This weekend I went to the dedication for my BFF’s baby girl.  We went to Richmond and took all three kids.  The kids ate, played, ran around outside, chatted with the kids and adults (with the utmost respect), made new friends, and had a fantastic time.  By BFF’s sister (a crafting genius at www.giftsbysassafras.com) is an elementary school teacher, and she says, “If you didn’t tell me, I never would have known all of your kids are homeschooled.  They are playing so well with the other kids!”

I did confess that they all did take a crack at brick and mortar schools, but as this graphic points out, it is a myth that homeschooled kids are more awkward than traditionally educated children.

I wasn’t the cool kid in school.  I was awkward, and so were my friends.

From my limited interaction with exclusively homeschooled kids, this is what I see that is markedly different.

• They interact with adults very well, and communicate their thoughts easily.
• They evaluate the situation before jumping in and playing with other children.
• If they are shy, it has nothing to do with homeschool – most times as shy as one child is, their sibling is equally as talkative and outgoing.
• They have really great manners.
• They are confident.

Sometimes I wonder if people who think homeschooled kids will be socially awkward remember middle and high school at all.  There were so many kids who couldn’t perform socially.  Kids who sat alone at lunch.  Kids who ate boogers (the one I remember most vividly is a successful attorney now – I won’t out him). Kids who seemed to have no friends.  Kids who rarely talked.  Kids who were constantly picked on for being different.  One of my good friends was covered in freckles.  I thought she was pretty – kids said she had cooties, and picked on her relentlessly.  She did always smell like play doh… she’s a doctor now.  These kids weren’t awkward because of where they were educated – they just were.

(Thanks to Kim – @1stladey – at http://confessionsofhomeschoolingmom.blogspot.com/ for sending me this infographic!)

Created by: College At Home

The hubby is always citing his co-worker and his kids.  He has three boys that were homeschooled.  The oldest graduated from UVA, the other is a sophomore, and the youngest is taking college courses while still in high school at home.  They are smart, athletic, well mannered, and articulate.  That is what we all want from our kids anyway, right?

Check out the info graphic above and let me know what you think in the comments.