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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner quit his job to homeschool his autistic son

164 replies

mumwatchthis · 23/11/2024 18:37

Hi guys
Just some advice if you don’t mind!
Me and my partner have been together for 8 years, and we have two kids together. He has another son (aged 10) who from a previous relationship who was diagnosed with autism earlier this year. He was getting so stressed out at school, that we (collectively as a couple, plus his Mum) made the decision to pull him out of school, with my partner taking the lead on homeschooling. Consequently, my partner left his full time job where he earned £40k+ a year. We agreed that we knew it would be tough financially and would bring extra pressure and stress, but would make it work and once they’d settled into a routine, he would look for a part time job at the very least. Let’s just say we weren’t financially secure beforehand, but we have muddled through. However, we are really struggling and I feel our other two kids are suffering as a result of this (their quality of life isn’t as good as it would have been if he was working), and he hasn’t yet found another job, with his excuse being that we wouldn’t be any better off (we claim universal credit which I would rather not have to do given I have worked full time since I was 16).
Am I being unreasonable to raise this with him, and tell him I’m not completely happy with this set up and he needs to change it. If we didn’t have our kids, I wouldn’t be as bothered but it’s affecting their lives and I don’t see that was very fair.
Thanks!

OP posts:
Ger1atricMillennial · 23/11/2024 20:34

I think the most important message here is that the current plan is unsustainable. Its important to remember that your SSon is part of a family not just a monolith on his own.

It looks like you might have to the be the one with the sensible hat on here, so you are going to have to do this work on your own.

+The first thing you need to do is draw up a budget with all your income and outgoings. If you other kids are sometimes going without food this is the family priority not the schooling.

  • The next thing is that you are saving 1-3 months worth of expenses for unexpected expenses (boilers, you becoming unwell etc...), holidays etc...

  • Then how are you saving long term saving i.e. pension.

Just a side note. I am a sibling to a person with high needs and even though rationally I could understand that my sibling required more than me, it did mean that alot of my needs got overlooked and caused a lot of emotional issues for me. In order to meet your SSs high educational needs he is getting alot of quality time with his parent. This may cause your other children might become resentful as they won't feel as important. They are not going to admit this to you. If there is a way to facilitate a trusted sustainable relationship with an adult so they are getting the space to express any anger and feel heard without causing further pain, it will save a lot of drama as they go into teenage years. If you want more information the term is now called "glass children" and a really good example in the media is "Missy" in Young Sheldon.

IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine · 23/11/2024 20:36

I just cannot fathom how you and your partner didn't realise his giving up work would have a negative financial impact on your other children.

RoaryLion1 · 23/11/2024 20:37

As PP have said, in the short term you need to get the relevant benefits paid to your DP. What financial arrangements were agreed when he and his ex agreed to the home-schooling?

Medium term, your DP needs to look for work. How many hours a day is he spending homeschooling? Could he go back to previous job but PT? If he was on 40k previously he should be able to get something now, even PT, that would make you better off than under UC.

musicforthesoul · 23/11/2024 20:37

Why is his mom claiming dla/carers if its your partner who's given up work to homeschool? That doesn't seem right.

Something has to give if you can't afford clothes/food properly for all the DC, the current plan clearly isn't sustainable.

Whether that's a part time job/a change in who claims the benefits etc needs to be discussed.

Artistbythewater · 23/11/2024 20:38

The mother needs to take over, and on line school needs to be organised if she is taking the allowance. I wouldn’t be happy in this situation at all. Long tern consequences with pensions, savings, career progression is huge for you and your other dc.

StormingNorman · 23/11/2024 20:39

Siblings are always affected when the disability of one child means a parent needs to stop working to provide care. This isn’t about prioritising one over another, it’s just a reality of life with a disabled child.

Zooeyzo · 23/11/2024 20:40

Ger1atricMillennial · 23/11/2024 20:34

I think the most important message here is that the current plan is unsustainable. Its important to remember that your SSon is part of a family not just a monolith on his own.

It looks like you might have to the be the one with the sensible hat on here, so you are going to have to do this work on your own.

+The first thing you need to do is draw up a budget with all your income and outgoings. If you other kids are sometimes going without food this is the family priority not the schooling.

  • The next thing is that you are saving 1-3 months worth of expenses for unexpected expenses (boilers, you becoming unwell etc...), holidays etc...

  • Then how are you saving long term saving i.e. pension.

