Thank you.

Six months ago Jesse, that would have been an almost definite yes. But I am almost certain now, that he needs it. He's been in a small, private pre-school (6 kids in the class), and even if he doesn't pass the screening this year, he's going to need something bigger next year, where people don't make Oh-that's-just-Chris allowances.

I expect it will be hard for him (and his teachers). He's just still babyish, but also extraordinarily bright, one of the fluffiest bunnies ever (when he's king of the forest there will be nothing in the forest but sunshine, butterflies, and sweet animals), but strong willed as all get out. I think that might prove to be a difficult combination.

A lot of the babyishness is our fault, and may also be the result of birth order (and the spacing between kids). We're addressing what we can (raising our expectations, mostly). I can't even be specific as to what I'm afraid of, going in, today. I'm just so *meep* over it, I can't even be properly mournful about this being my last baby to go through this.

Good Luck Cindy.

My wife is all set to home school our daughter (actually, it's distance learning through a public school but still is essentially home schooling). I admit I'm apprehensive. My wife talks about wanting to go back to work and being stressed even on days when the kids go to preschool. So basically, I'm worried about her going crazy.

I have to admit, the idea of homeschooling with a sufficiently social framework sounds marvellous. No way I could pull it off, but it is seductive.

However, I think that much of the stuff that sucks about school is also a valuable lesson, and I'd hate to throw a kid out into the world without having had them chewed up a bit by institutions.

Gud, I can see why you would be. You know, she might need the break, even if she home schools later down the line, in the here and now, if your school system isn't actually bad, it might be good for her, if E and L went to primary school for a couple of years.

I would home school because there are things I do not like about public education, and we cannot afford private education--except that I know I would go crazy (I'm not far from it, now), and I'm afraid I would bring my kids with me.

It's not even the time home or being with them constantly (although I do think for my own sake, I need them to go to school, so I don't become a total recluse). It's that I'm too damned serious about their school work, as it is. My oldest son, in particular...I think I'd break him. I'm ashamed to admit he's much better off at the school than he would be with me.

Ack. I have to stop procrastinating. 11 o'clock is going to come, whether or not I am ready.

Wish us (no) monsters.

Man, there's no way I be could be a full-time parent, much less homeschool a kid. I was just saying this yesterday -- there's no way a kid isn't getting more from being with both other kids and trained adults, instead of with just me. I admire the hell out of people who can do it, but I know I'd lose my shit after three days.

There is a big local homeschooling association that we'd be using as well. So there are regular meetings with lots of other kids. But yeah, I'm also kinda concerned with missing some of the good and bad that comes from the regular school.

ita, I agree with your points, as well. I think next year is going to be hard for Chris, but I think he needs that, the way a soldier needs boot camp. It will be difficult, but good--like a refining fire? Meep.

Okay, really gone. Thanks for letting me spill, Buffistas.

But yeah, I'm also kinda concerned with missing some of the good and bad that comes from the regular school.

And she's missing the good and bad that comes from an office (or whatever) job, too.

Victoria's Secret no longer carries my size, but I can get it online, says them. I said fuck that and got myself a Bali. In pink.

I feel your pain. I discovered that the stores no longer carry the type of bra I like in the stores. fuckers. I think that if they don't carry it in the store, you should get free shipping.

I'm ashamed to admit he's much better off at the school than he would be with me.

Why are you ashamed? You do mothery things better for him than a Kristin or Kat would, but they've worked long and hard to be able to do teachery things.

If I wanted to homeschool a putative child, it wouldn't be because I thought I'd be a better teacher mano a mano than many of the well-trained people out there. It would be because I was suspicious of a school system, or wanted the kid to get one on one attention.

However, I was very startled when I went from Montessori to regular school, and then from my small class-size high school to university classes that were almost as big as my entire high school.

So one on one ain't all that -- it sets up faulty expectations.