I'm part of a large homeschooling group and every now and then a potential homeschooler will come to a meeting. They are usually on a quest to discover if homeschooling is a good fit for their family.

Here are some tips that I have if you are wondering the same thing:

1) Go to as many homeschooling activities and field trips without your kids as possible! If you're concerned how your kids will manage without the socialization of other kids EVERY day, it's best to see how other kids are doing. Talk with the parents and get their advice. Chances are there are many who have been right where you are!

2) Join lots of homeschooling support egroups! Yahoo Groups has hundreds of eGroups dedicated to homeschooling. You can find local or national groups. Feel free to ask questions and most people are very willing to help. This is where I got my start when I began this journey for our family.

3) Read books and articles from your library or online about homeschooling!  Do your homework and you'll be better educated to make your decision.

4) Be prepared to make more sacrifices of your time and finances!   The lovely thing about homeschooling is the variety of curriculum plans there are out there. My kids use a distance learning program from Bob Jones University where all their classes for all their subjects are on an external hard drive for their computer. No matter what curriculum program you choose you will have to sacrifice finances and time.

5) Be prepared to obey your state's laws! The Home School Legal Defense Association has a fantastic site full of information regarding state laws and what is required of the homeschooling parent(s). Visit http://www.hslda.org/laws/ for more information on your state's laws.

Overall, homeschooling is a personal decision. If you feel it's right, your kids agree to it, and you don't mind making sacrifices it can be a very rewarding experience.