I just asked both of my teenage homeschooled kids if they felt they were missing prom and homecoming experiences that they would regret later on. Resounding no. We have that discussion periodically, but I just wanted to verify their point of view before I responded to your post.
The difference for many homeschooled children in regards to these activities is they are more mature to begin with and the pressures presented by society have little to no affect on them.
Great point on societal pressures - thanks for getting feedback from your people.
Prom. My oldest broke up with her boyfried of 3 weeks for two reasons. He was whiney and she doesn’t do whiney well. Other reason was because she didn’t want to go to the prom (he was a senior, she’s a junior). I’m working on that - mark my words, she will attend her prom next year lol. Teasing about that. She doesn’t have to attend but I’m working on it.
She’s just not into that stuff (and she attends public high school, catholic grade school). The kid was born an adult, sometimes I swear she was.
You must have very mature, astute kids. Speaking as a nerd, happily married to a nerd, with 4 wonderful nerdy kids, home schooled, I thought the high school prom was a stupid waste of time. Seriously. I remember having much more fun going on family ski trips, or playing soccer, or riding go-carts, or target shooting, or summer swim team competitions or ....
In college, I discovered I really liked costume parties. Dressing up showed more creativity than renting a tux.