Socialization (for Mom!)
This has been a tough year for a lot of families, mine included.  We’re ok, but there have been some struggles.  More and more I find that the people I turn to are the members of our homeschool group.  What started as a way for my children to foster relationships with other children and a means to organized activities and field trips, I find that the women, the mothers of these children, are some of my closest friends. While I have friends who send their children to traditional schools as well as friends without children, whose friendship I cherish, I find that the women in my group are more familiar with my particular struggles and the sorts of issues that I need advice and guidance for.

Learning (for Mom!)
We have occasional co-ops, in which one of the moms will give a class on something she’s familiar with, maybe a lesson or a craft and I have enjoyed them at least as much as my children have.  I’ve learned to knit, sew, tie dye, bake bread, identify a vole skull, determine which snakes I can pick up (I don’t use that one very often), conserve water and why, as well as myriad other things.

Savings (for Mom!)
Ok, well this one is obviously for mom, but I had a theme going here.  
A terrific unexpected benefit is the “swap”.  If I have something that we’re no longer using, or that just didn’t work for us, I bring it to the group.  I know someone will use it and I feel better about buying it then I did when it was sitting on my shelf.  Alternately, I’ve picked up other families’ discarded items and loved them – things I never would have thought to buy myself.

Photo Credit:Me