization skills that are taught in school and they also weren't able to be involved in the school sports~ which is a big deal for these kids. My kids went to public school because there is no way that I would be able to homeschool even though I do have a teaching degree. I want to play the role of the mom, not the teacher. I teach mom stuff and assist on the school work. I have alot of respect for moms who do homeschool and get their kids to listen to them all day long. Follow your heart on this one. You can always try it for one year and if it doesn't go as you like, then send him back to school.

I see nothing wrong with it. I have actually considered doing it for my son when he starts school. I haven't decided yet. I was going to let him go to elementary then take him into home school. I guess the decision will be made but i have time. Although you will want him to be active in some kind of local activities with other children. Like a playgroup or something like it. He would need some kind of social life.

You may want to think more about homeschooling because your child is learning bad manners. Sheltering your child can tend to be more harmful in the long run. Not in every case, but in a lot. Maybe sit down with your son and ask him what he feels about it. I know he's only 4 1/2 years old, but what he has to say is definitely important, because it affects his life directly. We homeschooled my step-daughter for a short while, last year...(she's now 17), due to the peer pressure and social scene. It became too much for her to where it was detrimental to her mental and physical health. At the start of this school year, she was much better and ready to face it again. However, she is starting to fall back into the same trap. I attribute a lot of her difficulties to the fact that she was sheltered for most of her life from anything negative. She ended up not knowing how to deal with any hardships, various situations, or differences in people. Around the age of 12, her life was turned upside down and since then it has been a long road to getting her mental health back in check. Her father and I have custody of her now and have for the past 3 years, because of some of the issues that were placed on her shoulders and the neglect that she endured. But getting her to face life has been extremely difficult. Obviously, your situation is different, but the outcome could be similar if your child doesn't know how to stand firm in who they are and recognize that life isn't all roses and sometimes people lack respect for themselves and others. Your child can stand among others and be the positive influence in others lives. Good luck to you!

My kids are homeschooled except those with special needs. I think my daughter is better for it. She gets social through other activities we do and she is several grades above average in math and at or above grade in the other things. If you have the at home time, and the resources then this can be done. I did enroll my then 9th grader into on line school so he could get some of the things that I couldn't teach him as well as a diploma. He has since moved and entered a public school system. I wouldn't back that choice for anyone in my area. There has been a sharp drop in his behaviors and his schooling is no better (worse in some cases) then when he was home and schooled on-line.