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RE: Jumping ship - 1/2/2008 10:41:12 AM
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zoebob
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Houghton had chapel 5 days a week
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RE: Jumping ship - 1/2/2008 10:48:24 AM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
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From: Cow country, Upstate NY
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It was Wednesday when I went there. Girls had to wear dresses/skirts and boys had to wear ties on chapel day also. Now the dress code is the same every day, and chapel is Thursday. I think the chapel day was changed because it can be hard to get outside speakers on Wednesdays for some reason.
I've done a massive pile of dishes, garbages throughout the house, read with Hannah, a couple loads of laundry, and mostly undecorated the tree (can't reach the top, and I'm not doing the lights myself). It's not even lunch time yet.  I think when Sesame Street is done, I'm going to put in my workout DVD that I bought last year and never used. Maybe Hannah and I can do that while Levi is napping every day.  Tomorrow, we'll go shopping in the morning and Friday, Levi has a doctor's appointment to recheck his ears and lungs, so that'll help break up those days some.
I keep wondering what Noah is doing now and how he's doing and if he's giving anyone a hard time or if he's being a sweet little angel. And wondering if he has snack time, will he eat his whole lunch then? And will he remember to try to poop after lunch (he has a constipation issue he's being treated for)?
I'm not sure I like this, but I think it will grow on me. Definitely going to take some getting used to though.
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RE: Jumping ship - 1/2/2008 4:11:23 PM
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PrincessDonna
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From: Cow country, Upstate NY
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He got home shortly after 3, so he's gone from 7:50 to 3:15, not too bad, considering the kids across the street get picked up at 6:45 and aren't home until 4. He has 4 pages of reading to do, but that's it today.
List of specials...
M, T, W...gym
W...show and tell, Spanish
Th...art and chapel
F...music
He did have an issue with one kid...the one I thought he was good friends with. He sat with him on the bus, then the kid was calling him names at school and he told the teacher. The kid ended up with three strikes today (must be their behavior system??) and got extra homework. Noah didn't sit with him on the way home. I don't know this kid or his parents so it's hard to tell what's going on. I just told Noah to do what HE is supposed to do and if there is a problem, to let the teacher know without being tattly or whiny.
Overall, I think a good day. Hannah is already talking about going with him tomorrow. 
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RE: Jumping ship - 1/2/2008 4:49:30 PM
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PrincessDonna
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From: Cow country, Upstate NY
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I told her we're going to Walmart tomorrow after brother goes to school. She's happy about that.
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RE: Jumping ship - 1/2/2008 9:08:18 PM
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W.O.F.
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sounds like he had a good day at school..and you all had a good day at home too.
Hannah will get her turn, IF God wills that she go away to school also...if not...she'll deal.
Maybe he can take her for show and tell one week.....
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RE: Jumping ship - 1/2/2008 9:44:12 PM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
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From: Cow country, Upstate NY
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LOL...maybe! Wednesday is my Bible study, which is right at the school/church. I'll have to find out what time show and tell is. Maybe he can get her to say her ABC's.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 6:52:19 PM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
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From: Cow country, Upstate NY
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Resurrecting the old thread for some more valued input from you all...
Noah has been in school over 2 months now. He has good days and he has bad days. I think overall, he is doing well. But there are many things I am not satisfied with. I do not like someone else having complete control over what my child does over 1/3 of the day. I do not like the lack of flexibility with curriculum and such. I do not feel that having him in this school long term is financially responsible for our family, nor do I think he gains enough there that he cannot get at home to justify the expense. He does love being with kids his age, but if I/we work harder on that during his time at home, I don't think that is reason enough to keep him there.
NOT that I think it is a bad school! Not at all! I know the teachers are great and I am glad the school is there when we need it. I'm just not sure it's best for our family long-term.
Anyway, if I were not having a baby in September, I think I would not send him back next year. But because I am, we are planning on sending him and possibly pulling him out at Christmas break, if that seems the best thing to do. I know we are going to get quite a bit of negative feedback on this from family and maybe some friends.
So what do you think? Are my reasons enough to justify putting him in and out of "real" school as we see fit?
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:02:51 PM
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cynthia
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quote:
ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna
So what do you think? Are my reasons enough to justify putting him in and out of "real" school as we see fit?
