The Great(ish) Debate

While on our adventure to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, we stopped at Arby's for dinner rather late. (Yes, I WAS thinking Arby's.) It was probably close to 7:30 and that is really late for dinner for us, but we had been eating some traveling snacks. Anyway, we arrived in Reno and found ourselves an Arby's. 

There were two occupied tables in all of the restaurant. We placed our order at the counter. I began salivating just thinking of my roast beef sandwich topped with Arby's sauce. Pops and I took our cups and began filling them and waited for our dinner. Bud went to find a table. The girls wandered back and forth between Pops and I and Bud and his table. Our order was finally (after waiting and interminably long time of 10 minutes... geesh. I thought this was a FAST food restaurant.  Anyway, I digress.) Then we found Bud's table choice and started setting out the kids' sandwiches and french fries and applesauce. All sounds pretty normal - like anytime you've eaten at Arby's, right?

That is when I realize the the two other occupied tables are both right there. One table has a mixed group of all ages from Grandma down to a tiny baby. They are keeping to themselves and are quietly speaking in some language other than English. I can't play the game "Name that Language." That would have involved me eavesdropping for a long period of time trying to figure it out and I was concerned about eating and getting back on the road - not trying to get to know other Arby's customers. The other table was occupied by a mother and her two sons. Wouldn't you know that by the time I got all that dinner set out I realized that Bud had new friends! Seriously, he knew that they were from Reno and they had told him it was still a long drive ahead of us (and he wasn't so thrilled about that). 

He had shared with them that he loves to read and really likes to read the Magic Treehouse series. He told them that San Francisco once burned down after it had a large earthquake. He had been talking with them while we were getting our drinks and waiting for our sandwiches. Seriously, he had a few new friends! Bud went to find some napkins or to refill his drink and the mother at the table said, "WOW! He sure is a social one!" Bud came back and started talking some more and well, we were all ready to go before he was since he kept talking until they were done and gone! Bud had half a sandwich left to eat and all the rest of us were done eating and ready to hit the road. 

So, I've been wondering... Do you think that Bud is going to turn out not knowing how to "socialize" because we educate our kids at home?? Sorry.  I am laughing and I was trying to be serious. I was trying to join in the serious debate, here. Wait, IS there a serious debate? Do most home educated kids have socialization issues and most schooled children not? Just wondering what you think... This is not serious scientific research, here. My opinion will probably not be changing. I just want to know what ya think and mostly WHY you think what you do! What have you experienced to hold the opinion that you do!?!

Perhaps there is some reason for concern. I mean for goodness sake, the child cannot smile like an adult in ONE of these photos! Oh, wait. He is only seven. Do all little boys act like clowns/monkeys/goofs? I never had a brother. Just one sister and girls do not do this as a regular normal occurrence. More on girls' poses another day!!