Chaz Moms and Moms-to-Be Chat (everyone welcome)

[joce]

I wish I could stay home and home school. But that would mean giving up the horses and the farm and that's our way of life and our kids will benefit from it. But if husband ever made enough I'd do it in a heartbeat.


I don't think that homeschool the way you guys do it is questionable at all! But I see people at work all the time that parents isolated and they don't have a clue. Not only because they were homeschooled obviously but I always have to wonder what the difference would have been if they had went. There are people that just do it for the wrong reasons.

I was a social butterfly and school came easy so socializing happened the whole day. I can not imagine missing that as a child. You first learn muti tasking writing notes to friends and listening to the teacher while trying to not get caught lol! I still talk to many of the people I went to school with and while many are just Facebook friends others are lifelong close friends.

 

[sparks19]

The social aspect of school came easily to me as well. I am very social and so is Hannah and being social like that really works in our fbor with homeschoolig because it's really easy for her to initiate a conversation/friendship with someone new. Every report card I ever had in school said "Tanya talks too much and and needs to do less socializing in class" LOL that and "she has amessy desk"... Both of those are still true today

 

[*blackrose]

I was home schooled from grade 3 to 8. Attended a small private school through highschool. Graduated highschool in three years at the top of my class and then attended Purdue University and obtained my BS.

I'm sure how some people home school isn't the best....but I can attest that it can be done to great benefit of the child. It is so dependent on a lot of factors. My mother stopped homeschooling because of my sister - she did NOT do well having her school instruction come from my mom. She rebelled enough as it was when she was in private school (she almost didn't graduate, but thankfully she now has her diploma after some summer schooling), when my mother was her sole source of authority she was uncontrolable.

On the other hand, my mother started homeschooling because of my brother. His teachers were constantly at odds with him because he did not learn or respond well to "traditional" methods of teaching. He was struggling and would come home completely discouraged and his grades were being dramatically effected. She pulled him out until highschool, when he attended a private school, and he did great.

 

[Greenmagick]

I don't think that homeschool the way you guys do it is questionable at all! But I see people at work all the time that parents isolated and they don't have a clue. Not only because they were homeschooled obviously but I always have to wonder what the difference would have been if they had went. There are people that just do it for the wrong reasons.

There are definitely people who do it for the wrong reasons....drives me batty to see it because I DO think it can really hinder a child but yes, there are also some awkward kids that would be awkward regardless of where they get their schooling.

And yes to what Sparks said, while my children are still on the younger side in general, I am not hovering over them 24/7. Heck, there are many days I barely see them when we are all home doing our own things lol. They have classes, they go off on their own at parks, hikes, etc. I LOVE watching them form little groups.

And I agree, not all schools have bullying problems, it doesnt affect all kids, etc however I still would argue in many schools children are not really getting socialization. Again, that does not make it bad, or is it a con against schools...its just not really part of it. Schools to run have to classify and group children together in ways that work for them. I know in highschool I very seldom had classes with most of my friends in the upper years, would have lunch with them and that was about it. But we hung out after classes etc. Only reason it didnt happen in gradeschool was because we were a small school of 28-30 per class...and each grade was one class.

 

[milos_mommy]

I only feel I really socialized in school/through school in elementary school. I keep in touch via Facebook with two friends from high school. However, my close friends from high school and middle school are still my closest friends...but I met them outside of school, at activities, or through mutual friends who were my mom's friend's kids from other districts.

I think bullying depends a lot on the school system and how administration handles it. A LOT of kids in the US die as a result of bullying, a lot more than people know about. I think a public or private school experience and socialization in Europe is far different than it is in the US.

 

[release the hounds]

I don't know that bullying or coddling is the bigger problem. Kids don't learn to cope with anything these days. I'm not saying they need to be bullied to learn to deal with things, but it's gone way beyond that in schools. Everything is a regiment, regulated, rules coming out of their butts and still things are not going in the right direction. what constitutes "bullying" these days is a lot different than when I was a kid. I don't like people that pick on those weaker than they are or those that will just take it, I don't have much respect for them, but I think parents have gone so far the other way that it is so easy for kids to see themselves as victims of everything these days, it's not doing them any favors for when they become an adult.

 

[Paige]

Homeschooling success seems largely dependent on how dedicated the parent is. My mom doing homeschooling? She has tried it 6 different times with my younger sister who is 14 and every time Paris is behind in s chool and has terrible social anxiety now.. She is a perfect example on how not to homeschool your kid.

I've met some awesome parents and kids that homeschool though. Its no different than public school in that sense. Some parents just fail at parenting or don't realize their own limitations. I hate being a stay at home mom. It is killing my sanity but as far as daycare for Briggs goes with proper support he had to wait for two years to get a worker. It is FINALLY happening this September. I've considered homeschooling due to his ASD but I know that I cannot be a stay at home mom for the rest of my life. I know my limits. I'm over them as it is and it would not be fair to him because I'd end up committing myself into a mental health facility.

 

[sparks19]

Just wanted to share this fun little experiment

http://youtu.be/uMcYUOWDW8s

Hannah likes to "make recipes" all the time lol and I'm tired of her wasting my spices lol so today we wasted milk and food coloring instead... not sure how that's any better but it was really cool to see

 

[CaliTerp07]

Lol, Matt Walsh is my bil's good friend. He's a knucklehead. He writes about anything and everything that he has zero experience with just to get a rise out of people. It's working though--he's making good money off it.

