I'm still alive

[fandoria]

Just a quick little post to stay I'm still alive.  Home school is going really well.  I do plan to write a more detailed post about it and also share pictures from last week's field trip to the Albany Children's Book Festival (where I also got to meet the super sweet and awesome jbknowles )
But that will have to wait until I have more than a second to write

Comments

[onegrapeshy]

I hope everything is now going well!

[fandoria]

It is. This was definitely the right decision. The difference in T now that he's out of public school is amazing. He's happier, more relaxed, and he's excited about learning again. He's also doing things that he wouldn't have been doing until next year if he was still there, such as: reading simple chapter books (think Flat Stanley, Magic Treehouse, etc) independently, actually learning science (we've covered forces/motion, simple machines, and magnetism so far), and history (we're studying the Revolutionary War right now). And on the diabetes front, I've been able to fine tune his pump settings more easily now that he's home and I can see what's going on all the time. We're still not perfect (doubt we ever will be), but there is definite improvement. And out of 5 weeks, he's only had behavior issues (not directly related to extreme highs or lows) a total of 3 days. So I'm pretty sure the whole, "it's a purely disciplinary issue, not medical or environmental" stance that certain individuals were taking is dead wrong. Of

[afraclose]

I've heard that it can take months or even years for homeschooling families to come up with a system that works for them, so I'm glad to hear that things are going well for you! Please post more, since I'm interested in homeschooling myself, when the time comes.

[fandoria]

We're still experimenting with what works best for us, but I think we're getting there. For some things, a more formal, traditional approach works best, but for others, I've found a more imformal, eclectic, hands-on, real-life experience tactic works for him. It helps that my best friend has been home schooling her three kids for a year and she's been so great about sharing resources and ideas and what she's learned. I think next year will be even easier. This year, I spent the first few weeks trying to figure out where he was in certain subjects (because his teacher didn't really tell me) and I've also tried to catch him up in subjects he really wasn't getting before. Whereas next year, we get to start brand new without having to worry about that.

[kathys_shadow]

I know how it is not to have time to post! Glad everything is going well for you. :-)

[fandoria]

Being a new mother can do that to you. ;) How's motherhood treating you? I've seen some of the pictures you and your mom post on facebook and your daughter is adorable!

[kathys_shadow]

Motherhood is going really well. I admit, I didn't realize it would be so tiring, but it's really good so far. :-)

[fandoria]

I'd like to say the tiring part does get better, but 8 years into it, I'm still waiting... But it's definitely worth it.

[music_lover3]

I'm glad things are finally going well!

[fandoria]

Thanks! It's so nice not to feel so stressed all the time now.

[edgyauthor]

Glad to hear that things are going well, and that home school is working out for you and T! Can't wait to see that post about the books you've been reading--those are always fun to see! :)

[fandoria]

I am too. Especially because I honestly never want to send him back to that school again. They just can't handle taking care of a diabetic. No matter how much we tried to tell them to the contrary (using information provided by the Joslin Center), they firmly believe that no matter how high or low his blood sugar is, he should still be 100% in control of his behavior. Can you believe that? They said all our issues this year which we claimed were medical and environmental (his teacher is a bully) were actually disciplinary. That he's a problem child. Uh... up until the past 2 1/2 months (which is when he finally got ont he sensor) his blood sugar was only in the normal range about 20% of the time. That's going to have a severe impact on his behavior. Now we've got him in the normal range about 55% of the time. Still not where we want it, but definitely a huge improvement. And guess what, his behavior is good 90% of the time. Which is pretty dang good for any 8-year-old boy. They just don't get it and don't want to get it

[edgyauthor]

No matter how much we tried to tell them to the contrary (using information provided by the Joslin Center), they firmly believe that no matter how high or low his blood sugar is, he should still be 100% in control of his behavior. Can you believe that?

Wow, really? That's just crazy! Those highs and lows don't make it easy to control behavior AT ALL. (And I should know.) Thank goodness home schooling is working out! I wish you the best of luck with it the longer you continue down that path! :)

[fandoria]

Not only did they say that, but they said it after we showed them proof in the way of the data from T's sensor that pinpointed exactly what his blood sugar had been at every single time they'd complained about his behavior. And every complaint they had matched up with a time when he was either low or really high or dropping or spiking really fast. And the days when they had no complaints, he was pretty much at target the whole day. They looked at that data then looked at us and said, "So what? That's just coincidental. It's got nothing to do with it." That was the point when I shut down and stopped listening to anything more they had to say. It was also the point where I knew there was no way I wasn't pulling him out and home schooling him. Fortunately, my husband agreed.

[lefalcone]

Hi!

That's all.

[fandoria]

Hello, right back at ya! :D