Friday, October 1, 2010

Homeschoolers and Socialization

My 15-year-old had three varsity volleyball games this week. Last night's game was against another homeschool team, held at a church gym nearby.

So, how was it attending a game with a gym full of "weird, unsocialized homeschoolers" and their families?

I suppose many people would think it would be awkward, quiet - filled with conservative family members wearing headdresses and other ultra modest clothing, clapping politely for both teams.

But you would be oh, so wrong.

Both stands were filled with people of all ages, cheering, yelling, and stomping on the bleachers for their respective teams. The gym was filled with laughter and excitement. Older children and parents were watching over the younger children, entertaining them during breaks in the games and helping them to stay off the court during the games. Parents of the "home" team were walking the stands during the breaks, hawking pizza by the slice to benefit a senior trip. Parents and siblings were loudly cheering on the girls by name. Groups of parents sitting together were catching up on each others' lives, sometimes watching the games and sometimes not.

What topped the cake was two teenage boys who took it upon themselves during the breaks to "work the crowd." They ran up and down the bleacher sections, encouraging everyone to do "the wave" and to cheer - for both teams! They were a riot.

Oh, yes. What a completely unsocialized group we homeschoolers are.