Full time parenting is exhausting work and often thankless. Clear communication and frequent reinforcement can go a long way toward keeping the primary homeschooling parent sane and the support parent with the program. Friends Homeschooling is just common enough for everyone to have heard of it, but not common enough that every new family has a friend to show them the ropes. Our existing friends can present a challenge in terms of criticizing us for homeschooling and even sabotaging our efforts. Their reactions can range from condescension to being intimidated by us.
Friends are also a great potential allies and public relations spokespeople.
Making new friends in the homeschooling community is not as easy as it may sound. Homeschooling families come in as many varieties as orchids and, by the very nature of their unconventional lifestyle, can appear judgmental. Often we have less in common with each other than we do with our friends who have kids in school. Finding, or forming, a strong support group is a good protection for both your perspective and your self-esteem. Peer support can mean the difference between success and failure in that first fragile year.