Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Homeschooling vs. public schooling concern

I am glad HS going so well for your son.

It takes time to find new friends. Looking at local HS groups is a good starting point. Does your state/area have a gifted HS mailing list? That may be another way to meet new people. How about gifted weekend programs or summer camps?

We were lucky enough to find a small private school which DS6 attends 2 afternoons/week. They have what I consider non academic schedule in the afternoons (drama, art, craft, dance, etc.) It has been working really well for us this year.

DS6 also attends gt program on the weekends. Most of his friends are kids from public or private schools but we also have a few good hs friends. We don't attend too many hs classes but we plan on taking more classes next year once we are not limited by DS4 schedule (he is in PreK this year). You may look into a hs gym class or something else where there is lots of social interaction and academic abilities don't really matter.

Thanks for the compliment, and I'm very glad to help you, but if you knew me IRL, you'd know how LOUSY I'd be as a therapist! LOL! I see a solution and give it--often quite insistently/argumentatively!--which is not so good for counselors. (Dr. Phil notwithstanding, of course--my sister, the trained counselor, can't watch him without breaking out into hives! Hee hee!) But if you could imagine Spock counseling people, then you're pretty much right on target about how I'd look as a counselor...





Mostly it's just that I have been where you are. I know it's scary, and I completely sympathize. I also know from experience that it gets easier, that you'll find your niche, and that those things mostly just come with time and getting used to the new thing. In a year or so, you'll be an old hand giving help to others. Honest!

And FWIW, I, too, am an introvert. By far the hardest part of homeschooling for me has been getting enough social time for DS7 without completely burning myself out. Anything you can drop him off at--classes, playdates, YMCA, a babysitter's house--is a good choice.

Make sure you get enough alone time, but also expect to have to push your own boundaries a bit. You'll probably be out more than you WANT to, just be sure that you're not out more than you NEED to be. Know your limits. Take time away whenever you can. Think of it as self-maintenance so that you can be a better mom.

It's what I'm doing right now, actually, so I don't blow a gasket at my kids for their DISASTER AREA bedrooms and the whimpering they do when I tell them to clean up... Did I mention that DS7 can't find his math book at all? Grrrr...

Yes, time away is a necessary thing sometimes, for the good of the children!

Lmom,

I never thought of a HS gym class. What a great idea. Do you partially homeschool your son in addition to his attending the small private school? Sounds really ideal. I think that's the best of both but haven't found a similar situation here.

I'll have to check into a gifted HS mailing list for our area. I don't know. We may attend a NUMATS event(Northwestern's program)in the future but we are 5 hours from Chicago so that will need to be an overnight summer thing.

I homeschool DS6. He goes to the private school only for 6 hours per week. It's enough to give us a break from each other and allow him to interact with the same group of children (mixed ages) on regular basis. I don't really rely on their curriculum. All I am asking for is plenty of social interaction. We found the school via our local hs newsletter.

I too am an introvert and fortunately so are my children. You should see us after a playdate. We all retreat to different rooms in our house, happy to be ALONE. LOL. Don't get me wrong we all like playdates and need them but we also need a quiet time after them.

Our hs group not only offers gym time but there were also ski trips, regular ice skating sessions, and hikes. That said we have yet to try any of the above. Gym and ice skating is on the next year schedule. You may also ask in your local gym and see if they have programs for homeschoolers during the school hours.

Our local YMCA offers a HS gym class

Several gyms in our area offer classes for HSers.

And art classes are all over the place! We're on our third iteration of one due to scheduling changes and preference. Currently we're taking one with several other homeschoolers out of the home of a mom/art educator. That's been just amazing! I'll brag (again): DS7 is painting a surrealist scene of his own design. How cool is that!? How many 7yos even know what surrealism is? But DS7 knows and can tell you that it's his favorite art movement. And WHY it's his favorite!

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Music classes are a good idea, too. As are foreign language lessons or chess club or any other special interest group that shares your child's interests. And BTW, all that stuff counts as education time. As does the soccer team!

Also, DS7 loves his GT enrichment classes. Look for a group that provides these if you can. The peer interaction AND support for parents is so great!

All good social!

Kriston,

I'm an artist and Surrealism is one of my favorite genres of art too! Your child has great taste! Aren't these kiddos funny? Today DS10 commented that though he likes 20th c. art (my favorite, including Surrealism) he prefers Renaissance and Gothic art. He's been immersed all afternoon in my Art through the Ages book. Great minds think alike??? I might expect that from a 10 year old but Surrealism and 7yr olds...really endearing.

Thanks! I'll have to check out the Y!

LMom,

I know what you mean about playdates LOL! I'M usually the one recovering in the bedroom as is DS10. My DD9 is the extrovert of the family.

I would love to have the schooling situation you do. That seems like a perfect mix. I'm on the hunt for a similar situation. The PS he's been attending is not likely to be flexible enough in that concern. We'll see.

Thanks for the great advice!

I'm laughing out loud reading your post and my husband is giving me sideways funny looks from across the room. Whatever it is that gives you your perspective--experience, a sense of humor or that Dr. Phil gene, it works!

Finding that balance is hard, isn't it? I will definitely have to push myself more than I am comfortable with to make sure DS has the social piece of the puzzle. Drop off activities is a good idea--I don't always have to be there. I will definitely be kicking back with old I Love Lucy episodes and a 1/2 gallon of java chip icecream, truth be told. But all in the name of love.

Thanks for the nuggets of wisdom. You've definitely put a smile on my face . . .