Homeschooling Myths Debunked!

Earlier this year, I had a blog post about common misconceptions people have about authors.  Now, as an (almost) lifelong homeschool student, I'm answering five common myths about homeschooling to see if they apply to myself personally.  (Thanks to familyeducation.com for providing the misconceptions!)
1: Homeschoolers never leave the house.
I've often felt this way, but it's simply not true.  I leave the house at least three times a week (church on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and every Tuesday for a youth group meeting), not to mention piano lessons on Thursdays and gardening group most Mondays.  Once in a while, I even get to go shopping, and I walk my dog 4-6 times a week.
2: Homeschoolers don't have friends.
Oh, we do.  They're just imaginary friends.  Have you met Running Horse, the great panther-slaying Ojibwa with Hiawatha's gift for speaking to animals?  Just kidding--homeschoolers have plenty of friends.  We're just more apt to meet them at 4-H or church, or at co-op if we're lucky.  My best friend is actually the daughter of one of our ex-chiropractor's employees.
3: Kids cannot be socialized if they don't go to school.
Um...pardon me, but school is not the only social setting in the world.  And even then, the only 'social' interaction is during lunch and between classes, and most of that is negative.  I know plenty of homeschoolers who are very social ,and I know plenty of homeschoolers who aren't.  I'm sure that public schoolers are the same way.
4: Average parents are not qualified to teach their children.
Once high school hits, with its algebra and chemistry, this may be the case.  (And that's where A Beka Online comes in handy!)  But my mom did a very good job of homeschooling me, and I passed the TSI when I was 15.  While my mom does have a bachelor's degree, her major was in music, not education, and I feel that she did a wonderful job teaching me.  I wouldn't trade in my grade-school years of homeschooling for anything.
5: Homeschooled teens miss out on "the high-school experience."
There's an experience?  So having five hours of homework a night, being pressured into underage drinking/dating/drugs, and pulling my hair out over standardized testing is an experience?  If it is, it's not a very good one, and I don't regret missing it.  In my years of high school, I've managed to write two books, be active in church, and ace the SAT's.  Plus, I'm guaranteed the valedictorian, and Mom said I can have cake at my graduation party.
What are your thoughts on homeschooling?  I'd love to hear them in the comments below!  God bless you, dear reader, and have a wonderful day!