Home School- Y or N?

So, I am seriously considering home schooling Lydia. The demand for a decision is at hand. She starts school next year but depending on what I decide, I need to start preparing now.

The delima...Okay, so, I know some who have been home schooled and did very well. In fact, one might say they excelled in comparison to other kids their age due to home school. But I have to weight the pros from the cons. My feelings of sending my baby off into the world of sex, drugs and childhood ridicule might be a little self centered. I hate to see her leave my side for a moment. And yes, sex, drugs and childhood ridicule are very much a part of the environment even at the young age of 6 years old. Don't believe me....ask the Mom that lives down the street from us. Her 6 year old came home on Friday and announced that she knew what sex was. Apparently, another youngster on the bus told her that she and her brother have sex. Hmmm, that has to make you wonder. And I consider myself to be a part of a decent neighborhood. Sure, there are a few questionables on the street but overall, it's a nice place to live. Do I really want to subject Lydia to this kind of environment? One that teaches her that morals, dignity and respect for others are a joke? Or, do I want her to learn in a safe and clean place where I can teach her about sex when the time is right? I want her to have friends and socialize. Be able to function in society with her peers but, I want her to do it with good influences. Kids are followers. The learn what they see. Their environment helps shape them into the person they will become as an adult.

I just don't know what to do. I still want her to be able to go have fun and get out away from the clutches of myself. I think this is a monumental lesson for them to learn. It helps develop a sense of independence and exploration. Lydia has stage fright of the unknown. She's terribly shy around anyone she doesn't know or isn't around very often. I want her to learn to break out of that. To be able to participate in school events and pop that bubble she is in. I would just like to preserve her innocents at the same time.

Any opinions, thoughts or ideas would be very helpful.

Barracuda

I love my baby Barracuda "Cuda". He hates being alone! I sleep on the couch with him about half of the time. If I'm not, he sleeps with Lydia. He's such a baby. I want him to stay little forever.

Well, yesterday was very sad for us. We took the little Forest(Lydia named her) to the vet. He kept her over night in an incubator and gave her some sugar water.....she didn't make it. It was very hard but I know we did everything we could to help her.

On a happy note, we got a new kitty tonight. We haven't quite named him but he is a looker! So darn fluffy. He's a Blue Tabby Persian-11 weeks old. Possible names on the list....Zander, Sumo, Gismo/gremlin(jason thinks he looks like one)...umm, Lydia thinks Grey kitty is sufficient. Any name ideas? Here's a picture.

The Fur-Baby

So, we are totally consumed with our furry 4-legged friends lately. Our Asia had 5 little babies this last litter. We are very concerned about one of them. She's so sweet but she kind of just stopped growing this last week. She weighs in at a whopping 5 oz. So, we thought maybe she wasn't getting enough to eat with the other 4 crowding her out. Now she just doen't try to eat. So, I went and got her some formula and a bottle and have been trying to get her to take it but she is reluctant. The others have started running around and playing but she just lays there. We are so in love with her and I will just hate it if she doesn't make it. They are only 4.5 weeks. Isn't she pretty? I would love suggestions if anyone has any!