(no subject)

[altarflame]

Me, my 5 kids, Laura, and her 2 kids are gathered around the dining table starting to eat.

Me: Ok, let's pray everybody.
*general cacophany as they all try to cram two bites in their mouths and get a sip of tea before we start...then, quiet.*
Me: God, thank you so much for all this yummy food -
Brian: Yeah!
Me: And for this great day -
Brian: Yay!
Me: And help us to remember you in everything we do and to have a good night. Amen.
Brian: *clapping wildly* WOOHOO!
Laura: He's Baptist.

---

I'm contemplating sending Isaac and Jake to first and K at the fine arts charter school that is like, 3 blocks from my house and attached to City Church, where we sometimes attend services.

Pros:
-They REALLY WANT TO GO. BAD.
-That is super close, and already familiar
-the school is small, and well rated (and I know some of the super nice staff)
-Jake and Isaac are both really academic and social, they don't have any of the issues Ananda and Aaron do (dyslexia, selective mutism, SID)
-it would be kind of a relief in some ways

Cons:
-It would be a little overwhelming to deal with the scheduling aspect of structured school - we've never dealt with having to get up early every morning or having to do things at peak times when everything is crowded, and there will surely be times when specifically homeschool activities that are still important to A and A interfere with pick-up times...especially with Grant on this late schedule it seems challenging. This might seem menial if you're used to school, but we're used to road trips and have a whole family slumber party tomorrow night and left my mother in law's at 2 am last night. It would be a massive adjustment.
-We are beyond broke right now, with all these medical things following NY, so the uniforms and supplies could be truly prohibitive, whereas I have everything I need here already for homeschooling them
-uniforms, what? Come on. So weird.
-Just weird in general to send a couple of them to school when we're so entrenched, as a family, in homeschool
-this might not even be an option, for all I know they have an insane waiting list

---

There's a meteor shower tonight at around 11:30...for South Florida anyway...and I'm thinking of driving out to the Everglades with the kids to check it out.

The AM will be all Usborne, all the time. I'm heading out alone to talk to various people and then coming home and making a million calls.

In between, school, and maybe scones and tea outside with books.

Comments

[noelove.livejournal.com]

My mom is far from being a christian, but she's been to a couple Baptist funerals. So she tells me

Noel, when I die, I want the Baptists to bury me ok? Because those people know how to celebrate a dead person.

haha!



Wow ok, your pros are good, I like all that. Your cons, especially the uniform thing are from your perspective. Perhaps Jake and Isaac would benefit from wearing a uniform each day. Maybe they would like it? Maybe it would make them grow? I hear you on the scheduling thing, I really really do. You'd have to adjust certain things to make sure the boys are up in the morning at the right time to get to school and such, but it also opens you up to a whole bunch of other parents that could gladly help take them to school.

I hear you on the cost, but there are parents already at that school who have uniforms that would fit them that they could hand down.

I don't think its weird that you would send those two to public school while homeschooling the rest. You're doing what is best for your children, tending to their needs you know? Its not weird or strange or any of those words.

If they wanna go, I'd take a step back from your own feelings and see why they wanna go and how they could make it work to their advantage. And if you hook up with some other fams from the school you could work out the pick up drop off time! Heck even make it a learning experience for A&A. Oh my gosh, and in a couple years when Annie is driving SHE could pick them up! Think about that one!


mmmmm meteor shower. doooooet!



why am I almost always the first to comment. I need to stop procrastinating on my work while reading lj and actually do work so I can move to Georgia.

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Of course they're from my perspective - isn't mine the one that counts? I'm not trying to be bitchy at all and am sorry if it sounds like that. But a lot of things about parenting are about what you think is best for your kids, your perspective is kind of everything :p It just really weirds me out how a lot of schools have, like, RULES against mohawks or crazy dyed hair for kids for instance - like that's unacceptable in well behaved kids who are excelling academically? I have major ideological problems with kids being institutionalized in general, honestly, I think it bleeds into all kinds of areas of life, from hospital births to fast food to how we do funerals. And everything in between.

FWIW, Ananda REALLY wanted to go to school, too, you know...just about every homeschooled kid I've ever met has REALLY wanted to go to school at some point, just like I've yet to meet a public schooled kid who didn't hear that mine were homeschooled and go "AW MAN I WISH I COULD DO THAT!!!" and then beg their parents for varying amounts of time ;) I think it's really natural to have a "grass is greener" thing going at least once.

Anyway all that is devil's advocate stuff, I'm still thinking about it in a "pending what Grant says and if they even have room" sort of way. When I was looking at the list, though, I got totally the opposite impression than you - I was thinking geez when I lay it out like that it's like, oh, since my 4 and 6 year old are suddenly saying they'd like to go to school we're gonna send them just because there's a free one nearby? Even though it's totally impractical on at least two levels for our family?

