for us anyway.
Today was officially the last day of home education. Well actually officially the last day of home education occurred some weeks ago, when my son started a part time job. Only, he wanted to carry on until the ‘end of term’ as this was the time of year we pulled out of school and started home ed many years ago.
And although home ed is officially and unofficially over, the support and learning will still go on indefinitely.
But having said all that, I feel a little bit bereft and mostly ok about it. Bereft because it has been a lot of fun, hard work too, but fun. And mostly ok because the timing is right.
It has, everyone agrees, been a success. It is ideal for someone with a learning disability to go at a different pace. I have learnt lots along the way too, as in any areas I was unsure, we learned together. We’ve followed his interests and had trips to Roman ruins, and hunted fossils, and climbed Westminster Clock Tower , to celebrate 150 years of Big Ben, we visited the Tower of London, and we did a world tour (well ok, a bit of England and Wales) in our van. He’s walked for miles on the moors and the coast path, and we have visited lots of ancient hut circles, standing stones and barrows. We have made so many trips. And we’ve picnicked everywhere!
He’s come on from a fear of numbers to managing his own bank account on a spreadsheet, from not being able to be left alone to taking the bus independently, from reading baby books to paperbacks. He’s just finished reading Dickens’ A Christmas Carol just for fun. Mostly, though, it is great to see how his confidence and independence has developed.
Yes, I am proud of our achievements.
It’s going to be a bit odd, after the holidays, without home ed taking up so much of my life, but a lot of my time will be the same – taxi-ing him to his courses and social things etc, and being there in case things don’t quite work out as they should, and a lot of nudging in the right direction.
We had a celebratory meal, just as we did this time of year many years ago when we had the last day of school, ever. Now this era has also ended.
And the timing is right.
It sounds ideal and well done to you all. Your hard work and his development is an indicator of how effective it has been. One era might have ended but because of your combined efforts a new one has commenced that holds many more opportunities. Be proud.
thanks Ian 🙂
I echo everything that Ian has said. Congratulations on everything that you and your son have achieved and here’s to the next chapter in your lives.
thanks Jo 🙂
It sounds like you have helped him achieve so much more than just ‘education’ you have given him life knowledge and skills and that is so incredibly important – Well done N – here’s to the next step – life 🙂
thanks Kate 🙂
That is a lovely ending to a story I relate all to well too; I’ve sure neither of you will ever finishing learning but I’ve sure it will be with a love that school so sadly takens away from so many