I’ve been saying for years how homeschooling has socialization–the onus is on the parents to make it happen, blah, blah, blah. So much fun to be a pompous windbag full of philosophy.

*ahem*

The thing is, if you’re kind of city and suspicious of everyone, it is hard to act on those fine, truthful words. Add to that an irrational fear of the telephone, and. . . well, you could find yourself alone a lot.

So when Annette mentioned that she was joining this support group this fall, and suggested we join, my knee jerk reaction was, “No!” I mean, I was already busy, right? And that would be one more thing, right? But then I thought about how I’m to get friends for all the children, and I thought. . . hmmmm, help with getting friends? Sign me up!

Then I commenced to dreading every other Thursday, when the group meets. Because it goes back to my immediate fear of scheduling, or some such nonsense. Long story short, I overbooked the day. Somehow I ended up registering Yanni up for her college class on the same day as the support group. Then I found out that the support group gets out at exactly the same time Yanni’s class starts, and that the group and the college are a 30 minute drive apart. And there is that little matter my teaching up until the time to leave, so the whole idea was pretty crazy making.

The first week, I lined up a ride for Yanni and went on my merry way. I left the cell phone in the nursery with the baby while I went out to help Joy’s class with gym. So I missed Yanni’s call to tell me that her ride never showed up. Turns out, the ride had thought I wanted her to carry Yanni home rather than to class. I knew I had to figure out something different.

I worked out the math. If I left home at 11:15, I could get Yanni to college by 11:30, and I could get the babies and myself to support group by 12:00. Support group actually starts at 12:30, so that gave me some wiggle room. We tried it, and it worked. We were early last time!

Now we’re getting to the point where we’re getting used to each other in the group. We get to see the same faces every month, and we’re getting more comfortable. Today, one of Joy’s friends from ballet last year joined the group. That was so much fun!

What was I dreading, anyway?