I do not want him to go. I just found out our "groove"!

He does swim classes and gymnastics weekly, archery twice a month. (Well, that's over due to the cold.) So it's just swim and gymnastics...

I know I should invite a friend over. Think that would help?

He tells me he wants to go to school so he can ride the bus, eat lunch, have recess and eat those goldfish crackers for a snack. :lol:

He went to K last year for a few weeks. Granted, he was only 5 but he was crying, telling me that school was "too long".

How else should I deal with this?

lol. all the good things about school (well except for the bus). it is my opinion (MY opinion) to pull one in and out of school sends messages that confuse the child and tells them that you arent comfortable with what you are doing. and therefore they are not comfortable because children do need some rules/boundaries.

what do YOU want to do about his education? if you are happy with whats going down now, then maybe you could buy some goldfish crackers and play pretend bus, buy some cafeteria trays and serve his lunch on them and let him go out for recess at a park :) or put him back in school.

you are the parent :smooch:

lol. all the good things about school (well except for the bus). it is my opinion (MY opinion) to pull one in and out of school sends messages that confuse the child and tells them that you arent comfortable with what you are doing. and therefore they are not comfortable because children do need some rules/boundaries.

what do YOU want to do about his education? if you are happy with whats going down now, then maybe you could buy some goldfish crackers and play pretend bus, buy some cafeteria trays and serve his lunch on them and let him go out for recess at a park :) or put him back in school.

you are the parent :smooch:

Well said!

I want him home but I could be more *eek* social.

My oldest goes through phases with this. You know how no matter how miserable and painful birth was, but that we look back on it so fondly? That's kinda how she views her school experience.

She HATED it. Hated it. Cried her eyes out all the time. But, the grass is always greener in a child's eyes.

I agree that it's important to keep him home and reaffirm why you do this and how lucky he is. We stress things like - you get to sleep as late as you want, you get to wear your PJs all day, if you want - no standing on a cold street corner waiting for a bus, no getting up early by an alarm (sometimes when it's still dark out) and rushing through breakfast even if you aren't hungry to get dressed in uncomfortable clothes and go sit in a hard wooden chair all day, hot, homemade lunches, snacks whenever you're hungry, bathroom access all day long without permission, etc.

Then she decides she just wants "xyz" (like the goldfish crackers) and she's content again. :)

Target sells these cute little trays that have compartments in them - they're square - like the pottery barn kids plates/trays? The girls LOVE playing "cafeteria" - and I have even packed them lunches in real lunch boxes on occasion.

Jadon wants to go to 3rd grade next year because he wants friends. :wah: We don't have neighbors, but he goes to church and kung fu twice a week and field trips. He does not make friends easily. I really think if I send him to school he will be in for a rude awakening. I don't want him to go back, but dh does. I'm not sure what we will do.

Do you have any homeschool groups in your area? Maybe being in group activities with other homeschoolers would help him feel better.
I really like the ideas Branwyn had.

Do you have any homeschool groups in your area? Maybe being in group activities with other homeschoolers would help him feel better.
I really like the ideas Branwyn had.

I agree! My ds always wanted to "go to real school". What helped was having more schoolwork for him, and a heavier schedule about town. This year he has: Weekly Homeschool Enrichment Class, the Homeschool Christmas Program, a monthly field trip, tried out the YMCA homeschool PE class, tried out YMCA karate, and was in Little League. I also schedule regular breaks called "recess" twice before lunch (15 minute periods of free time as a reward for completing intense work sessions).

We pulled dd2 out last year. She's in 6th grade right now. She wants to go back to school but all of her reasons are social. She does attend public school for 45 min/day for band. What I've been doing is help facilitate more activities with the homeschoolers. We started a 4-H group that meets during the day. I'm hoping to plan some field trips soon. We're thinking about bringing dd3&4 home next year which would make it easier for her. Actually I'm up at 3am because dd3 just got sick (she's in the shower), so if she feels up to it she'll be homeschooled today. hehe

I forgot to mention that we are part of a HS group. Next week is our Christmas party; we'll go to that.

The baby had croup, DS had a dentist appointment so we missed some things, not to mention Thanksgiving. I am thinking it threw our routine off and he's bored.

Honestly, this time of year makes me want to stay at home more. I really have to force myself to take the kids out.

MY dd is not yet five but we talk about "schoolish" things often. We live in family housing on a college campus and all of our neighboors have at least two kids, we are currently the only homeschoolers. She knows her friends all go to school and she wants to as well. I try and get with other homeschoolers and let sophie know that they hs as well. I am really working hard to keep her away from "school" things right now. I check what books we are reading and if the story takes place at school. I point out the positives to her quite often, but at the same time take care to not put school down because I know that whatever I say will be said to our neighboors very quickly! I think what you said about keeping your son busy is key. Who wants to be bored, that is one reason we really want to hs, so my kids won't be bored. I have to remind myself that even though she still says she wants to go to school, I know that she would also like to eat ice cream all day and never brush her hair. I am committed to doing what is best for my kids, even if they don't think it is at the time!