None chose to go to college so far. The kind of work they wanted to do didn't require it so they didn't. If they had wanted to be medical doctors, lawyers, or some kind of physical engineer, I'm sure they could have gotten into a good college and found a good job for that.

One is a commercial sheet metal worker and owns his own home.

Another is a Linux sysadmin and owns his own home and has a spouse and a child.

Another is a restaurant equipment repairman and rents.

Finally, my 19 year old just started his airplane mechanic apprenticeship and rents.

My other three are still in school and living in our family home.

The thought at you need college degree to find meaningful employment or to live a joyful life is simply false so I don't consider it a metric for homeschooling success.

I teach my kids how to learn and encourage them to get out there and be productive doing work they enjoy and raising their own families.

Success in my book means they can function as an adult, stand on their own financially, find a good spouse, and bring me some awesome grandkids to spoil.

I don't have a college degree but I make plenty to raise 7 kids while working from home. I got to be there for all their first steps and struggles through Algebra 2 and everything in between. I wouldn't trade working from home and homeschooling for anything. It's been very fulfilling.

Now where's my grandkids! <grin>

Given they are sufficiently successful to be living on their own, married, and some with their own homes, whether they went to college is probably an inappropriate yardstick of success. I mean, be real. If a 25 year old is married and owns a home, but doesn't have a BSc are they a failure? What are we doing here.

God provides every day and I'm very grateful.

I've been working from home for nearly 2 decades and have flexible hours.

My wife handles the majority of the grade school years (basic reading/writing/maths) and I teach most of the middle and high school.

They've always been involved in co-ops, church activities, and get plenty of socialization. They're emotionally mature, civically responsible, and others focused. We take them when we volunteer at local non-profits, whether that's sorting clothes at the local thrift store or picking up trash at a local park. An example of service becomes a lifestyle of generosity. It makes for great kids and even greater adults.

Put the time and work in to your kids. Nothing else will provide greater dividends.

Only seven? :-)

(My wife and I have had 9.)

And yet there are many homeschooling parents in this discussion thread (including a single-income dad of 9 whose kids are homeschooled). But I'm quite aware that I'm the exception on HN.

Mormons aren't the only people with large families. Ultra-conservative Jews, Muslims, and many Christians have large families. What I don't think I've ever seen is a couple who is non-religious or atheist and has a large family.

Bad assumption on your part. I'm not Mormon.

Protestant Christian and most of my Christian brothers and sisters look at how many kids I have and that we homeschool and think I'm a little crazy (just like most non-Christians). I'd say probably 1/3 of the families in our church homeschool though. It's a wonderful community to be a part of and if I sent my remaining kids to public school, I wouldn't be asked to leave.