My son is off to school in the fall....

[kathymuggle]

My oldest is off to school in the fall.  His choice.  He has done school online for a couple of years, and while there are some parts of it he likes, he finds being on the computer to do work too distracting (it is so easy to click off to youtube and the like!).  I think he misses some of the soicalising as well.  There are not many options for teen HSers around here, and trying to form friendships with people who live so far away (we are rural) has been tricky.   I also tend to micromanage his academics a bit so some separation might be good in that area.  I think all of these are (of course) somewhat solvable at home - but he has chosen a brick and mortar route.

So....I think it is a good move.  I am so proud that he was able to tell me he wanted to go to school (I was miserable in high school and did not tell my parents).  

I am also happy I HSed him for as long as I did.  He seems really balanced and grounded - which is a great way to enter school I think.  I am not sure if that is due to parenting, luck or HSing...but I do not care.  I say all 3, lol.

The only glitch is he has a big trip (another continent type trip) in November.  I hope the school can work with it or I will talk to him about waiting to January to start.

Edited by kathymuggle - 7/19/11 at 6:23am

[moominmamma]

Sounds like that's the direction for him right now. And I love your confidence in him and your perception of his groundedness.

I don't suppose our situation is predictive of yours in the slightest, but when my dd entered public school at 14 and told them she was planning to be in Southeast Asia from Christmas until March 2nd, and off on tour with her choir for 10 days at the end of April, they said "fine, good, we can all work around that."

Miranda

[AAK]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

I am also happy I HSed him for as long as I did.  He seems really balanced and grounded - which is a great way to enter school I think.  I am not sure if that is due to parenting, luck or HSing...but I do not care.  I say all 3, lol.

  Sounds like you have done a great job; I wish him well in high school!

[Lillian J]

Sounds as if he'll be going into it with a strong sense of himself and what he wants. That's great.  

- Lillian

[Mizelenius]

Oh, congratulations!  Not that he is going off to school (or hsing) but that he knows himself so well, and that you are respecting and following his lead.

People ask me a lot about whether or not it is fair to shelter children-- that shouldn't they be "out there," or how will they develop the skills they need?  I say it is like a new plant.  A new plant needs extra attention, the right kind of watering, etc. in order to develop deep roots and be able to withstand winds, storms, and drought.  At the age of 15 and with what you have given him, it sounds like he has everything in place to be ready for HS--a mature plant!  Your communication sounds strong enough that if he changes his mind, you two will be able to work through that as well.