Sheltering my children? Yep! And proud of it!

I have prayed about this post. A lot. Well, not exactly this post, but this subject. Funny thing happens when you up and remove your TV, start homeschooling, and become less "mainstream" than the rest of your family: suddenly, you are subject to more criticism than you could ever imagine!
The biggest thing that I have had to overcome is being offended when someone 'accuses' me of sheltering my kids. It started out irking me oh so bad. To the point when I heard a friend of mine being 'accused' of the same thing, I wanted her to tear the other woman apart. (NOT nice, I know!)
I came to the realization though, that they are NOT insulting me. That I should take it as a compliment. Yes, I am sheltering them. I am protecting them. I am doing everything in my power to ensure that when they are old enough to go out into this sometimes awful world they are armed! Armed with their testimony of the Lord. Armed with self confidence. Armed with a true knowledge of what is right and wrong.
We push so hard for our children to be so independent of us at such a young age, sending them to kindergarten at 5 or 6. Really this is when we should hold them close to us. Keep them from the negative of the outside world. Teach them the Gospel. Let them know there is bad and evil, but not thrust them into it.
Elder Larry R. Lawrence: "What the world really needs is courageous parenting from mothers and fathers who are not afraid to speak up and take a stand!" So here I am, speaking up. Taking a stand. And saying, ok. I am sheltering my children. I am protecting them from the outside world. I feel as though it is my job. My duty to protect these precious spirits that the Lord has entrusted to me!
Now, all of this said, I know, without a doubt in my mind I will not forever be able to shelter them. When the time comes for discussions on sex, drugs, alcohol etc, I will pray, and I know that the Lord will help me know how to handle these topics in a way that is open, honest and frank. I will encourage my children to pray, so that they will know I am speaking the truth. Then it comes to a matter of faith that they will do what they know is right, and a matter of courage when they don't to help them realize the consequences of their actions!!
The next time someone with different views than I on things says that I am sheltering my children, I hope that I have the courage to thank them. If I am sheltering them, at least now, I know I am doing my job. I hope that I can remember this: "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid." (Joshua 1:9)