home schooling?

(this kid is SO hard to photograph these days)

I'm just gonna come right out and say it... I'm seriously considering homeschooling. I never thought I'd say that, but I am.

When Max was a toddler I was so ready to have a few hours of the day to myself, but now I'm not so sure. Now that he's out of that crazy monster-ish toddler phase I really like spending all day with him. Recently I contacted the school Max will (?) be attending to ask about their Pre-K program (his birthday falls after the cut-off so he won't start Kindergarten until 2012) and they said they'd love to get me that info so just call them. And I panicked. Suddenly this whole school thing became very real and I realized I don't think I'm ready for it. Do I really want for him to be gone all day every day of the week? That would mean no more story time at the library, no going to the park all afternoon, no going to brigade runs with dad, no museum trips. Everything we'll do has to be fit in around a school calendar. Summer vacation would have to end by the end of July, with no trips during the school year 'cause they're sooo strict on attendance here.

And on top of all that, he'd only be learning like 20% of his time there. The rest of it is wasted by teachers having to deal with crap. And I don't think they get recess anymore. And even if they do, they aren't allowed to just play. And I can go on and on and on.

Now I'm sure you're thinking, "Uh, if you feel that strongly about it, why are you waffling with the idea of homeschooling?"

I'll tell you why, it's two things. One, I have no idea what he needs to be learning and when. I'm terrified of him being behind everyone else his age because of me. And two, I don't want him to be one of those socially awkward home schooled kids. Don't lie, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

What do you think?

I did have a great conversation with a "friend" (I put it in quotations because we've only hung out twice, but we get along great) about the whole thing. She is of the same opinion I am, although she is looking into private school instead of home school (something we can't afford right now). And when I voiced my concerns over the whole socialization thing, what she said really struck me:
"Is that REALLY the kind of socializing you want your kid to have?"
And she's right. I don't think it's any secret how immoral our society has become. And how kids are stripped of their innocence SO YOUNG these days. So I am faced with this decision:
"Is it more important for me to have a socially 'with-it' child, or to have a morally sound child?"
I must confess, I'm definitely leaning towards the morally sound child. I definitely want his innocence to stay in place for as long as it possible can. It is my obligation to rear my children in righteousness, and I'm not sure yet if I can do that by sending him off to fend for himself every day in this immoral world. (or am I just being overprotective?)

BUT, if I do home school, I'm clueless. I don't where to start. And if I don't figure it out soon, he's gonna end up right where I don't want him. So do YOU have any advice? A great curriculum I should look into? Especially for the preschool level? Anyone you know I should talk to? Am I the only one contemplating this? And PLEASE let me know if I'm a good mom for even contemplating this. It seems the older my kids get, the harder this whole mom career really is.