Like I said, still going back and forth.

[-evalution.livejournal.com]

that's funny. my mom wanted to homeschool myself and my siblings when i was in grade school and i was like, "PLEASE GOD NOT!" seriously, did not want. i couldn't bear the thought of missing out on my friends and crushes and daily goings on. the thought was horrifying to me. and i didn't especially like going to school.

you're not bitchy

[noelove.livejournal.com]

well yours counts, but doesn't I and J's count too? I mean, whats the worst if you let them have what they want? They got some cute uniforms, they go to school outside your home and hate it, so they come back and relish in the home schooling.


crap, need to make diner, but ya, I have more to say on this one!

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Also, at least you're not like, FIRST!! :p

Also, GEORGIA? Come on. You think they have giant gaudy mansions full of pale puke colors drapes in Georgia?

Wait I bet they do. With bonus mildew.

[noelove.livejournal.com]

gurl, did you see on FB the house that I want to move into?
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4418-Northside-Dr-Acworth-GA-30101/14367612_zpid/


HELLO? omg its fucking perfect. I'll deal with the weather and shiet there for THAT house.

and yah, I kinda like being first ;)

[(Anonymous)]

Are they vaxed? they'd have to be vaxed to go to public school

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

They totally wouldn't - there are exemptions in every state and we have a ped who is very comfortable writing them.

nope.

[-evalution.livejournal.com]

i went through 12 years of public school, plus college without being vaxxed. as have my 5 siblings.

Re: nope.

[noelove.livejournal.com]

this. my children are also not vaxed and go to public schools. :)

[its-jemma.livejournal.com]

Is there like certain classes or something they could go to without having to commit to full time school?
I kinda see where you are coming from on the whole lifestyle change and they are SO young that not living in a NINE TO FIVE type doesn't matter.

That's a tough one :)

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

We've actually been thinking of sending Ananda to art classes at the local public school for awhile. I wonder if Somerset would let us do something like that...I could take all four of the older ones for art a couple of times a week, and would be willing to help donate supplies or watch little kids or whatever they needed...hmm.

[moobabe.livejournal.com]

I totally get you on the schedule thing. My kid is going to summer camp this week, and I really hate having to be somewhere with her every DAY this week, and having to pack a lunch (which she doesn't eat) and all that.

But if they're going to go to school, it sounds like a good one. :)

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

Ananda's GS Camp weeks were fun, but really limited what I felt we could do...granted that was a half hour drive each way, not a 3 block walk. Still and all...

You know what I hadn't thought about previously? All the times they're gonna be so mad and feel left out because we go to the beach and park and mall and PATH or play games or make art or have treats, here, and they come home and hear about it...I wonder how much of an issue that would be. I have a feeling it might be huge.

I wish there were a half-day option. I feel like 7 hours a day, 5 days a week is practically someone else raising them! Like they'd be part time family members or something :p

(I know this is going to offend the hell out of everyone on the planet. I'm not trying to judge anybody else though...it's how I feel about two of my kids going to school full time for the first time while the other three stay here as per usual).

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

one word: lice

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize you'd been to South Florida.

[theneolistickid.livejournal.com]

I would miss them too much.

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

They probably would enjoy being at a day school, from how you describe them. However, I also think it would feel to them like they were being excluded from the stuff you do together (although of course they would be doing other great things on their own too).

When people find out I teach, they ask if I'm going to homeschool ours, and frankly, I can't face it. I think we would drive each other completely crazy. So I'm looking forward to S going to kindergarten next year, for two days a week, but freaking out just a little that he'll be in full-time pre-primary from 5, and I really won't see him all day, all week. One of the reasons we didn't consider Montessori (you know, apart from the prohibitive cost) was that it was fulltime for 3 year olds!! So I get where you're coming from with not wanting them away from you for so long.

Taking their desire to go to school into account is hard too, because as a child, often what you want and what is best for you are two very different things!!

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I would love a two day a week or half day program for them.

Isaac is my only child who consistently wants some big explanation of why anyone gets anything he doesn't, but it's INTENSE with him. The unlimited ice cream and popsicles for Jake because he got a tooth pulled out nearly killed him the second day (though he was very good the first, when there was bloody gauze and stuff to make him step back and be like, uh, yeah, you can HAVE IT :p) He just needs me to tell him over and OVER that Ananda can go across the street to Bret's house even though he can't because she's 10, and Elise comes in our bed in the middle of the night because she's 3, and he used to do it all the time, too, when he was 3, but he's a big 6 year old now...so I don't know.

I guess it would depend on whether school or participating meant more to him? Tough stuff.

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Brian and Laura cracked me up :D

wow, that sounds like a lot to think about!