---

I went back to work this week. I'm exhausted, but it has been SO good for me to get back into a routine using my brain. Caring for an infant is important...but it's mindless. Waking up at 5 am to get out the door on time is hard though. Luckily my mom is here for a bit so I don't have to worry about getting Logan anywhere.

I'm glad I enjoy working, because there is no way we could make it on dh's salary here. Dc is just too expensive. Teachers don't make a lot, but my salary is the difference between being stressed about money and not. I think I have the best of both worlds though--home for all school breaks, working while he''ll be in school. Dh has the flexibility to work from home if kiddo is sick, so that's covered too.

 

[-bogart-]

What happens if your kid has a learning disability and needs therapy?

I thought for a hot minute about homeschooling Caleb , But with his problems I don't know how to get him to understand and learn. So I got really comfortable with the special ed teachers and the Individual Education Plan (IEP).


My boys NEED help I can't give them , how does a Homeschooler handle that? Are there curriculums for special needs students? Is there a governing body that gives tests the kids have to pass?

 

[Greenmagick]

What happens if your kid has a learning disability and needs therapy?

I thought for a hot minute about homeschooling Caleb , But with his problems I don't know how to get him to understand and learn. So I got really comfortable with the special ed teachers and the Individual Education Plan (IEP).


My boys NEED help I can't give them , how does a Homeschooler handle that? Are there curriculums for special needs students? Is there a governing body that gives tests the kids have to pass?

I know many parents who pulled their kids because of learning disabilities and other issues that were not getting the help they needed in their district. That is going to vary district to district and child to child. Not sure what you mean by a curriculum for special needs....there are a myriad of resources and things to pull from. I know very few homeschoolers that use one set curriculum. I also dont personally deal with these issues so cant really give specifics, just know there are many who do.

Governing body is state.....each state has its own rules. Some states do give standardized tests, or have check in, etc. Others do not.

Also, the child SHOULD still have access to some of the programs and therapies. If you live in the district and pay taxes you should still qualify even if your child does not attend the school full time. I know some kids that do part days, are involved in some aspects of school, etc. but again, as I dont personally do this, dont have specifics (and again, it varies drastically district to district)

 

[sparks19]

I know many parents who pulled their kids because of learning disabilities and other issues that were not getting the help they needed in their district. That is going to vary district to district and child to child. Not sure what you mean by a curriculum for special needs....there are a myriad of resources and things to pull from. I know very few homeschoolers that use one set curriculum. I also dont personally deal with these issues so cant really give specifics, just know there are many who do.

Governing body is state.....each state has its own rules. Some states do give standardized tests, or have check in, etc. Others do not.

Also, the child SHOULD still have access to some of the programs and therapies. If you live in the district and pay taxes you should still qualify even if your child does not attend the school full time. I know some kids that do part days, are involved in some aspects of school, etc. but again, as I dont personally do this, dont have specifics (and again, it varies drastically district to district)

This

It really varies by state as far as requirements and what not. I know kn
Our co op we have quite a few special needs children from autism to downs syndrome to mental retardation caused by severe seizures that at a young age caused a brain injury (sorry if this isn't the right term... The mother is my friend and this is the term she uses). The requirements for them are different but I don't know the specifics. But the availability of resources and help keeps them homeschooling their special needs children as well as their "normally functioning" children.

As for qualifying for services theough school that your taxes pay for... The chold should still have access to these but this is another benefit to homeschool
Legal defense association (HSLDA) is that they will
Help fight these issues with/for you

 

[-bogart-]

Thanks , I appreciate the answers , It is just something I have wondered over.

 

[Paige]

Lots of people homescho their special needs kids with much more success. Lots of ASD moms in my area opt to homeschool

 

[Fran27]

Yep depending on where you live, it's often best to homeschool. A lot of districts deal poorly with special need children IMO.

 

[release the hounds]

learning disabilities are a tough issue and there isn't a great answer. quite a few can do very well, even excel at school with a very patient and in-tune teacher. Some just need a slightly different environment or style and they flourish. and some often learn in much different ways than the majority of students and even other kids with a similar set of characteristics and it makes it very difficult to reach in a classroom setting

Many times parents themselves struggle with daily simple tasks the rest of us take for granted, yet they expect a school district to be able to handle not only their child, but many others. Some places do better than others, and i'm not saying it's perfect by any means, but I think there's some unfair expectations in some situations. I mean, if a parent isn't taking the time and investing the resources to connect with their child,or even if they are, but struggling, how can they expect the school district to dedicate a staff to that one child? It's a two way street.

I know it's not always that way, but I used to have a neighbor that left a very bad taste in my mouth. They were very well off and complained constantly that their child wasn't getting what they needed at school. The kid got sent everywhere, and never saw the parents do a **** thing with their child, ever. all I could think was, they never took 2 minutes to try and connect with their child, yet they expected everyone else to because they could pay them

 

[CaliTerp07]

Belated Easter picture

We got Logan's tongue tie clipped today. The pediatrician said she didn't think it would be an issue, but I pushed and got it done at the ENT anyway. I'm really glad--I can already tell he's eating better.

Waiting at the doctor.

 

[joce]

Love the bunny ear pics! Case was not thrilled with my Easter pic attempts.

 

[milos_mommy]

The bunny ear picture is so so cute!!

 

[Grab]

Adorable!