So part of what you are about to read was buried in an blog post from last spring where I was complaining about a rough IEP meeting we had just come from and at that time somebody asked “why don’t you just homeschool him?”
However, I thought now was the time to make it its own blog post because at least once a week somebody will ask in the comments if we’ve ever considered homeschooling our 12 year old severely autistic, non verbal son.
And while we are extremely happy with his new school this year, we’ve had some issues here and there with a few of his majesty’s previous schools. Some minor issues and a few major ones.
However even during some of those rough times at the other schools we have never ever considered homeschooling him.
Why you ask?
Well I’m sure that I (or most likely wifey) will take a lot of sh*t for this but here goes…
Homeschooling our 12 year old is really, truly not an option for us. I don’t think either of us are mentally strong enough to do it. I know that I’m not, and wifey wants no part of it either.
We like being his mom & dad. I think we do a damn good job at being his mom & dad. And even just being mom & dad of the king is not that easy.
We’ve found our way over the past 10+ years of being autism mommy & autism daddy…
But to add teacher onto our roles? I know I’m gonna take sh*t for this, but it’s just not feasible.
The king needs a happy, mentally healthy mom & dad, and if we had to think about teaching him 4-6 hours a day I think we’d lose more of our marbles.
For those of you that are strong enough to do it I applaud you, I am jealous of you, I am impressed by you, and I tip my cap to you.
We just can’t do it.
If I’m being brutally honest there’s just not enough happy pills that we could take to make homeschooling feasible…
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
So the next time someone asks in the comments why we don’t homeschool our kid, you can all send them the link to this blog post.
🙂
The End.
Now I will prepare myself to be crucified in some of the comments.
🙂
Prologue by Autism Daddy: Howdy folks! Long time no blog! I hope y'all are well! …
Howdy folks! As many of you know I work at Sesame Street, and was proud…
Intro: Jim lives in Pittsburgh where he works as a Project Manager by day…
GUEST POST Almost 10 years ago, my then 2 -year old son, Devin, was…
GUEST POST -Ellie Whetzel is a Wife, Mom, and blogger who writes about the ups,…
I've taken my son to Sesame Place many times! He's 14 years old, but he'll…
View Comments
Good for you both!!!
I agree with you! Plus your son needs to have time away from you also, to get use to working with other people like his teachers. And also in his future when he ages out of school, he will be more prepared to go to an adult day program or even a workshop.
No crucifixion here. I am one of those that did do the homeschooling. I have the gray hair to prove it. It is not for everyone. It did work for my son (he is in his third year of college now), however that was partly me, therapists, behavior specialists, psychiatrists, doctors, and the many aides that helped me as a single mom get him out and about (or at least fight the battle to try!) If whatever you are doing is working for your son and you as a family then that is your path.
I agree! Your son needs parents who are happy.
All day discrete trial teaching for people without that background would be very difficult! It's so good to be able to rely on pros who don't live in your home. Even though I'm trained as a special educator, I work all day in an office, and then I go home to the "kid shift" with my 3 with special needs (ASD, ODD, adhd) and my 1 NT kid (youngest who actually has her sh*t together at age 4). Keep doing a Damn good job!
Let's hope his entire day is NOT DTT. That's not what ABA is.
You know what's best for you and your kid! I couldn't agree more! I am a teacher and a parent of a spectrum kiddo and I struggle to just be the Mom he needs everyday. That's a full plate for me! Keep doing what works for you and The King!
This reminds me of the many conversations I have had about why I choose to continue to work full time & don't consider home schooling.
For me I know that my relationship with my son will be impacted if I add the pressure of home schooling to the mix
I would say the same thing to anyone who asked me that same question regarding our 16 year old. The school bus has been coming to our house for 13 years and he loves it. It warms my heart when we go places and someone from school recognizes him and says hi even though they know he will rarely reciprocate and if he does he echoes what they say including his name. We, along with his two sisters, teach him how to be a part of a family. Nothing at all wrong with homeschooling if it is what you want and can do, it's just not for us either.
Nothing but respect for you and your wife!
BINGO!
Batteries need to be recharged. That precious 6 or 7 hours away from the relentless scourge of autism makes our lives possible.
I homeschool my two boys (one high functioning spectrum, the other has dysgraphia, both are gifted) because it was the only feasible option for us. The school system here is just not set up to deal with kids like mine. They do attend once room school house classrooms twice a week through a charter. Homeschooling isn't for everyone. What is for everyone is what works for your family and each particular child! I know families with one child in 5 day a week graded school and another homeschooled full time. You do what works and that is what matters!