Homeschooling

I am a married mother of two who is seeking part time work outside of our home. My husband and I placed our now four and a half year old son in Pre-K at 3 after constant urging from the special ed. board in our area. He has ADHD, a slight speech impediment and was experiencing some behavioral isues (pinching, some biting)and developmental delays. His three months in the program had horrific results. He and both of us are enrolled in full time counseling now just trying to manage the reprecussions of his attendence. Our 19 month old son is showing developmental delays and he has asthma. I am fearful of putting our older son back in to school (enrollment for K is this July). And I know all teachers are not bad and that the same experiences are not going to be had at every school, but I am still fearful. I would like to homeschool but my husbands relatives and some of my friends are so disapproving of the entire home schooling situation. I know homeschooled children can be great social and intelectual contributiors but how can I make the relatives understand that I have my children's best intrest in mind and that the boys wont be social misfits all thier lives? Could one of you suggest how you got started and how you got past all of this. It would be extremly helpful to me. Also sorry if this message is too long. This is my first time to this site.

Thank you all in advance for any help and or advice. :)

Hello and welcome to the board.  How horrible that you all had such a traumatic experience with the school system.  I'm sure many of the ladies will have advice for you on dealing with your relatives since that's something that most of us have had to face at one time or another.  However, this board has actually merged with the former Parent's Place homeschooling board and this board is scheduled to become a "read-only" board any day now.  If you'll visit the new board at http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-pphschooling I'm sure you'll get lots of tips.

In the meantime, I'll offer you my opinion.  I can't believe that after such a traumatic experience anyone would begrudge you the desire to homeschool your ds.  Homeschooling is a viable educational alternative with proven results.  I would just let the naysayers know that this is a decision that you've made with your ds' best interests at heart, that you have researched your options and made this decision and that it isn't up for debate.