On Parenting, Homeschooling, Carlessness, and Chik-fil-a

My son and I went to Chik-fil-A for lunch today, as we do about once a week lately.  I didn't get the memo about today being a special day for them, but I noticed it was unusually crowded at almost 2:00, and I quickly gathered from overheard snippets of conversation that churches had sent people to support the anti-gay cause.  Although I am an atheist and support gay marriage, I haven't been participating in the boycott because Chik-fil-A is the only place we can get to where my son can play with other kids.  There is no public playground or park, or other restaurant with a playground, within walking distance or on the bus route that serves our house.  And honestly, I think I'm doing more good by not buying gasoline than I would do by boycotting Chik-fil-A.  

I've actually been feeling desperate enough to consider trying to buy a second car, even if I'm only here for a few more months.  Parenting like this is just too hard, and I feel like I'm doing permanent harm to my son by keeping him in the house all day, with only me for company.  My child is an extrovert and he needs to play with other kids.  We've tried playdates at home, but I, as an introvert, find it so exhausting to play hostess to the other moms that it's an unsatisfactory solution. 

It has always been my intention to homeschool my son, and I believe I can give him a better education than any school.  But I recognize that he wants and needs the social interaction of school, at least for now.  I have pretty much made up my mind to put him in a half-day Kindergarten in Mexico, so that he can integrate better into the culture and make friends.  I maintain that I will not put him in any school in the United States as long as I draw breath.  But, ironically, I am excited that I've just found a preschool program at a county recreation facility right on our bus route that he can go into for a couple of mornings a week.  I don't know if this constitutes selling out my homeschooling ideals, but it is a necessary compromise for our family and our situation.