"...But what about socialization?"

My husbands' family was also for it, albeit tepidly. They just figure if we think that is best, go for it! My ex-husbands' family was more enthusiastic, asking all kinds of intelligent questions about how we were going to pull this off, and giving ideas when asked for them. The only problem I encountered during my first foray into home education was that awful question, "...But what about socialization?" I believe this question arises so often because some people have heard snippets of information regarding homeschool, and some of that information is biased against home education. The one place that many so-called "experts" believe they have found home educations' Achilles Heel is in the socialization question. What irritates me, is that complete strangers feel compelled to remind me of this when I am in the Library, Supermarket, Museum, etc. The Evil Me wants to answer,"We don't want him socialized, we have built this lovely solitary confinement box for him to go into the second his schoolwork is done for the day!" Of course, sadly enough for Evil Me, the rest of the world is not possesing of a sense of humor. So I have found several answers, some educational and some just rather snotty, and I use them accordingly based on the tone the question is asked in. Answer Number One-"We don't believe sitting in a crowded room with people exactly his own age is really "socializing" him. We feel it gives children a skewed image of what the rest of the world is like. The world has people of all ages and talents in it, and we want him free to mingle with them." Answer Number Two-"We don't want kids who behave like animals telling our son how to behave." Answer Number Three-(If my son is with me)"Why don't you ask him yourself?" (This is rather mean, as my son talks the arms and legs off of anyone he can get to listen to him) Answer Number Four-"If your idea of 'socialization' means passing around bomb making recipes, saluting Hitler in the school halls (with no consequences involved) being shot or offered drugs, I think I'd rather not be a part of your 'society'. Answer Five-"If your idea of socialization includes separating children from their families as early as possible, possibly bussing them to an entirely different environment and teaching them without respecting their parent's influence, then I'd rather

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