Donna,
You are his mother. As long as you and Brian are in unity in these decisions, you do not have to "justify" your reasons to anyone. You know what is best for Noah and for your family. Do what you believe is best and don't worry what others think. Your house is not run by a democracy of outside observers. It is run by you and Brian.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:05:24 PM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
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Cynthia.  Of course I know that. But I also know there is much wisdom here, and I value the input of many of you. You might make me think of things I haven't thought of yet. So...input away, and I'll decide what is or isn't valid for our situation.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:10:03 PM
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Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6288
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From: WA
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Donna, I don't save outgoing PMs so if you want to post my response on this subject in here, that would be fine with me.
In any case, it amounts to about the same thing Cynthia said, lol, only less eloquently.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:15:47 PM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
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From: Cow country, Upstate NY
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Jen's PM.
quote:
I think putting him in for a semester next year is perfectly reasonable. After all, you did that THIS year, and THAT was perfectly reasonable, right?
I figure by the end of the year you'll have figured out how to juggle things with the new baby and you will be able to add HSing back in, if that's what you are supposed to do. Now, you could try to push things this summer and 'save up' so that you can take some time off when the baby is born...but after a semester at school, it could be that you'll all want a little more relaxation, and this might be a tough pregnancy, as well. So making use of the school for a few months sounds like a fine idea to me. (And I wouldn't even do it! LOL)
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:18:40 PM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
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From: Cow country, Upstate NY
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To reiterate, I'm not looking for someone to make the decision for Brian and I. I don't even plan to make the decision until after the baby is born in September. I'm just a planner (HA! when I make plans, God laughs) and I'm trying to think ahead to next year. I'm looking for thoughts from the outside of the situation, and also for things I haven't thought of yet. You guys are good at making me think outside the box. 
Some of the problems that have or are frustrating me...the focus on grades, not mastery of skills. The use of food (donuts) as reward for grades. Eliminating a new student from the food reward without thought to how that would affect him, and without asking the "old school" what his grades would have been for that quarter. The focus on looking good (dress code). The lack of regular communication. The "we've got it under control, we'll call you if there's a problem" attitude. The constant need for money for little things. Being penalized if a curriculum is not the best fit for a certain child (yes, I understand they need one curriculum for the classroom, but it is still a negative to me...at home, we can scrap what doesn't work).
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:20:51 PM
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Jenny-Fair
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ROFLMBO..I was actually eating a donut when I read that. Truly amazing, as I only eat donuts a couple of times per year.
Thanks for posting my post, Donna.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:26:50 PM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
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I have nothing against donuts, believe me. Was yours a reward though or just a yummy baked good?
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<<-----------Brian + vacuum= sexy man!!
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:28:29 PM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
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It wasn't a reward, it was a get well gift.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 7:47:05 PM
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cynthia
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Donna, I know you are not looking for other people to tell you what to do. I was responding to what you said about other people giving you a bad time about your decisions. I think the plan you have laid out sounds terrific. It will give you the opportunity to settle in with the new baby and then bring Noah home where you can home school him again. It sounds like a good plan.
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My husband and I have a motto:
We are the leader. We are one.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 9:09:21 PM
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narnia
Posts: 547
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You could make it real simple with family and friends and tell them that your budget can't afford to keep him there. That should quiet them.
How do you think Noah will handle the switch back to being home? You might want to start thinking about how to handle the switch now.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 9:37:34 PM
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cindybode
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OK, some non-box thinking (and you know me well enough to know that I'm just getting you thinking and not picking on you (much ), but I thought I'd say that lest someone who doesn't know me well feels the need to defend you ).
First, I'd spend some time thinking about the reasons you put Noah in school to begin with. What are you going to do differently to avoid that situation again? At some point Noah isn't going to want to do his work, you're going to get frustrated, and school might seem a viable option again. That's perfectly ok, but I can envision a situation where he'd be in and out every other semester, and I'm not sure that would be good for anyone involved. You don't have to tell me what you're going to do, just make sure you think about it.
All of your frustrations are the reasons most of us homeschool.
There are always going to be major life events that might make homeschooling seem to be too much to handle at the moment. So yeah, leaving Noah in school for the first semester next fall is perfectly reasonable, but at the same time you might want to think about a form of schooling that will fit well with your life. You are going to have little kids for awhile, you might have more babies, and stuff is just gonna happen. Again, I'd be concerned about ping ponging between hs and Christian school. If homeschooling is so stressful that it's the first thing to go, you need to rethink what you're doing.
