| Many home-schoolers start off with great | | | | requires my child to be in a public school in order |
| enthusiasm and energy when their children are | | | | to pursue. There are too many outside groups |
| young but notice that it fades as their children | | | | and organizations that are happy to include |
| grow. home-schooling a 4 or 5-year old is much | | | | home-schoolers because the reputation for |
| different than home-schooling a 14 or 16-year old. | | | | integrity and commitment precedes any |
| That is not to say that one is easier, but certainly | | | | home-schooler who wishes to join in on those |
| they are different, and as a result, many | | | | groups. |
| home-schoolers begin to question themselves | | | | Or, had any of my children had a particular set of |
| along the way. Sometime near the middle school | | | | social skills that needed an outlet, I suppose we |
| years, or the transition into high school, parents | | | | might have considered a change, but my children |
| will begin to ask themselves, "How much longer | | | | have stated in no uncertain terms that the |
| should I do this?" | | | | expressions of their social lives have not suffered |
| This is a valid question, and one that my husband | | | | as a result of home-schooling when you consider |
| and I ask ourselves every year. For nearly 20 | | | | their overall abilities for interaction. In fact, socially, |
| years, we have stopped at the end of every | | | | my children have learned to work together, adapt |
| academic year and tried to assess the question | | | | to unexpected interruptions, get their work done |
| of effectiveness and reward of home-schooling | | | | and even excel in doing so, help others in their |
| for our children. But we don't stop there. We also | | | | midst, respond to the needs of those who are |
| ask our children and allow them to have an | | | | both older and younger in their environments, and |
| involvement in the conversation. Every year, as a | | | | to laugh, interact, communicate, and learn across |
| family, we have opted to continue in our course | | | | age barriers. I am not sure what more I could ask |
| and as a result, we have been blessed by a | | | | for socially. |
| cooperative decision to make home-schooling | | | | So while I cannot answer the question for you |
| work for us. We frequently adapt or fine tune, or | | | | specifically, I can challenge you to address the |
| make adjustments for new situations, but we | | | | root of the question. How long you should |
| press on towards our goal. | | | | home-school your children is more of a factor of |
| Had any of our children had particularly exclusive | | | | your goals and vision for your children, than it is |
| hobbies or skills that might have warranted | | | | of their ages or years in school. If you are |
| making a change, such as a baseball player who | | | | financially able to do so, or have others who can |
| was a contender for scholarships, I suppose we | | | | help you take on the very demanding, but richly |
| might have been more likely to consider a change. | | | | rewarding task of home-schooling, then you |
| But even those skills can be successfully and | | | | should consider home-schooling through the needs |
| independently promoted through home-schooling, | | | | and desired outcomes, as well as through the |
| so I have yet to encounter a gift or talent that | | | | years. |