A home-schooling mom I know responds to the socialization question with, "Won't public school socialize my children to make fun of the kid who limps?"

Not bagging on public school, I just think the lesson of how to deal with differentness, meanness and bad behavior is best taught in the family.

Kudos to you for your approach to the bullying kid and his mom.

Vanessa
who has no children, but wants to walk easy in the world with everyone else's