There are side effects and natural consequences to everything we do in life. Some good, some not so good, and some outright terrible. With homeschooling, all of us have heard the terrible side effects that will ensue. These, of course are always brought to light by people who know nothing about homeschooling. They are just stabs in the dark against an imaginary animal. To the uninformed, this animal lurks about ready to lock our kids in closets and make them weirdos in society. This animal seeks to make our children stupid because they will not have opportunities to take enlightening classes such as American Gender Studies and Modern Nude Art, not to mention learn from a history book replete with sports heroes. This animal will also produce narrow-minded children because they will not have had the options of choosing for themselves among a variety of religions and so-called religions. This list, as we know, could go on and on and on. We�ve heard it all. These �concerns� from the well-intended or the skeptical often come in the form of questions. The one consistent query asked of homeschoolers, which we have heard ad nauseam, is �What about socialization?� Ho hum. Here we go again. Well, I�ve come up with some of my own responses to that tired, old question, which should calm and soothe the inquirers. I will tell the curious many that on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I will make sure that our children stand in line for the bathroom for 15-20 minutes, so that they can learn to stand in line and have an opportunity to pull hair and kick people in the backs of the legs. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I will make sure never to mention God or the Church, so that they can begin to question their real and practical existence in their lives. Everyday, I will make sure to ignore or approve of immoral or unacceptable behavior of all, so that they can have open minds and learn to be tolerant and diverse. Also, each day I will factor in several 15-minute recesses, so that I can drag the school day into as many frustrating hours as possible causing them to never be able to accept invitations to play. Once a year or so, I will have my children dye their hair into a shocking shades of black or hot pink, pierce unspeakable body parts, and allow them to buy $75 jeans that are nearly torn into shreds brand new. This ought to take care of it, don�t you think? The funny thing is these are the very things I hear the parents complain about at the schools their children attend. These are the same parents who are overly concerned that homeschooling children aren�t getting the proper socialization. What�s up with that? On the one hand, they get it; on the other, they don�t. This is not to say that all homeschoolers emerge with perfectly honed social skills, but I hope we can all agree that the same is true of any other schooling avenue. The point is that homeschooling enables parents to capsize immediately on teachable moments and lead their children to constant prayers of discernment regarding proper behavior and attitude toward the gift of education, thereby preparing them for whatever life throws at them. That, my friends, is the most valuable side effect of homeschooling, and it just happens naturally within the course of any given day. No place is perfect, but home is where the heart is and where the heart is, the mind and body will follow. Schools simply do not have the time or the resources for this direct and intense teaching. I want to mention here that there are some good and holy teachers in all schools, and we will forever be indebted to them as a society and people of God. I would also like to give credit to some wonderful teachers my children were fortunate to have while in school. Praise God for: Peggy Dunn, Marge Lippe, Sandy Lightfoot, Julie Devine, Sister Pat Newhouse, Theresa Olsen, Sister Cheryl Ann Greiner, Geri Gradwohl, Sister Anita Parks, and Patti Marrs. Thank you and bless you to all who have dedicated your lives to the education of our children! And, praise God for His gifts of homeschooling, dedicated homeschoolers, and the sacrament of Confession!

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