So in the midst of everything else, we thought it would be a supergreat and totally not at all crazy idea to change Monkey’s schooling YET AGAIN. Because what Aspies love more than anything else is CHANGE! Yes. Except no. And lord knows things have just been SO BORING ’round here.
(The alternate version of this story is that Hippie School—lovingly dubbed thus two years ago when it was still mostly a joke—is undergoing some changes and growing pains, and after careful consideration, we feel the program which has so nurtured him for the past two years is just not going to meet his needs anymore, moving forward. I like the first version better, though.)
Today was Monkey’s last day, and so we swung by the store on the way home to buy some Pokemon cards to ease the sting. Next year we’ll continue homeschooling, and then… well, we have a lot of decisions to make about what he’ll be doing for high school. We’ll see.
In the meantime, if you are one of those I-could-never-homeschool types, I feel you. My latest post over at Alpha Mom is all about how I never could’ve, either, but then I did, and it’s been kind of awesome.
As a work-at-home mom with a first-grader who’s been home sick the past two days, I’m still pretty sure I couldn’t do it, but I’m glad it’s worked out so well for you.
I’m worried that this is the exact type of post I need to read …
I have been homeschooling my youngest (11) for 2 years now and I love it too. Just home from an impromptu field trip to the zoo since it is FINALLY nice out here in WI. He is thinking about going back to school next year and I am kind of sad, although a tiny part of me does think having some time home alone would be kind of cool.
I am so glad it is working out for you too, although it is too bad about hippie school.
I like everything about the idea of homeschooling except the part where my child never leaves the house. We’re looking into UMS. I think that might be the direction we take. Lucky for us, our daughter still has one more year until she should start kindergarten.
Just wanted you to know that your chronicle of your kids’ education has been immensely helpful as I navigate my own kids’ journeys through school. Thank you for writing about it.
So sorry to hear about Hippie School; I’d hoped the lack of commentary on it had just meant it was one of those stable areas in your world, and not a problem you just didn’t want to deal with right now.
And I promise I’ll go read the Alphamom essay when I’m feeling less raw and angry about our own school issues right now. Because I’m not so much a mom who swore I’d never homeschool, but rather a mom who’s never, you know, home…and that’s just too painful to deal with at the moment, especially since I’m sure you’re going to be telling us about how wonderful it can be.
I was feeling all sad about this, until I realized that Hippie School had ended (we have weeks of school left, and I thought you had pulled him.) But it was a great read.
We always knew you could. ;)
My SIL homeschooled all her kids and they loved it and even graduated yearly.
LOVED the Alphamom post! Such a wonderful take on how versatile and flexible homeschooling can be. Not all kids can be on the conveyor belt of Public School education. I home school four and it is a different ball game for each one. Thanks for sharing your ideas and perspective!