Homeschoolers spend a lot of time discussing test results, and positive socialization of homeschoolers. We like to show that are kids come out normal, or even better than normal. We like to reassure ourselves that we did the right thing by homeschooling.
I especially like reading about homeschooled kids who have done something great with their lives like written a book or started a company. I like reading about gifted homeschoolers who shoot through the curriculum and homeschoolers who get great college scholarships. I also like looking at my own children and comparing where they are with where they would very likely be had we not homeschooled.
There is no way to know for sure where they would be had we not homeschooled, but based on where they were headed, I could see that it was not a good place. My son was showing signs of severe depression, and my once vibrant daughter had lost all of her self-esteem.
I bring up this topic today because it is my daughters 12th birthday. What better time is there to analyze a child than on his or her birthday? I find myself looking at a very bright girl (who schools told me could not learn without Ritalin). I find that I have a determined girl who likes to take charge in all situations, which at one time just craved acknowledgement and was a people pleaser. I see a very happy child who when we started this process was extremely sad. Yes, we have had some positive results through homeschooling.
So, as my daughter puts me out of the kitchen so she can make her own birthday cake, and creates an itinerary for the day without any input from her family, we feel a little put off, but realize that we created this child during the process of homeschooling. Giving her time and space to heal from bad experiences and to learn on her own terms we have replaced sadness and fear with strength and fearlessness. Sometimes I think that I have created a monster as she is such an aggressive and take-charge person, but when I think about the shy, sullen child that I had when we first started homeschooling, I am happy with the results of homeschooling.
Read about homeschool success stories