Very random question from a potential home edder

[Scout19075]

Hello!

I have recently found a Home Ed Group that actually meets in my town for people in my town and the surrounding villages. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised, to say the least, given where I live. My DH and I are seriously considering home education our DS who is only 7.5 months old. I sent an email to the address on the website where I found the group's details (including meet-up days, times and locations), which I checked and had been updated in April 2010, to ask if I could pop along to meet other families, ask some questions, etc. So far I've heard nothing and one of the meet-up days is quickly approaching. So, my questions are really -- should I coordinate my visit with someone or is it okay to just show-up? I'm trying to figure out what's acceptable and don't want to put anyone out even before my DS is of schooling age but would really like a bit of support before we take the plunge!

Many thanks for your advice!

I would just show up. I've heard about a group near me but I can't for the life of me find anything about it on the web, email was return to sender etc, so that's what I'm planning to do (be brave!).

Thanks Riven and robberbutton. I will be brave and put BabyScout in his stroller and just turn up!

Good luck

If they've put all the details online, then just show up. If they didn't want people doing that, then they shouldn't put everything on their website like that!

Hope it goes well - when is it?

Good luck and tell us how it went

Thanks, I will. I thought the next one was tomorrow but I counted the weeks wrong and it was last Wednesday. Whoops! The next meet up is next week on Friday. That gives me time to make note of some of my questions, just in case!

Excited and nervous all at the same time.

Thank you for the advice (and confidence booster!). I'll let you know how it goes!

You are very....keen. Most parents of 7.5 month olds home educate

However, even at most toddler groups people will be discussing school and may treat Scout19075 as peculiar if she starts to talk about EHE. It is a good idea to make EHE connections now and find out what is available. As she says, the DC being so young gives her a chance to make an informed decision.

I agree - I have a few RL friends involved/interested in HE and only talk about it with them.

Actually when I first met one lady, I asked where her 4yo would be going to school, and she said "actually we're going to try HE". this was before I found this board so hadn't talked to anyone about it - I said "WOW that is so cool! I'm jealous!" and she looked like she could fall over in shock, because I'd reacted positively, instead of the normal "are you crazy?" type of response.

I was never able to join in the school talk at toddler groups (quite relieved in a way as it was nearly all moaning!). I'm sure they thought I was weird. I think it's important to get to know people doing the same thing as you (I know no-one HE's exactly the same, but ykwim).

I am going gatecrash the school crowd for stationary shopping come Aug/Sep... Mmmmmmmmm new stationary

I found my local group online and when I saw they were meeting around the corner from me I popped over to see them.
They were very friendly and I'm glad I went.

lou -- I know all parents, in some way or another, home educate. But as some of the others have said, the few people at toddler groups or friends I have mentioned the possiblity to think I'm nuts (to be fair, some of my close friends have said something along the lines of "Good on ya!" and "I'm impressed you're thinking so far ahead/long term"). I'm hoping to establish contacts to not only make an informed decision (the decision to EHE is almost 100%) but to develop my (physical) support network as I start to prepare.

I think you're very sensible, Scout. I know it's good if the children have schooled as well as HE'd friends, but I do think it helps the parents to be in contact with like-minded people (so long as you get on with them!) too keep your resolve going, and help get you through wobbly patches. Particularly if you're going the autonomous route, which seems such a leap of faith, but spending time with other autonomous HEors with slightly older chidren gives you a lot of confidence, I've found.

Just a quick update -- I did get an email back from the person who helps coordinate the group. She's invited us (me and BabyScout) round for coffee and a chat so I can find out about some of their meet-ups and activities and so I'll have a familiar face (and she'll introduce me to others). YAY!

yay Sounds good!

Another update -- met with the coordinator woman today and her DC. Very nice. I've been invited along to one of their activities next week and told there are a couple of other babies in the group (as younger siblings to school age children) so very excited!

That's fabulous! I hope you have a great time.

Here's another idea, if you want to start building your social network: there may be other people in the area who are in just the same situation as you, with babies or preschool-aged children and considering HE or planning on it.

About six months ago someone in my area posted on the local email list to see whether people wanted to get together. It has flushed quite a lot of families out of the woodwork. About 15 "preschool" families now meet up regularly. We didn't want the work or commitment or expense of hiring a hall etc, so we just email each other to arrange ad hoc meetings at the park or at a drop-in family centre. It's working great so far.

While families without older children are often welcome at home ed groups, they are generally designed with the needs of older children in mind and may not be ideal for littler ones. That is why few of these families used to go to the other local HE events.

It's a bit unfortunate that there is a divide between families who have older children and those who don't - I think I'm the only one in our preschool group who has an older child! as all the others are too busy to come to a preschool group - but it's nice to talk to others with children at a similar stage, and our children may eventually become friends.

One of the few activities in our area which attracts parents whose children are all different ages is a regular pub night out for parents to attend without their children. I quite enjoy that because I have a good chance to chat with people I might not otherwise meet. That might be another thing which you could suggest in due course.

Saracen, do you know how long it took to flush people out of the woodwork? I have posted on the local board of another site about meeting up with other 'non preschoolers' but so far have had no response I'm not able to make it to any of our local HE groups so trying to set up one of my own so my 3 year old has some older kids to play with.

Sorry Tarenath, I didn't explain properly: it was a fairly busy local home ed email list, not a general parenting list: was that what you tried? The response was very quick: about half a dozen within the first week, if I remember right.

Also, years ago - before there was a local HE presence on the internet - I did start my own group for parents of 3/4 year old children who didn't go to nursery. I plastered the local area with notices, especially the library. A couple of us were planning on home educating, and we swayed several of the others to consider HE too. That was only a stopgap solution, because once our children reached school age some went off to school and others to the home ed group. But it was good while it lasted.

Thanks Saracen, for the advice/info. I think I will try that, too, but will probably wait until after the summer holidays at this point because of all of my extra curriculars (preparing for Guide camp, starting some medical stuff, family holiday). But BabyScout is only 8 months old so waiting another month or two will be okay, I think. I am going to go along on Wednesday, though, and meet some of the other people. I think there will be an advantage of meeting some families with older children -- great people to get advice from!