Michelle Harper

P.S. I forgot to mention that we don't have very many children in our neighborhood.  (that was the topic, afterall)  We have friends come over and visit..I was lucky to find the only other kid on my street..is also homeschooled, so that's a plus..the meetings for the TPA(Teaching Parents Association)  are pleasant to attend and mingle with the parents & kids...they are usuallly at the park or a library, but honestly we don't go that often.  Most of my friends kids are in public school, but one family is like an extended family to us, and we visit them frequently, as they do us...they are all older than my son, but the relationship & interaction he has with them are great.  I don't subscribe to the socialization thing.....I think todays society is rather OVER SOCIALIZED.....before young minds have strength & belief in themselves, they are influenced on who to become by others..always comparing themselves to everyone else, when there really is no true COmparison.  It's nice to have other kids over, this weekend we have our friend Nick over, and Zain loves playing all weekend with his friend.....it isn't very often he seems deprived of other childrens presence, when it begins to feel that way , we just go visit someone, or have someone come visit us...but it's not mandatory, or constant.  We're lucky to have the couple of good friends we do have, and they are like family, and Zain is well integrated with social situations, despite not being around other kids constantly.  Everything in moderation, I think..and it works, well.  As long as the experiences we all share are full of Life, Love, Fun & Quality.......that is all we need.
 
 
Michelle, Dana & Zain Harper
The Great NorthWest Washington
Legendary Tree & Landscape