Like so many of the others, I used to do this, too. But then I realized that I would not follow through, so I don't do it anymore. They know that for now anyway, school isn't an option, so it's an empty threat. However, I do sometimes still point out how good they have it compared to kids in school. I rattle off a few ways that HS is better (basic stuff like sleeping in, eating whatever you want, only four hours of work, no homework) then remind them of what it would be like in school (getting up while it's still dark, icky cafeteria food or only cold sandwiches for lunch, seven hours at school followed by an hour or three of homework, etc). I also have a sign hanging up that says "The more you whine, the more work you get!" to remind them to not complain. I take away privileges when I need to, and use time-outs. They actually hate time-outs now because they know it just extends their work time.
This is my first year of homeschooling and I have exactly one month of experience as of today. My daughter wants to go back to school next year. We took this year to homeschool because I felt that I could shore up a lot of the weak areas she has due to dyslexia and dysgraphia. My goal is to get her up to speed so that when she goes back to school she will understand "how" she learns, and know what adjustments to make. The school just could not meet her individual needs. My secret hope is that she will love it so much that she does not want to go back. So, I don't threaten her, but I do remind her that if she wants to go back to school - she has to be completely on track with what they are learning, as well as shoring up her particular weaknesses.
I never threatened my kids but they were crystal clear that they were required to attend school whether it be at home or ps, they had to attend school. So with that in mind, they never really gave me too hard of a time because they knew what the alternative was, ps!
No, I never did threaten THAT, because we would NEVER send our kids there! But we did have time-outs, privileges taken away, etc. We used whatever worked best for each child. I said other things I'm not proud of though, but you don't need that list!
I've not read through all this, so I may be repeating. But I try very hard not to EVER say anything that I will not be willing to follow through on. My kids need to know that I mean what I say. And since I'm not willing to send them back to PS, no matter what, I dare not threaten them with it.
If I did, Ems would know that it wouldn't happen. So it would be useless to do so. I talk to much about how much I can't stand our school district.LOL
I would not threaten to send my kid to PS. We are homeschooling becasue it is a family lifestyle choice we have made. We are working as a family to make it happen. To threaten to send my student away might seem like we are alienating her from the family. Also the world's value system is going to encourage a desire to go to PS and get what they have to offer, and here I refer to those things that are counter to what we are trying to avoid by homeschooling. I don't want to do anything to encourage my child in that direction.
