We have therapy for the boys tonight but Lizze isn’t feeling well and she will probably stay behind. It will likely be the boys and I heading out tonight.
Tonight’s focus is going to be on school for Elliott and Emmett. We have to figure something out because while the boys like school, they’re also miserable at the same time, albeit for different reasons.
This needs to be a very serious discussion about our options. I’m hoping Lizze feels up to going but but if not, we’ve discussed it amongst ourselves already and have reached a consensus. We both agree that the status quo isn’t in the best interest of the kids. What we do about it is where we become less sure of ourselves.
At this point, I feel like we have three options:
- We do nothing and work on improving their current situation (if it’s possible)
- Look into other schools
- Homeschool
There are upsides and downsides to all three options. It’s our job to figure out the best option and do our best to make it work. The problem is that there are really no good options. We have to pick the best of the worst options and that sucks.
I would make a pro and con list for each option and see which comes out on top. Ohio’s new attendance policy means that unless they are home schooled, they are both already chronically tardy and for various reasons and diagnoses and that trend is likely to continue. So, big plus for home school, the negatives (IMO) far outweigh it. School is the only socialization they get. In all the years I have been following your lives, they have had one play date that I can recall and that is incredibly sad to me. Also, you tried home schooling Gavin and it didn’t really go all that well (for many reasons- I’m not trying to point a finger at you here). So if you move on from home school, you have Summit or public school. I personally don’t think Summit does anything to prepare them for the next stage or life outside of the school walls. I am an outsider but from reading your blog, it seems like Summit is almost more of a holding pattern than someplace that you send children to learn.
So, mainstreaming becomes an option. Are they ready for that? Would they survive the public school system? That’s a tough question, but I feel like at least they might have a chance at moving forward if they were in a regular school. I’m certainly not trying to tell you what to do or how to do it, but these are my thoughts that come from following your lives over the years. 🙂
Actually, they have quite a bit of social interaction. I don’t talk about it much cause it never occurs to me. They have cousins on both sides that they see, not as often as we’d like but they do. During the warmer months, they play with other kids on the playground etc. It’s not perfect but it’s something.
We never tried homeschooling Gavin. The school had a program where the teacher would come out a few days a week and reach him because he couldn’t leave the house. We did that for awhile but they dropped the program. We never actually homeschooled him but I understand the confusion.
Summit is a mixed bag. They are more mainstream now than they used to be, as there’s a blend of typical and special needs kids in each classroom. There’s a laundry list of concerns we have and preparation for life outside of Summit is a big one.
Mainstreaming them is off the table, at least for now. The stress from where they are currently is a major problem and mainstreaming would only be worse.
As for their current attendance, it’s actually not bad. I don’t remember Elliott’s but Emmett had only missed 10 days this year and 9 of those were Florida. He’s missed Monday and Tuesday though..
Loving the conversation Kim. Thank you