Fostering friendships with non-homeschoolers is a tricky path to maneuver. Some benefits and pitfalls must be carefully managed to maintain the balance. My two homeschoolers have a few friends who attend regular schools, and finding time for them to hang out can sometimes be problematic, as schedules tend to get busy. To help with this, we often arrange for them to get together in the evenings and on the weekends if schedules allow. The important thing with this is clear communication about schedules and understanding when things come up that may change any plans.
Another situation that can arise is when a non-homeschooler attempts to discuss the benefits of regular school with homeschoolers without also acknowledging the difficulties that are part of the homeschooling experience. To combat these situations requires skill, understanding, and creative problem-solving, as non-homeschoolers often overlook the less desirable aspects associated with attending regular school. When this comes up, I often sit down with my children and discuss both the positives and negatives of each type of schooling. I then issue a challenge to them, "If you can do..... in this amount of time, then we can discuss whether you still want to attend a regular school.". Oftentimes, they realize halfway through the challenge how lucky they are to be homeschooled.