It’s another Heart of the Matter Meme… today addressing the issue of socialization.

Yay! Despite the fact we’re relatively new to homeschooling, I do love this topic… specifically, defending it. This is the popular contention, the last ditch argument, the last leg anyone- still incredibly limited in their thinking- feels they have to stand on, in expressing their discomfort/misunderstanding in the concept of homeschooling.

In all honesty, it is the last thing we are concerned about in this journey through curriculum and lesson planning decisions, procrastination, frustration, patience- or lack thereof, time management and just sheer busy-ness and sometimes, in the spirit of “all honesty”, truth be told, lazy-ness (mine and theirs). The adequacy of my children’s socialization just doesn’t make the short list. The issue of socialization, unlike the many other aspects of our lives, homeschool or otherwise, is truly a non-concern.
And here’s why: we have neighbor kids they play with- a lot, swim team, ski team, soccer, karate… and the neighbor kids they play with- alot. We are also connecting with other homeschool families and will likely be arranging collective field trips and other outings.

As with other homeschoolers, my kids accompany me on various daily errands that require social skills and their development- just the mere act of participating out and about in life…

Oh my… I do believe I sound a little defensive. It’s just really the least of our challenges as we try to be effective homeschoolers.

As I’ve previously posted, we are feeling as though we are finding the right path for us.

Friday, we met with our homeschool/district liason and she offered a lot of encouragement, reminding us that we are free to pick and choose programs, including the Province’s own, and approach this whole process as works best for us.

As long as we are registered with our local school district we just have to be able to periodically show, and/or tell, her what we’re doing.  Beasley and Zip will just demonstrate that skills are developing and their progress is recorded.  And they advance.

I was so pleased when she asked if he was enjoying learning at home.  His response was an enthusiastic, resounding, “yeah!”

She’s also hooking us up with another homeschool family, recently abandoned by their previous group (families moved, kids transitioned to conventional school).  This family has really enjoyed a network as well as others to enjoy fieldtrips and outings with.  So, it could be fun…  it sounds like she’s pretty committed to the BC Curriculum- not so much relaxed… like us.