social misfits

I get a little tired of hearing "but how will se be able to relate to other kids" "she'll be a social misfit if you homeschool" and so and so forth. I'm sure lots of parents that homeschool have to listen to this bunch of hooey.

I see kids all the time that are less adjusted to playing with other kids than my daughter. There is one that immediately comes to mind. She goes to school and is in daycare. She is quiet, reserved, and timid. My husband has said on occasion "I had no idea she was even there". This girl is sweet and kind. Many would think that she is perfectly behaved child and she is very well behaved. But if she were being homeschooled people would say "she's anti-social because of homeschooling." The behaviors demonstrated by this child are the behaviors displayed by my husband while growing up. He has dubbed himself a social misfit even though he went to a good sized public school. It seems to be ok to be a social misfit and anti-social if you went to public school.

Our daughter is outgoing, gregarious, and very active. She may seem like the wild child at a get-together but she has manners and (most of the time) listens well for her age. I'm sure though, that someone that is anti-homeschool would find "something" anti-social in her behavior.

What makes children anti-social aren't solely based on homeschool environments. Some kids in public school become anit-social because of teasing or parental restraints or millions of other reasons. Homeschool kids may become anti-social but not just because they aren't thrust into a public school environment. There is no rule that just because a kid is homeschooled, they WILL become a social misfit. Just like there is no rule that states that a kid going to public school will be well rounded and a social capable human being.