You know, I am an alien in this town I think. I guess 200 miles makes a huge difference after all. We moved here almost 2 years ago, and I am still feeling like a weirdo. I'm not used to having my personal convictions (and my husband's) chipped away at by somebody. Every homeschooler experiences the occassional, " Aren't you worried about them missing out on__________?", or "Don't you worry about__________?", "Don't you think you should consider putting them back in real school when it's time for highschool?"
But, to have the eye-opening experience of realizing a large percentage of your community actually looks suspiciously at homeschoolers, and is vehemently "pro-public school", and a tad bit "anti-homeschool", is really disheartening.

After devotions, chores, and breakfast, we spend the first part of the day doing math, spelling, latin, in-depth Bible study, language arts, and then we have lunch. After lunch is science or history, and then our day is spent in play and hobbies dictated by the weather. When daddy is home bedtime is also family Bible time. I think we have a great, happy life, and I'm grateful for it. The Lord is good. He is the center of our days.
We are together, learning, all day. We love each other, and we even like each other. Our children take care of me when I'm ill, and their daddy is at work. They cook, clean, take phone messages, and make me as many cups of tea as I want. They are helpful with the children of other's as well. They can saddle their own horses, keep the stoves going, and know how to make polite, intelligent conversation with adults of any age. They know how to milk a goat, do laundry, and pray for others.
 While other children are learning the lyrics of the "hottest" pop culture idol, mine are knitting, sewing, building, baking, and hunting.
Why is it that I feel like the weird one? My children are tucked in close, they are happy and productive. Doesn't the "fruit" of this life count for something?
I'm not tryint to be boastful or prideful...I'm feeling defensive and it's new to me. I'm used to being one family of many just like us- no big deal, nothing special, but certainly not weird, either. Now I'm one in a very minute minority.
I know it will make us stronger in our convictions. I am grateful, because I know that's the purpose of this, but...can't I be sad for one day??