I'm reminded of the saying, "that which doesn't kill you only makes you stronger". I agree, high school is hell, but it teaches you how to deal with all the people you'll meet out in the working world that you can't stand or won't agree with. There are very few jobs that would allow you to stay at home, so you would have to get out there eventually among a very diverse group of people. But boy, oh boy, do I remember feeling the way you do now, and barely being able to face each day at school. I had no friends, and didn't fit into any clique. I was from an "income challenged" family and so I couldn't wear all the cute clothes the other girls did, or drive a car to school. I rode the bus every day to school, which was like purgatory before the actual hell began.

As far as homeschooling though, I personally couldn't give up my job and benefits to homeschool. Many moms have to work to keep food on the table and insurance for the family. I also am not qualified as an educator, which is why I send Laura to public school where there are lots of different teachers with diverse teaching styles, who have been to college and are far more educated than me. Not every woman who has a child is suddenly ready to become a schoolteacher 15 years down the road when their child doesn't want to go to school. My mom was divorced, so her staying home to school me just wasn't an option. Your mom probably isn't ready to, or just can't, make such a drastic change in her lifestyle and job situation, and maybe feels or knows that she wouldn't be the right person to educate you at this very important grade level. But I would bet that she feels your pain and loves you very much.

And Karen, that is one of my favorite verses, "this too shall pass". I repeat that to myself almost daily at work, which at times approaches the hell level of high school. Why am I in such a dead-end, horrible job? Because I didn't finish high school (but got my GED) and didn't go to college! So tough it out now or suffer for the rest of your life, basically.