we're doing this for the first time, too!
and i hear you on the negative reactions - it took me ALL summer to refine my response. for friends, family & strangers alike, i now simply offer this: [big smile] oh, we're homeschooling this year. [full. stop.] and then, if they ask anything else, i essentially kill the conversation with the very firm but delightfully nebulous, "it's the right choice for our family right now."
it was pretty liberating to realize that i don't actually have to defend this decision to anyone!
and, i too, am very excited to just be dealing with ... us! onward and upward, amiright?