[(Anonymous)]

Goodness me, that would make my head spin, especially since it will break up your 5 into groups...2 big homeschoolers, 2 middles at school and a little at home.
Just an outsiders observations:
-It could be so good for J and I to go to school together!
-And a year of classroom schooling could teach you all a lot, about what you do and don't like, etc!

One of the most remarkable things about your family is how you support each person in who they are. Homeschooling has worked so well for A and A, and allowed them to flourish as people. It might very well do the same thing for J and I and E, and it could really make sense for you all to continue. At the same time, it amazes me that you are even exploring this as a path for them!

You have 5 very lucky people who call you mom!

Re: wow, that sounds like a lot to think about!

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

One of the most remarkable things about your family is how you support each person in who they are.

Thank you so much for this!

I try really, REALLY hard to always view each of my kids as individuals and not ever have any of them miss out in any way because they're part of a big family and on the internet people tend to just catch me focusing on one or the other and start screaming about how I play favorites because everyone has some idea you have to do everything totally equally all the time even if that doesn't make any sense....

hey

[redcosmic-earth.livejournal.com]

My super close friend Jenifer is director of that preschool. There is a waiting list, particularly for the vpk program (which would be free if Jake is 4, I can't remember). Otherwise, the cost per week is pretty high if you're tight on funds...though honestly, not as high as some places in town.

It really is a top notch preschool. Jen turned it around from one teacher and 2 kids in a room off of the church- to 4 teachers, a remodeled school, a ton of kids, and a long ass waiting list (based solely on word of mouth). It was a herculean effort.

The uniforms are just t-shirts with the schools name on them. Nothing major. Let me know if you want Jens number or the number to the school. Fiona is on the list for vpk already, and has previously attended when she was two. I can't say enough about how amazing it is.

Re: hey

[altarflame.livejournal.com]

I have heard great things about the preschool and definitely think Jen is awesome :) I was thinking about the K-5 though, which is supposed to be free, right? K and 1st for the two of them. I don't know, I was thinking of how *I* think of Jake as about to be in Kingergarden here at home and that's how we've leveled his work here, but really his birthday is October 11 so I guess he might be right over the cut off schools use....hmm. I hated that cut off thing when I was in school, my birthday was October 24 so I was 6 in K instead of 5 and way ahead of everybody else. Do you know if that is a public school thing or an all school thing?

Sorry for my rambling but I suppose if you came to the lj you were prepared ;)

[gardenmama.livejournal.com]

This seems as good a place to comment as any, since I'm staying up late ready back entries in your journal ;)

First, I have to say that I greatly admire you for several very specific reasons. 1) You cook from scratch, all the time, vast amounts of reasonably healthy food. I know so few people who do that these days, and I really appreciate the amount of time and effort it takes. 2) You put the welfare of your children first. More than that. I was trying to explain this to my husband when we were talking about how our priorities changed in life after having children. Children automatically became my top priority, yes, but every other priority is filtered through that top layer. For instance, daily chores still need to be accomplished, so I am constantly thinking a) how can I involve the children in this, b) how can I occupy the children while I do this, and/or c) how can I turn this into a learning opportunity. He still doesn't get the distinction, but it's something that I think is very instinctive for you and I admire the way you do it with your children. 3) You recognize that each of your children is an individual, very different from his/her siblings, and try to meet the needs of each and every one of them. That's more than just admiring the fact that you have five children and still appear to be sane. You have five children and are parenting them in an absolutely, smashingly fantastic way. 4) You've taken on the official role of teacher in addition to parent for your children. I can only imagine how that pushes and stretches your talents and imagination, not to mention patience and perseverance. I don't think I would have the fortitude to do it except in the most extreme of circumstances. Then again, it would mean no more calls from the principal. Then again, I couldn't call and complain to myself, and I'd probably end up a raving lunatic or raging alcoholic, or both ;)

All that said, I figure you are the perfect person to ask her opinion about something: I need to come up with a chore/routine chart that will work for both a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old with ADHD. Mostly this will be for the 7-year-old, so that I'm not having to constantly remind him of daily, set-in-stone routines. I'm thinking something like a checklist, on a big white board, or something like that. Then I'll probably do a simplified version for the 3-year-old so that he doesn't feel left out. What works for your family? We do have school starting in a few weeks and it's hectic enough on summer mornings to get two kids up and dressed and ready to go out the door. It will be worse when one of them needs to be on a bus. We managed it with 4-day-a-week K last year. This year is five days a week 1st grade.

Sorry for the ramble and hoped that made sense. I know we don't really know each other, just that I found your journal through Heather. But I feel a weird sense of kinship with someone who raises children and chickens in Florida, to someone who raises children and chickens in Minnesota ;)