Hi I am one of those mothers who is about to cry about sending her "baby" dd off to public school kindergarten. :cry: I'm also hoping that she has a great year off at school. I've already counted and she will have 27 days off this year, so I am planning some fun things on those days off. I will still be homeschooling my son, so I will have at least one at home. Depending on dh's job situation and how this new school goes for dd we might homeschool both kids next year or send them both off to this particular school. Now for a few of my friends who can't wait to send their kids back to school....I know one of my friend's kids and I understand why she'd want him back at school. He's very active and destructive, yet extremely bright. My kids are FAR from perfect little angels, but they aren't active/destructive in the way that kid is. I know this isn't nice to say, but if I had my niece and nephew as my kids I would want to send them off to school too. I don't seem to handle other people's children very well though. For some reason I feel intimidated by children other than my own. I get annoyed easily too.
I am a double generation mom. Their ages are 27, 25, 23 & 11. I didn't have much choice when my first children were young. I was working a full time job and had a house cleaning business on the side that was an average of 4 to 6 hours a day, 6 days a week. All to put my now ex-husband through college. I wanted so much to stay at home and be there for all of them. This is my second marriage. I am a SAHM now, and have made the leap to HS our DS. I couldn't be happier. A complete turn around. The siblings are concerned, they aren't sure I am capable of this. All they know of me is what little time I could give when I was home and not sleeping. Even that time I was so exhausted. So, I just tell them that! I don't want my 11 yr old DS to have that view. I missed so much before, and now I am blessed to have a second chance. By the way ladies, ps did no good in my eyes. Only the oldest graduated. The second and third children both dropped out. I helped them at that time and they both have their GEDs. Often the quieter children get shuffled so the teacher can "handle" the louder, needier children. There are so many failings in the ps system. Thank you all for being here and helping those of us that are just beginning this grand adventure. You are making it possible for us to do this and succeed.
This is my 1st year and we just finished week #1...Last year after having kids home for 10 years I finally had them all in school...I will not lie I did enjoy my days sometimes My oldest two have been to both public and private and my youngest only private....we moved to the Houston area and something just hit me, I could not send my kids to school!! My oldest was going from a class of 5 to a class over 20 or more..it just made me sad My best friend just sent her only daughter off to full day Kinder...she is gone from 8-4. She takes her in the morning and the bus takes her home....I can't help but think WOW that is 40 hours she is away from her daughter....I was there last year but I had my kids at 3. But wow that is a lot of time away I am still kinda stressed over my 1st week, but my goal for next week is to not stress so much..it will be ok! I admit I am kinda jealous just because this is all still new and will take some getting used to..But I truly know it is the right thing to do for my kids... Thanks for listening! Rebecca
Rebecca-I think everyone is a little or a lot stressed out the 1st week...month..maybe more. We've all been there & you'll be fine. I was a basketcase the first few months & I had to switch curriculum mid-year. 3 years later it's all good!
We've been homeschooling since my ds was "supposed" to start preschool at age 3 - we started homeschool preschool for him. All it took was some ideas off the internet for fun themes, a book "Everything for your Preschooler" workbook from Kmart for $4, a sports class at the rec center, and story time at the library. That was the sum total of how we started. He was 3 and was starting to get really fun - why would I want to send him away when the fun stuff was just starting? It worked so well for him we just kept giong - and here we are 9 (going on 10 in January) years later! I could not imagine doing public school - we've homeschooled since birth, essentially, and I have NO regrets!!!
WalMart Ad Back about June, the WalMart ad on tv was all about getting the stuff at WalMart that makes summer fun -- like backyard cookouts, and stuff like that. The ad began with, "It's summer! Our kids are ours again! I just had to sit and shake my head -- realizing again how during a school year, it really IS like public/private school students "belong" to the school, the teachers, the coaches, the whomeverelse they spend their days with. Sad.
Since starting the homeschooling up two weeks ago my son has gone from hesitant to gung-ho! He gets up each morning and asks, "What are we doing today, Mom?" Not good morning, I'm hungry, I want to go back to bed, or any of the dozens of other usual comments of an 11 year old. He is so excited about learning now. There is no pushing him (other than the odd moment when he thinks what I am teaching will be like PS atmosphere). He likes the freedom of the format. If what I start with doesn't "reach" him I simply change the approach and find what works. It is a discovery process every day right now. I am learning how to teach, he is teaching me what works best for him. We have gotten so much closer. I can't believe that I gave all this away to strangers in the PS system. I don't think I will be able to give it up again. I say a prayer every day that the Lord will supply me with the monetary means that allows me to stay at home and continue this journey with my son.
I really enjoyed reading that today For The Son-- My back to school days were hecktic up to today. e got a day off of Drama because they are on a feild trip for another class so I am free to do my normal Monday stuff. Ds is on self paced with a list that he checks off each day, Today I just typed it up instead of writing it.. I am so glad I home school because other wiseds would have been late to school this morning! I was able to let him get some catchup sleep .Much needed.
You know, before I stared HS I was like that. I can't wait until you go back to school. Get out of my face, you're getting on my nerves. I really questioned if I could have DS here with me 24/7. Now that he is, I find that I have more patience with him and and I love having him around. I never thought I would,but I do.
I really enjoyed reading all of this, it has opened my eyes up to a whole new light. I noticed that while my 7 year old daughter ( the one I am HS right now) we argued all the time, but now that I have her home all the time things have changed. We have set up rules and a behavior chart. I really want to pull my 6 year old out now, but I can't! It frustrates me too, I see the hurt in her knowing that she wants me to take her out also. I have a thread that explains more if you want to read. Reading this though has been great!! I hope to learn a lot from everyone, and maybe put my two cents in on things too...LOL. Everyone have a GREAT DAY!!!
This is why kids have so many problem and yet the school system gets all the blame. The kids of *most* parents on these forums would probably do fine in public school because I assume most of you are good parents who care about your kids.