Just a side note. I am a sibling to a person with high needs and even though rationally I could understand that my sibling required more than me, it did mean that alot of my needs got overlooked and caused a lot of emotional issues for me. In order to meet your SSs high educational needs he is getting alot of quality time with his parent. This may cause your other children might become resentful as they won't feel as important. They are not going to admit this to you. If there is a way to facilitate a trusted sustainable relationship with an adult so they are getting the space to express any anger and feel heard without causing further pain, it will save a lot of drama as they go into teenage years. If you want more information the term is now called "glass children" and a really good example in the media is "Missy" in Young Sheldon.

Edited

I think about glass siblings a lot. My older daughter understands that we can't always do everything but as a family we are extremely lucky that extended family help take my daughter to places, activities so she never misses out. It's hard for me though having to miss out on taking her.

schoolsuckz · 23/11/2024 20:42

I’m sorry you’re in this complex situation. There’s not much additional info in order to give a fuller picture of matters practically speaking (eg. your salary, mother’s home set up/salary, DSD’s living arrangements etc). You say the three of you discussed and agreed to this, so you would be very unreasonable to now throw the whole thing on the scrap heap because quite foreseeable financial difficulties are arising. This also suggests that you’ve been able to work together effectively in the past and it would be a great shame for all of you and especially your DSD if that were to be lost.

Agree with other posters that financially you need to tackle this as a threesome as well - ie. mother needs to recognise that father is essentially providing full time childcare enabling her to work (I assume - difficult to tell from your posts) and make a more significant contribution.

However, (and I imagine that this won’t be a popular point of view), you might also recognise that your partner’s change of situation could now enable you to seek a role at a higher salary with him picking up childcare after school for all three children, doing all drop offs pick ups etc. Is that feasible?

I would tread very carefully and consider offering whatever support you can to facilitate matters with your whole family unit and your own children’s best interests in mind. Your partner clearly wants to step up for his son (not every parent would) and, while there are sacrifices, there are also valuable lessons here for your shared children about how to be there for a family member/working together/who their dad is. Plus the benefit of having a parent around at home full time/help with homework etc.

You also need to manage your own feelings around claiming benefits - it might be an admirable view in general, but there are additional needs and the well-being of multiple people to consider so you need to be able to flex on your viewpoint here. This includes looking at activities for the other kids that will give bursary/free places, using charities which will support with food/clothing, checking entitlements to winter fuel/free school meals etc etc

If your partner has been willing to take this step for his son, it doesn’t seem to me very far fetched to think that you withdrawing your support for an arrangement you agreed, could have a very serious impact on the viability of your relationship long term. How would that impact you and your children, as well as your partner and his eldest child? What happens to your DSD right now could well also impact his adult life quite deeply (educational/vocational attainment, employability, relationships etc). What impact will it have on you and your partner and children if he doesn’t receive the support he needs and it results in him needing greater support for far longer? How would you feel if this was one of your own children?

The situation you are in is far from straightforward and there isn’t a clear solution. Sometimes that’s just how life is. It is not your partner’s “fault”. You are in this situation by mutual agreement and it is not his problem to solve alone. Things may also change over time. Perhaps part of your H’s time should be spent (if not already) ensuring that all possible avenues for support are followed, applications for special schools are submitted and followed up regularly (if available - you don’t say whether there are special schools near you).

Essentially I don’t think you can just pull the rug, but of course everyone in your household needs to be fed and clothed. Try and approach any conversation from the point of view of being on the same team and offer whatever additional support you can, in the first instance, to help facilitate the current situation. Recognise the upside of who your partner is and what he is trying to achieve, even though the situation is not ideal. You are more likely to be met halfway with this approach.

PS Bear in mind that there may be a genetic component to this - have you considered whether either of your shared children may also have additional needs? It would be ironic for you to create an impasse on your relationship over this only to later discover that another child would also benefit from additional parental input.

Floppyelf · 23/11/2024 20:46

EHCP you need one. Lobby your MP. This is something the labour govt is focusing on about mainstreaming kids with disabilities and Learning difficulties.

DiddyRa · 23/11/2024 20:47

somenonsense · 23/11/2024 18:48

YANBU.

You can't afford this.

He has three children not one.

Is your partner lazy? Is he doing all the housework, cooking, mental load now?

