What is your QUICKEST response to the Socialization question?

[root*children]

I mean, besides "no".

For example, a woman dropped something off at my house and was walking out the door to an appointment (didn't have time to sit and chat), but was asking questions like "Why did you decide to homeschool?" "For my DD, I would just worry about the socialization". I would love to give a nice lengthy answer to this, but can't think of a short, to-the-point, not-sarcastic response... one that can make her walk away thinking, you know? I seem to get this alot, where I need a very short response.

All I could think of was "we do plenty of stuff with other kids"... just didn't seem to make the point of "your head is screwed on backwards if you think ... blahblahblah"

any help?

[frogguruami]

For DS1, who was pulled out of PS half way through first grade, "Yes, I worry about socialization, too. That's why I pulled him out of school."

For DS2, who is HFA and never been to school, "Ridiculed(sp?) for being different ISN'T socialization!"

[frogguruami]

Oh! Sorry, I just saw you wanted non sarcastic, . I'm not real good with those!:

You could laugh it off and say "If we socialized anymore we wouldn't have time for school work!"

Or is that sacastic too ?

[root*children]

I know! I can't think of anything that's not sarcastic! I am kind of dealing with moms who feel a HUGE need to defend their choice of public schooling, which makes me wonder if they're really wanting to homeschool deep inside? I thought sarcasm wouldn't go over well, and seems like there's a response that would be more thought provoking... hmmm...

[frogguruami]

Perhaps we just need to coin a term for the type of socialization homeschoolers get. You know, make it more "official"!

How about "whole life socialization"?? or "an interdisiplinary approach to social correctness"??

:

[root*children]

Originally Posted by frogguruami

"an interdisiplinary approach to social correctness"??

:

I think that's enough coffee for you tonight!

[sagewinna]

DH is know to quip "Oh, we steal their lunch money and make fun of them at least once a week!" or "We don't lock them in a closet, they get pleny of social interaction".

I always got in trouble for "socializing" in school.

[lotusmamma]

It depends on the person but I usually say something like "a lot of the socialization at school is negative" and people rarely disagree. Sometimes I go into more depth and explain our very busy life full of varied social commitments.

What gets me is that often a stranger will meet one of my kids, comment on how articulate and sociable they are then ask that old question about socialization.

Sam in Sydney

[charmander]

I dunno, why don't you just list some of the ways your kids socialize, i.e. - friends, neighbors, relatives, playgroups, church, other homeschool groups, etc. etc. etc.

That way you've answered their question. Otherwise, how would they know?

P.S. - I know a homeschooler and her kids probably get more "socialization" than my two non-homeschooled kids do.

[Roo_Online]

I say that we have so many socialization opportunities that we could be busy every day all day socializing if we wanted to be. (Of course that means absolutely nothing, but either does the question about socialization.)

[townmouse]

I just make it about me, hoping to diffuse their defensiveness.

"My kids live in a small house with 6 people. If they aren't socialized at home, the problem is bigger than we all think."

Usually people think that's funny and true.

If they say, "My child is an only child so that wouldn't be true for me," I just laugh and say, "when it comes to education methods, I only have to worry about my family. This is working for us!"

I just am tired of the question. "It works for my family" is often not good enough, they want to challenge me to see how I could make it work for their family. When they don't even want to do it!

I want people to understand that it is not my job to solve America's education crisis. Not on a national level, not case-by-case. I'm just one mama, making choices for the best life for my own children. I might try to fix the world when they grow up but I'll probably be too tired.

oops, I'll get off my soapbox, sorry (can I have some of frog's coffee?)

[Hibou]

Originally Posted by sagewinna

DH is know to quip "Oh, we steal their lunch money and make fun of them at least once a week!"

:

[Serendipity]

i was asked this morning if i was afraid my kids would be 'social retards'...

i said that there are kids that go to public school their entire life and are STILL 'social retards'. i also think that if my kid is going to be shy, then she's shy, if she's outgoing, she's outgoing regardless of how many playgroups she attends. it's a personality trait kwim?

[townmouse]

I think someone who uses the term 'retard' should have maybe had a different education. In a homeschool environment it is a little easier to model kind behavior and lack of name-calling.

[Citymomx3]

I usually say, "Actually, I find the socializing aspect way better since we started homeschooling. The kids have a lot more true friends out in the real world who they choose to be with - instead of being forced to tolerate the same 27 kids for 35 hours a week in a cramped classroom".

Shuts 'em up every time.

[Serendipity]

Originally Posted by townmouse

I think someone who uses the term 'retard' should have maybe had a different education. In a homeschool environment it is a little easier to model kind behavior and lack of name-calling.

i couldn't agree more, i was pretty disgusted.

[teastaigh]

My favorite:
"I just love being with my children" said with a beaming smile and then just
walk away.

It's very positive, gets them thinking, and also kind of lets people know that we homeschool because we love our children and also like them.

I have some variations on this theme for when I get the often, dismissing, "Oh, I could never homeschool." If it isn't said nicely, they get, from me, "Well, it isn't for everyone, but it is for us. I just love being with
my children."

By the way, it's true. I do love being with my children. I'm one lucky girl.

peace,
teastaigh

[amyjeans]

Originally Posted by granolapunk

i was asked this morning if i was afraid my kids would be 'social retards'...

i said that there are kids that go to public school their entire life and are STILL 'social retards'. i also think that if my kid is going to be shy, then she's shy, if she's outgoing, she's outgoing regardless of how many playgroups she attends. it's a personality trait kwim?

"Social retard?"
I would have replied, "You learned that in public school didn't you?"


My favorite retort for the "socialization" label is-
The type of social skills I learned in school and that are still taught today are not something I would want my kids exposed to.

[oceanbaby]

I usually say something like "If we had any more socialization, we wouldn't have time to sleep. Ds is one busy little guy!"

[LeftField]

My *quickest* answer to "what about socialization?" is "They are socialized." My kids are very polite and they play very well with other children. So, from my point of view, they are socialized. If someone clarifies that they are asking about social opps, I would tell them that we belong to a homeschool group with lots of kids.