Wait a minute - there's a problem with using donuts as rewards? It works for me.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/9/2008 10:06:18 PM
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Ellie-Mae
Posts: 3736
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From: The EMPIRE state!
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Donna, You don't have to have a reason to pull him from one great educational endeaver and to put him in another great one that satisfy people on the outside. You didn't owe me an explanation as to why you put him in the Christian school, you know that. Family isn't much different in that reguard except that you HAVE to talk to them. You don't OWE them a satisfactory to them reason. You are not a little kid anymore and God gave Noah to you and Brian... not to them. Now, I will say that I am glad that you let me know what your reasons were because it made it easier to give you support by letting me know where and how you need support. I was able to support you (I hope you I was supportive) when you put him in school, and I will be supportive in whatever your next decision is. If I don't like your reasons... then so what? You should still do what God has called you to do. I mean it! I know that you love your kids and will do what it takes to give them the best life that you can.
I think that you feel bad or anxious because you DO like the school, and you DO like the people there. I think that makes you feel bad. And then to know that there are so many that support you now that didn't when you were hsing... that is hard too.
My advice is to let people know what your reasons are, but don't try to sell it. Either they will be satisfied with them or not. Either way, it doesn't change what you should or shouldn't do. There is no point trying to convince them... they will come around in there own time.
You know... that main thing about that school to remember is that they don't necessarily want all kids to go to that school. That isn't there goal. Their goal is to make it possible for any kid to be able to have a Christian education. That is why that school is so SUPPORTIVE of hsers.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/10/2008 12:27:54 AM
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sen10tious
Posts: 349
Joined: 4/11/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna
I'm looking for thoughts from the outside of the situation, and also for things I haven't thought of yet. You guys are good at making me think outside the box.
So, you really mean that?
Stop reading if you don't really mean that.
Because I am going to be blunt.
If you don't want to know, stop now.
Last chance.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
OK then…
On my monitor you look more like you've been eating waffles than doughnuts.
I don't think this "we'll take it one-semester-at-a-time" thing is working for you.
If you are going to be a happy home educator, it is time to make a no-turning-back commitment. Pick a date and do it.
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RE: Jumping ship - 3/10/2008 8:27:10 AM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10420
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Cow country, Upstate NY
Status: online
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quote:
How do you think Noah will handle the switch back to being home? You might want to start thinking about how to handle the switch now.
I don't know. Leaving his friends will be very hard for him. He could go backwards in areas we have gone forwards.
quote:
Donna....you said before that the number one reason for sending him to school was the clash of personalities (or clash of the same personality...you and he) and that you felt that maybe he would learn better from someone else teaching him. Is that still an issue or has he chosen to make an effort that he wasn't making before with you?
It was more the authority issues than the clash of personalities. He didn't want to be under any authority. I'm not sure that has changed, other than the school authority figures changing. I also got a bad report from children's church yesterday, so I would say this is still an issue. 
quote:
First, I'd spend some time thinking about the reasons you put Noah in school to begin with. What are you going to do differently to avoid that situation again? At some point Noah isn't going to want to do his work, you're going to get frustrated, and school might seem a viable option again. That's perfectly ok, but I can envision a situation where he'd be in and out every other semester, and I'm not sure that would be good for anyone involved. You don't have to tell me what you're going to do, just make sure you think about it.
True, true. One of the things I have thought of in this regard (and I know it'll go against your methods, Cindy ) is that if he comes back home, we will need MORE routine, not less. He seems to do better with more structure. Maybe I can't give that to him right now, with so many little ones at home. One thing we will be changing as soon as I get it figured out...chores. He needs a simple outline for each day. And stickers. I think he will do better with that than the current, "Hey, Noah, please..." we have going on now.
If he comes back home, I am determined to make swim n gym and co-op day work for us. Even if I have to pay a hsing high schooler to come stay with my little ones (except for newborn), it is important for him to have friends his age and more interaction outside this house. I never understood it before and now I do. I didn't want the cost of it, but I can see now that it is worth every penny to him, and is still cheaper than CS, so it needs to be priority if he comes home.
quote:
On my monitor you look more like you've been eating waffles than doughnuts.
I don't think this "we'll take it one-semester-at-a-time" thing is working for you.
If you are going to be a happy home educator, it is time to make a no-turning-back commitment. Pick a date and do it.
Thank you. I agree. If I bring him home, it needs to be pretty set in stone that that's where he's staying.
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