My boys are still young, 6 and 9, so there are many ways in which they are very dependent on others, and I am fine with that. When I think of independence in regard to homeschooling, it is more of the idea that my boys are independently ready to learn. I do not have to hold their hand every step of the way and in letting them direct some of their own learning, they find it easier to express and pursue their own interests. Although we did not plan it, they were both early readers and their advanced reading ability has opened their eyes to a variety of subject matter, be it in history, science, or literature and thereby encouraged their curiosity and desire to independently learn.
