Homeschool World Forum

[Peg53]

I have just joined this forum and my situation is a little different. I am a grandmother who is raising my 13 year old grandson. He is the only one who lives with me and even though I know home school is best for him, I worry a lot.
He went to public school the earlier years of his life, but was moved around quite a bit due to the instability of his mother. He has never had a father in his life. I home schooled for a little while last year, but I was concerned because he was was so isolated! I don't want that for him. I put him back in public school this year, but he hates it so much and begs for home school.
He just doesn't seem to fit in with the other kids at school.....his intelligence tests in the higher bracket, and he seems so bored at school.
He is constantly ending up in detention due to what he calls "the insistence of his friends to be funny in order to fit in". I am putting him back in home school after Christmas. I work full time and don't know how I am going to pull this off. We have a good online curriculum, but I am more worried about him getting to know other kids and outside activities. All the home school support groups I have found are tailored to Mothers who stay at home and all the field trips, outings, etc. are done during the week on weekdays. Sorry this is such a long post, but I really don't know what to do. I live in Texas, by the way.
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Homeschooling grandmother of 13 year old....are there others out there?

[hscoach]

Does your grandson have any interests, such as sports or being in a club? Usually church youth groups have fun activities in the evenings or on weekends and that might be a good way to meet new friends. Also, most homeschool groups have teen activities in the evenings. Here are a couple of links you could check to make sure you know about all the groups in your area:

http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs/Texas.html

http://www.homeschool.com/supportgroups/default.asp

http://www.home-school.com/groups/TX.html

http://localhs.com/
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Laura L. Barth
http://www.freehomeschooladvice.com

[ManicMommy]

We're also in DFW and our situation is a little bit different (stay at home mother, 8yo daughter) but one thing that has been really helpful for my daughter has been martial arts. It seems strange but the discipline and structure in a challenging environment where she can advance at her own pace and is not limited has been fantastic. You have to choose the facility carefully but it got her through several months of public school when homeschooling wasn't an option. She loved doing the martial arts and discipline and respect are a huge part of it. She wouldn't be promoted if she had been disrespectful to her teachers (or parents) and that was motivating. Also, most programs will offer your grandson a strong male role model that is physically powerful BUT disciplined and respectful. It's hard to be a boy/man in our current society so I imagine that the confidence of knowing self defense would cut down on his willingness to act out to fit in. This isn't just important for public school but for any socialization he has.