She's a Social Pixie Spreading Her Wings
If there’s anything I’ve learned in this wide world of homeschool, it’s that you kinda do what works for you and the little people, and don’t let anyone push you do do anything differently! Now, if I were a dead-beat mom who shut ’em up in their rooms with a loaf of bread, pan of water, and tv remote, that would be a totally different story!
Contrary to what I figured coming into this, the family and my friends have been SO supportive and extremely helpful! I even caught my mom telling Kylie the other day “you haven’t even given it a CHANCE!”
Ya see, Kylie needs a public school detox. She’s really hung up on what she’s “missing” that she’s not thinking about what she is and will be doing! Blame it on her age, her gender, whatever, she CRAVES social attention. Her biggest blessing and curse (like me) is that she lives in the moment. I think it’s a FABULOUS place to be.. in the moment.. however, from experience, we tend to hang on to the negatives nows a bit longer than the positives ones. I’m fairly sure this month has felt like an entire year to her, because she’s a social pixie. Not a butterfly, but a pixie – a TOTAL mischievous one, she can be! She knows how to worm her way into just about any social setting, sprinkle her little flickery sparkle dust, and the world instantly loves her.
If you think back with me for a second, we not only moved into a new home, but a totally different town, mid-summer. During that time, Kylie spent a week with one sister, a week with my parents, another week with my other sister, another week with my parents, and she’s basically been back and forth and back and forth from here to there and everywhere. She’s not had time to meet anyone in the area – not because I lock her in the closet at the bottom of the stairs – but because she’s not been home. It’s a good thing that her school is portable!
Last week, Kylie broke down like a kid being dragged out of a toy store empty handed. She didn’t want to be homeschooled, she missed her friends, she.. she.. she.. she.. What she didn’t stop to think about (while stuck in the now) was that she hasn’t been home long enough to make new friends, get involved in the preteen group at church, meet other homeshoolers, etc., AND soccer hasn’t started yet!
As soon as she got home from my parents’ on Saturday, guess what? The neighbor invited her to a birthday party.. What do you know.. there where tons of preteens (up til WAY last – we heard ’em in the backyard screamin’ and hollerin’) her age who all lived on this street and the one over. Then, on Sunday morning, she was finally able to go to HER Sunday School class and she not only met new friends, but she met another homeschool family!
Soccer doesn’t start until next week, but I’m fairly sure it’s a VERY social event! I think she’ll have a totally new outlook on everything once we really get up and going, and nail down a not-so-routine. Right now, she’s super stoked that her online curriculum Time4Learning has opened up it’s Art section for her. She’s designing a candy bar at the moment. I tried to talk her into doing a healthy protein bar, but hey.. you pick your battles, right?
I keep hitting her over the head with the proverbial “Rome wasn’t built in a day..” garb, and I think she’s finally understanding!
We’re not giving up, and we’re so glad that you’re not giving up on us either!
Yeah!! So happy to hear that it is going well… and yes, every Parent/Teacher and CHILD/student is different… and it WILL all work out! 🙂
I’m so happy for you guys! Once she’s out of detox, she will see!
We are having the opposite issue. Seth (13) has been home schooled for the past 3 years and excelled. He is now desperate to return to school. I can not seem to get to participate in any activities.
On another note we used Time for Learning and love it!! Seth also did time for writing.
I am sure once friends are established her angst will as well:)
Good Luck!!!!
During the summer of the year I finished 4th grade, my parents announced to me that I would not be returning to public school, but would rather be homeschooled. I fought, flipped out, had crying jags, etc. etc. etc. Before we even made it half-way through the first year, my mother came up with how to keep me in line. She threatened to send me BACK to public school. It worked for each year after that, until I graduated after being home schooled 5th-12th. Nothing put the fear in me more than the idea of going back “there”. At that, being an only child, you’d think I had no social life, but that’s not true. Instead, any social life I did have was more productive, and made with people that are still my friends today.
Of my 5 children, three are now in school with “mommy”. It is not always fun, but even they can be kept in line with asking them if they want to go to public school. As well, they have more social skills than any of their peers we know. Put them in any age group, young oo old, and they can chat up a storm! Life isn’t perfect here, but it is LIFE, real, every minute of it.
GO LISA!
My kids at different points in their homeschooling have all voiced wishing they were in public school with lots of other friends… usually its during a dry period where we arent doing as much activity. The only one of my kids that has been to public school is my oldest.. the others have no idea … only what theyve heard. My oldest two now say they are so thankful to be homeschooled and wouldnt change it… My oldest has recently thanked me for homeschooling him.. he is now realizing what I have sacrificed for him and its such a blessing to me. I pray that once Kylie is fully detoxed she will begin to see the beauty of homeschool and one day realize the sacrifice you are making of yourself to put your children first… Your an amazing mama!! so proud of you and happy to call you a friend <3
I laugh that the year we homeschooled was a busiest year ever. We were constantly going on field trips and group meetings and stuff. It was no stop and it was so much fun. There are a lot of challenges but it is so worth it to get time to really get to know your kids. I am so happy that Kylie is learning that friends aren’t just found at school. She is going to do great.
It is funny that we are having almost the same issue here this year and Sam is in public school. She feels isolated from her friends because of the way her school is set up. They have pods, and her pod has 3 of the 4th grade classes and 3 3rd grade classes, another pod has the other 4th grade classes. The go to lunch and recess by pod so she doesn’t have recess w/ most of her friends from last year. She is having to learn to make new friends in her old school. Just goes to show that we always have to learn to make our situation work.
And off subject, sort of. Don’t forget then NaNoWriMo http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/ Kylie might enjoy it!
Oh yeah, Julie, I forgot about that. Last year, I think I wrote half a story and gave up. I bet she would love that! Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks Regina. I’m going to look into the writing as well. I think she’ll like it!
Rachel and Christi… both of you are AWESOME! It’s a lot of work for me, so I can’t imagine how much it is for you two, and you do it with ease!
Thanks for all of the support, everyone!
You’re awesome, Mama! Keep doin’ what you’re doin! 🙂
I know the people that run time4learning. They are great!Really super people!
That’s awesome. My kiddos really love it. Kylie’s super stoked that there’s art! 🙂
Sounds like she’s starting to see there are lots of places to find new friends. Good for you for helping her find the way there!