Has anyone tried home schooling?
Fri, September 19, 2008 12:00 AM
The school year got off to a great start for my 8 year old with Crohn's but in the last week she has missed four days because of doctor's appts, stomach pain and too many trips to the bathroom. She is also taking Imuran which I know suppresses her immune system and increases her risk of getting sick. I have started thinking about the possibility of home schooling just to take the pressure off. On top of her physical symptoms, she get lots of questions at school about why she is in the bathroom so much, why she misses school, etc. Sometimes I think it is too much for an 8 year old to handle and her health should be our main priority. So I have started thinking about home schooling, but do not want her to become isolated. I am also concerned about how it might impact my other children. Does anyone have experience with home schooling and have some advice on the subject?
concerned momJoined Jun 19, 2008
Thu, October 16, 2008 5:04 PM
Reply posted for Concerned Mom.
Homeschool is a HUGE undertaking (I know, I was homeschooled). It's not something I reccommend for everyone, it really depends on the individual family. You have to be really disciplined and you have to have the right type of relationship with your daughter. (I had a violin teacher who taught all her own kids too, but her youngest just didn't work out. They were too similar.)
If you do decide to homeschool, try to get in contact with other homeschoolers in your area. It's important for children to have socialization, so find out if there are group meetings in your area. (When I was growing up, several large families got together every friday for art, music, and dance lessons, with free time in between. We also had field trips and park days together)
Also, look into the legal ramifications. Some states (and countries) are more tolarant than others. There are often hoops you have to jump through.
Homeschooled kids tend to be slightly more accepting of things perceived as "abnormal" (being different themselves). They are used to people questioning aspects of their everyday lives, so they may be more accepting of your daughter. On the other hand, it really depends on their parents and what they have been taught.
As far as the kids she's dealing with now, I would like to reccommend that she be honest with them. I don't know if she would be comfortable with that, but, as an educator, I have had to be honest with students about my (albeit, mild) Colitis. They tend to take it well when it's spoken about matter-of-factly. Still, it's different coming from a teacher. They know they're not supposed to mess with the teacher.
I hope some of this was helpful
Joined Oct 16, 2008
Tue, October 07, 2008 12:00 AM
Reply posted for Concerned Mom.
This is a tough one for any mom. While you want to shelter your children from the big, bad world, and we all know how very cruel children can be, I'm of the opinion that it's very important that our kids learn to deal with their illnesses head on. My daughter was diagnosed when she was 7 and in first grade (she'll be 10 at the end of October). She's missed a week of school here and there, but I've always insisted that she go to school. We get up every single morning with the intention of going to school. She may be late if she spends a lot of time in the bathroom, but we still go.
Changing a child's routine to adapt to her condition is one thing, but changing it altogether may be detrimental to her emotional health as well. You'll find that giving your child a sense of normalcy will be the best emotional tool you can provide. While my daughter understands that not all children have Crohn's, there are others who have asthma, diabetes, allergies, ADHD, etc., and each child has to take meds or do something else special to help keep them healthy.
I have done everything I can as a mom to make my daughter feel "normal" by her standards, not mine or anyone else's. Since nothing in today's society is "normal" any more, define it in a way that your daughter can accept it.
The motto around our house is "poop happens, it just happens to some people more than others". Yes, that's over simplifying all that we've been through, but my daughter is determined that she will win the game with the hand she's been dealt.
email me kvann@axh.com if you want to talk further.
kimvannJoined Mar 12, 2008
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