Are you asking about her

Are you asking about her socializing without us around? Like if she were on a playground situation at school with only a couple of teachers viewing from afar? :) When we go places with other homeschoolers or unschoolers, usually the kids do their thing and the adults do theirs nearby...we're there but separate. Nearby if needed, you know? Of course some families have babies and toddlers that need more attention but the older kids are off playing, the toddlers are usually in a sandbox or something :) And when our DD has a playdate or sleepover, etc., I'd say that most of the time they are on their own in the house or yard, and only call me if they need assistance. Other times they include me in the fun of whatever they're doing.

But, you know when children are really young and haven't developed empathy yet? We absolutely didn't 'stay out of her way' back then...she obviously needed information and we practiced what we called emotion coaching. I'd read a ton of authors to guide us in how we wanted to raise our DD....Alfie Kohn, Marshall Rosenberg, John Holt, A.S. Neill, Mindful parenting books, TCS books by Jan Fortune-Wood...unschooling books by pioneers (I think the Unprocessed Child was the first unschooling book I read) well, the list goes on and on along those lines ;) So we had those tools early on and we practiced those (are still practicing those). She also saw us (and heard us because we'd say it out loud) paying attention to people, their emotions, their reactions, etc. and learned by that modeling. We talk about and modeled kindness and compassion, etc. About the 'golden rule/karma' give what you want to come back to you stuff. So as she grows we've shifted to merely observing and only step in to offer assistance/advice when she or one of the other children asks. Or if something happened that she didn't feel went well or she was confused about, she'll ask later and we discuss it. Because of the way she's been raised so far, we have this trust and openness between us that I cherish so much.

These days there's not as much asking for help. As she is maturing and getting her own tools in her toolbox, she's gotten very good at handling herself w/others all on her own (both people she knows AND those she doesn't). But I'm happy that she still likes to talk about conversations, etc., she's had with others. She's very bright, and funny and very astute. I've noticed that strangers we come in contact with are very surprised at how talkative, confident and engaging she is with them. She doesn't need our help there at all...I enjoy listening to her converse with people...she's a hoot, really.

I'm not sure if this is what you're asking? It's late and I fear my thoughts are all over the place tonight :)