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Only child... - 7/16/2008 12:01:54 PM
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jomichele
Posts: 1
Joined: 7/16/2008
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I've been homeschooling for years but now I am down to one child (almost 13). I find it frustrating because there are no siblings for him to interact with. I have no support group in my area. Are there any others who have had this problem of little socialization and have any advice?
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RE: Only child... - 7/16/2008 12:29:00 PM
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seekingmyLord
Posts: 5
Joined: 7/9/2007
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I have only had one so I think my perspective on this is going to be different from yours since you had more and are just homeschooling your youngest alone now.
I used to be concerned, because my daughter is a social butterfly--she just loves EVERYONE--so I thought that I should get my daughter in a homeschool group. We did try that for a time, but I found myself feeling like we had to rush through lessons to get to this or that activity, all the while I also felt the Lord telling me this was not the course for us to take at that time. It seemed to me that most of the children in several activities were having fun, but not particularly focused on a certain gift. On the other hand, my daughter is very gifted in music--piano is not really social activity--and we spend at least an hour a day on that alone.
What I have found with having only one is that my daughter has time to daydream and develop her wonderful imagination and to create and even compose her own little songs--she is just 7yo. (I would have loved that kind of time without younger siblings to look after as a child.) Even with my husband's new job where he travels throughout the week, she is still a social butterfly whenever we are out and about. Of course, we also have some church activities.
Personally, I look at it this way: This is the Lord's child and He will guide her path. If and when she needs to "socialize," He will provide.
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RE: Only child... - 7/16/2008 2:31:58 PM
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shadowspring
Posts: 1635
Joined: 5/27/2006
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That is a great perspective, seeking. Thanks!
I am down to my last and he is 13. I signed him up for home school sports classes and encourage him to go to youth group and be active in Sunday school. He also has friends in the neighborhood.
My biggest challenge is keeping him offline. My dh and I are not happy with a recent obsession with a mostly harmless online game and community. I think it is his cure for loneliness.
So, dh is running with ds every morning that he's home, and teaching him Unix. We limit his time on his game world to one hour a day and encourage him to call up friends and invite them over. It's working well for summer. It'll probably be a bit more difficult when public school starts up again.
Anyway, that's how our family is working this out. Maybe your son could find a place to volunteer that he likes, like a local animal shelter? Then there's 4-H, boy scouts, or reading at a retirement home. Just some ideas.
_____________________________
"Blessed is the man...whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by rivers of water..." from Psalm 1
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RE: Only child... - 7/16/2008 3:01:37 PM
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PatricksPeaches
Posts: 306
Joined: 5/13/2008
From: Michigan
Status: offline
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I have a big age gap between my two dd. So I am home schooling only one right now too. I put her in the Parks and Rec Girls softball league. Also, we have a good kids program at our church for Wed. nights and Sun. mornings. Also she goes to AWANA and VBS when they come around. I don't worry too much because they will find ways to be "social" whether it be at the grocery store or the park.
_____________________________
*Robin*
I am not claiming to have all the answers but I'm holding on to the one who does!
-quoted from a song by 33Miles called Come With Me
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