any other former homeschoolers here?

[Shantimama]

Our children just started school last week after hs'ing until this point - they are in grades 4, 2 and SK. They have each had a bumpy start but settled down and seem to be okay - and now I am the one who is really struggling with the whole school thing. I am used to being the one responsible for their education and it bugs me having other people educating them and not always the way I would I thik they are probably fine teachers, it is just is hard after years of homeschooling to let go of so much.

How have other mamas handled the adjustment for themselves?

[marybethorama]

We only homeschooled for part of K before choosing school but it was a hard choice initially.

There are things the school does that I think are silly but overall we've only had positive experiences and my kids love school.

It's been great for them so far. They are now if 4, 2, and Pre-K (JK)

[TiredX2]

DD started school this year (in the 2nd grade). She was in about a 1/2 year of preschool for the "threes" class.

It has been HORRIBLY stressful for me. She is finally getting used to it, but my reservations have not disappated. I know she is not being challenged in certain areas (math), other's are overwhelming her (spelling) and overall I consider it a rather large waste of time. BUT, we are trying it out and I hope it works well.

[nurnur4evr]

Shantimama,

I hs'ed my daughter in preschool and kindergarten, and sent her to school in first grade last year (fall '04). I know just what you mean! When I first walked into her school, it just "clicked" and I knew it was the right place for her. Still, all last year, I would want her back home. I felt that my role had been diminished, almost to that of a babysitter or taxi driver. Nevertheless, deep down in my heart, I know she is in the right place and that it is right for our family.

She just started second grade, and I cried quite a bit this summer about sending her back. Now, I am working on getting a part-time job, which is necessary at this time. Focusing on other things that I'm good at helps me to let go. Hs'ing was demanding, but very rewarding, and that time I had at home with Sara will always be very special to me. It helped our bond to strengthen, as well as the bond between Sara and her little sister. But, I know she's in a great school and she's having the experiences she needs to have - the art & music classes, math, monkey bars, & making friends. She seems happy at the end of the day when I pick her up. I imagine though that every fall I will feel this grieving.

[Sneezykids]

.02 from a <never hs'ed mom> the thing about grieving every fall...that happens to us moms too, always kind of a bittersweet time ...

[laurata]

Another former homeschooling mama. I am finding it tremendously hard to adjust to. I decided the day before our neighborhood school started that I was going to register her, and she started two days later. Initially, I said, we will try this for two weeks, and if it doesn't work out, we'll go back to homeschooling.

DD1 LOVES her school. She's in a K/1 class (first grade). Her teacher is firm, yet gentle. Uses positive reinforcement, and rarely has to "punish" kids. If they are a distraction, she'll remove them from the group, but nothing that I consider unreasonable, iykwim. They are always singing songs and playing games. Parents are often in the class volunteering, and are always welcome to come have lunch with the children. (Sibling welcome too, at lunch, though not during class hours.)

Still, I mourn for the loss. I hate being forced to rush in the morning, and tell DD1 that she can't play "Gold Rush" on the computer because she has to get her shoes on. I miss the relaxed pace of our days. I miss HER. My DD2 misses her also, although, I'm glad that their fighting isn't quite so nonstop, lol!

It annoys me that I feel as if she isn't making any academic progress, and I wonder if I should have placed her in a second grade classroom. Overall, I guess I just feel sad about the change, even if, on the surface at least, it appears to be a good thing for my girlie.

[Carolinamidwife]

Former hs'er here too. It was a hard transition in the very beginning. He was behind everyone (we live in Texas where they teach to the test to within an inch of their lives whereas we at home had been casually Waldorfing), he had a hard time learning where stuff was, following rules. I basically came off looking like I had done nothing, taught him nothing, and was totally clueless. I was SUPER stressed out about it, I mean SUPER. This was last year.

This year I am fine, he is fine, he's mostly on track, and he LOVES school. He has tons of friends (socializing him was hard for me) and I like his teacher.