Have you ever been a carer to and homeschooled a disabled child. That’s more than a full time job in itself FYI. Be hard to be lazy 🙄

Ger1atricMillennial · 23/11/2024 20:49

Zooeyzo · 23/11/2024 20:40

I think about glass siblings a lot. My older daughter understands that we can't always do everything but as a family we are extremely lucky that extended family help take my daughter to places, activities so she never misses out. It's hard for me though having to miss out on taking her.

Yup, it is an accepted reality of the situation. And to be clear the children know that the parents are doing the best they can, with what they have and what they know. But it still sucks for them, and when they have an issue they don't wish to burden their parents who are already soooo exhausted so they get sort of stuck.

I would like to think that if it is identified early and there is a a routine established with someone at school where they get 30 mins a week to learn to talk about themselves and be listened too then it would prevent a lot of problems... but I guess alot of kids would benefit from that as well.

Kitkat1523 · 23/11/2024 20:51

I could never have agreed to this in the first place…..I would need to protect my own children’s needs ……and if that’s selfish, then so be it

Todaywasbetter · 23/11/2024 20:52

You said it’s not working so you need to do something else. You’ve given him a solid foundation with a routine of homeschooling but now heading for secondary school look for special school.

DiddyRa · 23/11/2024 20:55

babyproblems · 23/11/2024 19:39

This sounds mad. You’d be better looking for a setting that would work for the child.. i might be naive but I am not convinced homeschooling is the best option for anyone tbh. It might be If extreme needs and no funding etc but if he has a diagnosis surely there is some extra provison for him somewhere??

Yes it is naive I’m afraid. Some children there are just zero available suitable provisions for. Very depressing. But very true.

AllYearsAround · 23/11/2024 20:55

Could your DP find an evening or weekend job?

Would your DS be able to cope with a childminder setting or home ed club for a day or two a week?

Alltheyearround · 23/11/2024 20:57

40k? Did you guys not have any savings?

AllYearsAround · 23/11/2024 20:57

It might also be useful to join your local home ed group if you haven't already, and ask other local parents what they're doing for work and childcare.

Very few home educating families can afford to have one completely SAHP unfortunately.

Foodie333 · 23/11/2024 20:59

Help DS get education NOW will benefit whole family later.

Are you getting disability allowance for child?

Createausername1970 · 23/11/2024 21:01

Noras · 23/11/2024 19:03

Yes this is absolutely it. I was one of those mums. It’s a heck of a sacrifice and now I’m hoping to work at an old age.

So was I. Don't regret it, but it does have knock on effects in income and pension etc.

Motheranddaughter · 23/11/2024 21:04

It really does not seem life this is an affordable option

Chachacha01 · 23/11/2024 21:08

If your dh wasn’t home-schooling, would your stepson be entitled to tuition?

My dc used to do 2 hours a day in a library with a tutor and when that didn’t work out, the tutor came to the house. It’s not an ideal situation as the parent still needs to be in the house but it might be a stepping stone to getting back into education. There was also an agency who used to take my dc out after the tuition for a few hours and they would concentrate on social skills. (This was all arranged by the local authority.) My dc did get a placement in a special school eventually but they were out of school for two years until somewhere suitable was found.

I think you all need to look at this as a short-term solution only.

Butfirstcoffee123 · 23/11/2024 21:11

Look into EOTAS if an EHCP / special school isn’t an option. The Local authority would then have to cover all schooling costs outside a school setting.

Threelittleduck · 23/11/2024 21:17

Why are people assuming this child can get an EHCP and will straight away get in to a special school? It very rarely works like that.
Your DP needs to claim DLA for his DS as current setup is ridiculous. You don't say how much you earn but if your DP was getting the benefits and claiming UC you probably wouldn't be struggling.
If for whatever reason he won't/can't claim then the three adults need to sit down and work out a new solution.

Tireddadplus · 23/11/2024 21:17

pl228 · 23/11/2024 19:04

YABU
I've spend my ASD DS's entire childhood helping him massively
I don't work as a result
Absolutely necessary
But people think of me as lazy/pondlife for it

That last sentence is the most horrible thing I’ve heard for ages. So sorry. My mum has done the same with my bro and its the most selfless and impressive thing i have ever seen!

MattSmithsBowTie · 23/11/2024 21:17

I don’t have any experience in this area but what happens when parents can’t give up their job to homeschool, does the child just have to go to an unsuitable school or would the local authority then be forced into putting something in place? I just know in your situation I wouldn’t be very impressed with DH giving up work to do all of the homeschooling and the mum doing nothing, even if she’s not teaching him she could be looking after him for half the week so your DH could work part time.

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