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Original poster

so,,,,all kids we know are back to school this week

12 replies

becaroo · 01/09/2010 13:09

On the one hand, I am really happy he is staying at home with me and ds2 but on the other now all the kids are back at school the looks and questions will start again when we are out and about...sigh.

It makes me so sad to hear my dsis say she cant wait for my nephews to be back at school so she can have a clean house Sad I also know someone who knows her dd is far too young to be starting school (she was 4 about 3 weeks ago) but is sending her anyway because "I need a break" Sad

I would like to so something special for him on he day he would have started juniors (monday) any ideas???

x

OP posts:
Livingbytheriver · 01/09/2010 14:54

not on monday perhaps but are there any 'not back to school' picnics happening near you?

SDeuchars · 01/09/2010 17:00

There is a Yahoo! group, groups.yahoo.com/group/notbacktoschoolpicnic/, co-ordinating picnics around 16 Sept.

throckenholt · 01/09/2010 18:10

I am looking forward to term starting again so we can go to all those places we have avoided all summer because they were so crowded !

This is our first term with all 3 at home so we will be more noticable when we are out and about - must brace ourselves for questions I suppose.

Is there anywhere near that he would enjoy ? Museum, castle, beach, woodland - just anywhere a little bit out of the ordinary that will be fun for him.

Original poster
becaroo · 01/09/2010 19:06

He seems a bit underwhelmed by it all really, didnt seem that interested in doing anything!!!! I dont think he sees it as a big thing but I do! Smile

OP posts:
LackingInspiration · 01/09/2010 19:08

I'm looking forward to term starting too - our playground will be quieter, the older two won't be begging to go and play with their friends every two minutes, their clubs all start back, our weeks will get a bit more of a pattern again.

I've never had negative comments, though, becaroo - do you really find it's a problem?

Original poster
becaroo · 01/09/2010 19:23

It can be.....not really nasty comments but undisguised disapproval. Either that or dismissive laughter. Not sure which I like least tbh!

The worst thing has been the comments from "friends". Had some very odd ones. We have been completely ostracised (sp?) by people I thought I was close to and the invites for ds1 to go to parties etc have dried up. He has not met up with any of his old friends in the hols which makes me sad but doesnt seem to bother him. I did send a couple of texts but heard nothing back and I am not prepared to keep asking and getting ignored.

I think I have been a bit naive...I believed that people would accept our decision for what it was i.e. what was best for our ds1 but I think they have seen it as some sort of judgement on their parenting choices.

I hope it doesnt come across like that - schools are great for some kids but not for others. I have certainly noticed a "cooling off" from people now that ds1 definately isnt going to juniors (which was a possibility when we first de-registered him)

OP posts:
musicposy · 01/09/2010 20:34

My DD2 would have been starting secondary this Friday so it feels a bit momentous for me, and I feel I should do something too - but I suspect it will all wash over her!

We've been out of school 3 years now, and I think the comments are better than they were after about a year. I think people have given up trying to persuade us! I definitely have more of a don't give a what people think frame of mind! Grin

Ragz · 01/09/2010 23:01

Aww Musicposy, perhaps we should meet here on Friday just to have a sob over how old we feel ! Our babies are growing up !

We have been HE-ing for nearly 2 years now and I still get negative comments, from mainly family members, Mum works in the very school we removed the children from so a bit biased methinks LOL and a sister whose children are too young to go to school....can't wait till they do ! Other people seem to think generally what we "do" is amazing and ask questions about how they would go about it. I am a lot like musicposy though, and I really don't care a fig what people think, we have done what we considered best for our children and their welfare, so it's really no-one else's concern ! With a family like mine I can handle a few dirty looks in Tescos !

I love it too, like throckenholt we can go to all the places we have avoided because they get so busy during school holidays.

I too asked my eldest if he wanted to "mark the occasion" and all he wants to do is go to a bookshop to spend a giftcard on a book ! He turned 11 in August and had the "Twilight" series for his birthday, which he has now gone through...I was thinking along the lines of a Science Museum or theme park trip....but no, all he wants is a new book !

Ragz

musicposy · 02/09/2010 07:56

I think a book would be a lovely idea, actually. I really like that - perhaps I will take her to Waterstones. Grin

Mine was only just 11 last week too. It's another reason I'm quite glad she isn't in school, as she's emotionally still quite young, and tiny for 11 into the bargain! HE is so good because where she's at academically and what interests her emotionally don't have to be on the same level at all, we can just go with the flow.:)

Sorry for the thread hijack, becaroo! But I do like the book idea. Then you have something permanent to mark the occasion.

Original poster
becaroo · 02/09/2010 08:21

That is a good idea MP Will ask him! x

OP posts:
julienoshoes · 02/09/2010 11:37

I loved this time of year all the years when we home educated. We looked forward to meeting all of the home educating families locally< at meetings and events when the swimming pools/ice rink/adventure parks were empty again. Looked forward to all of the musem workshops, theatre visits etc starting up again.

it is different for us now, as DD2 is going back to FE college next week and ds is off to start Uni later this month.......and that I am enjoying, watching all the home ed young people moving on with their lives, in employment, college and University, so successfully.

It is all so different now, from the time when our children were in school and we all dreaded the return dates, as they hated it so much.

Ragz · 02/09/2010 14:17

Hello All,

I don't know if inadvertently I started the whole book thing ! I am so thrilled that my 2 like reading, as I am a real bookworm myself...I keep getting told I am "lucky" my DS loves to read.

I bought my 2 books when they first started school, and wrote in the book "To DS/DD blah blah with all our love Mummy and Daddy" and the date. It was to give them a sense that it was an important time in their life, but it also meant I could give them a book that would inspire them to read, unlike some they brought home !

I always try to buy books for them on birthdays and christmas too, and write in them, and they are things that they will hopefully keep and treasure. I've got a whole set of the original "Ladybird" books....anyone remember them ?! - and my DD and I have had a great time learning to read with them. Some aren't relevant nowadays, but still such fun to read ! Although, I have been a little disappointed remembering books that I thought were huge when I was little, and such long stories...only to find now are only about 10 pages long !
Isn't it a shame our DC's are in such a hurry to grow up...mine don't believe me when I say this, now, is the best time of their lives LOL !

Ragz XXXXX

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