So, it was hard at first but I feel about 90% adjusted now. Just yesterday I had some pangs of wishing we were still hs'ing but for the most part I think we made the right choice.

[mellie-bellie]

Wow, I'm so thankful I came across this post. I'm in such a down spot right now, and it all revolves about my son starting school. From the time he was born, we planned on homeschooling, but as he got older and his sibblings came along, I discovered I didn't have enough in me to thrive at homeschooling him, so I put him in our local school districts half day preschool this year. He seemingly is doing well and I haven't noticed any problems (other than not having him be here all day and then fighting w/ dd once he gets home from school, but I'm assuming he's making up for lost time). I think I'm the one that has all the problems with this, not him. We've done child-led learning with him and I've taught him everything he knows.....makes me happy that I'm the one that helped him w/ his ABC'S and numbers, and learning all about construction trucks! On one hand, I'm so happy for him that he gets to ride the big boy bus and be w/ friends all day at school...it makes him so excited when he asks if it's a school day and I say yes. On the other hand, I feel like a failure at hs'ing, and I feel as though a big chunk of me is missing (him). I don't worry about him during the day, but I just have this dull ache about him not being with me. I feel like my life revolved around his learning experiences, and now he's not here with me and I have to readjust with life.

[oldermamato5]

My dd-7.5,and ds-6 are starting public school Monday!! I just started a thread about it and then scrolled down and saw this one.
Oh my-I am having such back and forth emotions,though I know it is the absolute right thing to do for them at this time. Both of them are SO EXCITED.My daughter is literally counting down the days till Monday!
We took a tour of the school on Monday and I must admit I really felt good about it. Very contemporary,colorful,bright school. Lots of art work hanging everywhere,looking in the classrooms the children appeared happy and content. (I'm sure that's not EVERYDAY.)
They get to go to:art,computer lab,music,and gym once a week. Recess is every day.
And..........get this! All I had to do for my children being non-vaccinated was sign a piece of paper I wrote myself!
Indiana laws are pretty cool.

[Alkenny]

Former HS'er (with my middle child). I think it helps if you have great teachers too...get a bad experience (we had one of those) and it makes it all the harder to "let go".

[guest^]

:

Just sharing that I am no longer HSing dd. It was a very hard decision to make-very hard. The short of it is that after my hysterectomy, menopause hit me hard and fast. I broke down and couldn't handle anything. I was supposed to have my sis help me more, but her whole family was sick. Dh couldn't take anymore time off. So here I was by myself, and the dc. They were bickering all the time. Both were reacting to a separation from me. Dd started begging to go to school as it was the back to school time in the other world.

I checked a few schools out, and dd really wanted to go to our Catholic school which is around the block. After much discernment, we said she could go for a semester to try it out.

She loves it-so far. Uniforms and all.

I had to go through a few hurdles to avoid her having the Hep B vax.

They had no problem at all with me stopping in whenever I want, letting dd have a snack in the afternoon(low-blood sugar issues), and they have a go pee and get a drink policy whenever you need to. The school is small, and considered the best in town. The classroom has 20 dc per teacher-3rd grade.

That's the scoop. So far, so good. She is ahead, but I am having her do stuff at home to keep her going forward.(Just reading and math.)

I feel like I am experiencing so many different things right now that everything is funky.

Still hsing ds for pre-K. He is a handful.

All for now, who knows, maybe dd will decide she likes it better at home around Christmas time.

I took ds to the hsing skate day today, and I've been on the verge of tears ever since. THen when she came home, she and ds started right in with their fighting,and I felt glad that dd was away from us to give us a break. She is going through such a mean/snaotty stage for the last several months,and now I have no energy to fight her.

The lifestyle adjustment has been very difficult. I haven't gotten up this early on a regular basis since I worked full-time 10 yrs ago! Early dinner,bedtime, rush in the morning,etc...

Being around hsers also makes me wonder if I made the right decision. I just feel confused and angry that I can't be more than I am right now in life.

mp