to be gutted that my kids are going back to school?

[memoo]

Everyone I know is practically counting down the hours until their DC go back to school but I'm gutted! I really love the time we have together in the hols, hate all the routine and rushing around during term time.

When I tell friends that I don't want my kids to go back to school they look at me like I have two heads!

What, you're all 'gutted'? You bunch of over-reactors.

was delighted mine went back last thurs, but they had been off since 1 July!

I'm gutted as it means I have one very pissed off sulky young man until half term...

Am torn.
Have had eight weeks of hanging, mooching and yapping but I do want to get back into some sort of routine.
For a start I'm gagging to get on with my next book.
Not looking forward to getting up at 7 though.

dd was back at pre school this morning (waved her off happily)
ds is back at school tommorrow (year2) and is really looking forward to it

I love the summer holidays but I also really look forward to a bit of peace and quiet.

[nonweirdyemoticon]

YANBU im dreading it too - no rushing around in the morning and loads of time together. We have been to the Black Country Museum today and it was wet but fab!

I am with you memoo. It has flown by. I wish we had another 6 weeks, but dc1 is really loooking forward to going back.

Think it makes it easier if they are looking forward to it. DS hates school - he has ASD traits and finds it really difficult, he is so relaxed and happy when he is at home full time.

I'll be glad to see an end to the bickerthon that's been raging in our house for the last 6 weeks but really sad at the same time as my gorgeous baby DS2 is starting school.

I'm sort of dreading all the rushing around etc and DS will be doing less hours for the first term in reception than he was doing at nursery, so a bit of a nightmare.

Also have DD starting Middle School at the same time so am a bit apprehensive about how it is all going to go.

Amethyst - are you not tempted to HE?

I wouldn't home educate because although I would probably enjoy it, they adore school.
I don't get this unschooling thing. They do a lot more than sit in lessons staring at a blackboard from 9-3.

pointydog over-reacting is much more fun - I need the added drama in my life!

Oh weird.

No, mine love school - they have such a variety of things to do there and I get chance to work and do household stuff without worrying about neglecting them!

I like the holidays and having days out with them etc but they are gonig a bit nuts now - it's time for them to get back into a routine and do some new things.

I don't get the rushing around in the morning panic thing.

Kids get up
Quick wash clean teeth
Get dressed
Have breakfast

I make packed lunches
Have a coffee
Quick shower
Dressed and swipe of mascara and lippie

All out of the door at 8.30

Get back
Have breakfast and read the paper

Its not that bloody difficult

I am, but I don t know if I have the patience or aptitude for it and the social side of things concern me. We are going to see how he settles this year and have talked to his school about flexi schooling, which may be an option. So if he gets one on one this year, as we are hoping then he would go in for that and then be educated at home for the rest of the time - I use the term "educated" loosely because I don t think we would be very structured about it. I do loads of reading, cooking etc with him now so perhaps if we just built on that.

sagacious, I think it depends if you are a morning type person or not, ditto your children.

I am not by nature.

Me either sagacious but I'm organised and efficient person and I lay clothes out the night before and we have an established routine for how things happen.

Oh, and I just get up early enough that I can fit everything in - that's the trick (would you believe it?!)!

Very best of luck with it, Amethyst.

They have gone so quickly this year!
I also feel cheated that we didn't have a summer.

Amethyst86 loads of families home educate children with ASD traits.
There is a webpage for families who home educate children with SEN and it includes a email support list-and links to a blog, where families who do this have described a month in their life...

There is also a book, that may be of interest, "Home Educating Our Autistic Spectrum Children: Paths are made by walking" edited by Terry Dowty
Synopsis
Mainstream educational provision for children on the autistic spectrum can be inadequate or inappropriate. An increasing number of parents dissatisfied with the education system are looking elsewhere for an approach that will suit their children's needs. In "Home Educating Our Autistic Spectrum Children", parents who have chosen to home educate their children with autism or Asperger's syndrome candidly relate their experiences: how they reached the decision to educate at home, how they set about the task, and how it has affected their lives. Following these personal accounts, the final chapters offer practical advice on getting started with home education, legal advice from an expert in education law, and contact details of support organisations.

The socialisation aspect worries every new to home ed parent at first, but there are home ed local groups all over the country now, there may well be one near to you. Our children have a social life that is the envy of their schooled peers and cousins, so it may not need be a problem. There is a thread about finding other home educators on the home ed section of this forum.

The 'reading and cooking' type activities you talk of, is how we started and built on that-and we are not structured at all and have got them to the stage where they can take A levels very successfully or start an OU course.

Sagacious I just love the fact that in the holidays there is no obligation for dd to do anything specific in any particular time frame. She likes school & is most unimpressed whenever I suggest she might want to not go (other children in our co-op are home ed but she is little miss socialite and took to it right from the start) - but she is appallingly bad at any sort of deadlines, so getting her to school on time is always a challenge! Our morning reads something like:
DD wakes up, becomes engrossed in book
I drink tea, suggest she might want to get dressed
She eventually stops reading book, puts on pants, starts to construct palace using only red and white lego in stripes
I make breakfast, she puts on remaining clothes and starts to make princess wardrobe for playmobil residing in palace
And so on
Quite sure I am doing something wrong - little success so far in changing things!
Luckily tomorrow will doubtless be fine as the first day back she is always excited about going.

sagacious-what time do you get up? we have the alarm set for 7.30 usually and always seem to end up rushing. will have to set for 7 this term and see if it's easier.
find it a rush.

i usually do the lunches the night before otherwise it's really hard!

I get up at 6.45-7 so I know I can get showered and ready without feeling rushed.

usually I get a load of washing in, beds made and dishes washed before we leave

I set my alarm for 6.30!