Comments on: Your Friends and Homeschooling

By: Barbara Frank

Barbara Frank — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:57:15 +0000

Glad you liked the post, Susan

You seem like a very well-rounded person, Sebastian; maybe it’s because of the flexibility you’ve developed living the military lifestyle?

TFHM, you have a good attitude about this. Being prepared for the possibility sounds like a good defense!

Thanks for stopping by, everyone!

By: The Frugal Homeschooling Mom

The Frugal Homeschooling Mom — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:19:43 +0000

It’s nice that you point this issue out. I haven’t officially started to homeschool my daughter yet, because she’s only 3, but I have begun teaching her preschool. Most of my friends and family are very supportive of the decision we’ve made to homeschool her once she begins Kindergarten, but a few have looked at us funny, especially family. No one in our family has ever even heard of homeschooling, so we’re educating them about our decision, and answering lots of questions. But it’s ok. We don’t care what other people think. This is what’s best for our family, and we’re happy with our decision. I’m making new homeschooling friends every day. If people judge me harshly without understanding, then they’re not my true friends anyway.

By: Sebastian (a lady)

Sebastian (a lady) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:36:09 +0000

I’m finding that this phase of my life is one with many people I’m friendly with but fewer with whom I am close friends. On top of homeschooling, I’m also military, so even people I get very close to tend to be relationships that become long distance ones after a year or two because one or the other person has to move.

At our last duty station I had a couple very close friends. I have no idea if that will happen here or if I will just have many people that I’m cordial with. I think that I’m comfortable with either situation.

By: Thought-Provoking Posts « The Expanding Life

Thought-Provoking Posts « The Expanding Life — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:02:36 +0000

[...] Has homeschooling put distance between you and the friends you used to hang out with? [...]

By: Susan Gaissert

Susan Gaissert — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:06:41 +0000

Thank you, Barbara, for writing about an issue that has affected us all. I haven’t really lost friends over homeschooling; my friends’ children are all older than mine, so they were always in different phases of life, and any talk about our kids was always about different things anyway — so my unschooling was just another “difference.” But since the homeschooling way of life is so foreign to “schoolers” in some ways, as you point out, the issue is always lurking somewhere behind every conversation, unspoken.

Again, thanks for the post.

By: Barbara Frank

Barbara Frank — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:49:54 +0000

Aw, Tori, thanks so much for your kind words! I’m glad you liked the post, and the book! The friend thing is hard, but I have to tell you that homeschooling friends are the best, they last and last! BTW, I enjoy your blog, too…..brings back memories of the little ones that used to live in my house

By: Tori

Tori — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:11:56 +0000

I feel as if you wrote this TO me… did I tell you about the friend who’s basically ditched me because she has too much going on in her life to deal with me and her misunderstanding what I’ve tried to convey? It seems like I must’ve. Probably didn’t. But your post on the topic was wonderful! Thank you.

Also, I finally was able (used some of my allowance) to buy The Imperfect Homeschooler. LOVE it. I especially love that it’s so easy to read… part of that is the short-ish chapters. So the book is easy to pick up and put down… both of which are SO constant in my house of 5.5 yr, 2.5 yr, and 8 month old girls! ^_^ I’m about 1/3 through and working on it a little at a time (because I have to read the library books first… the ones I’m reading to read ahead of my daughter!). Anyway. I’m enjoying it. Thank you for your blog and your site and your experience… and friendship? I ALWAYS appreciate your comments on my blog!! ^_^

YOU are a GEM!

By: Barbara Frank

Barbara Frank — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:34:49 +0000

Iva, I think it was inevitable given the differences in how we looked at raising/educating our children.

Susan, good point! When I do get a chance to talk to one of my longtime homeschool mom friends, we can go two or three hours on the phone because we miss each other so much

Michelle, that’s good to hear. Back when we started homeschooling, it was definitely not common.

Annie Kate, sorry to hear that. Hope you’re feeling better these days.
My grandma used to say if you could count five true friends over your lifetime, you’re really lucky. She had two friends she met in kindergarten and they stayed close until they died in their 80s/90s.

Kika, sorry to hear about your friend’s decision. Hopefully, you’ll remain friends, PLUS you’ll gain new ones. So many wonderful people homeschool their kids.

Janet, you’re right, it’s God and family first. But friends are like the icing on the cake, aren’t they?

CW, they’re fortunate to have you around to help them! The early years of parenthood can be challenging.

Thanks, everyone, for weighing in!

By: Crimson Wife

Crimson Wife — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:58:35 +0000

I went through the friendship shift not because of homeschooling but rather because I got married and had kids on the youngish side. Now that my high school and college friends are finally settling down, I’ve found that all of a sudden I’m in demand as the “veteran” mom with all the answers. Funny how that works!

By: Janet

Janet — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:15:22 +0000

Hmmmmm….what an interesting post. Let’s see….my best friend does not homeschool but I personally think she would excel at it. She is fully supportive, however. I do find that when I am teaching we have a harder time keeping in touch because her mornings are usually free and I am teaching and won’t go near my phone. Many of my other friends homeschool. In fact, most of them. My other friend is my mom and, although she was a public school teacher and completely hated the idea of us homeschooling, is now fully on board and loves to talk with me about it. So there you have it, a mixture of both worlds. I agree with Annie Kate, friendships sort of wax and wane. I have a few that have stayed solid over the years, and some that have grown apart. As long as I have my Lord, my husband and my family, I’m a happy camper.