With Fin being so ill and going through treatment we are obviously trying to avoid things like colds, flu etc which will mean a hospital stay and delay in treatment. Things like chickenpox, measles, shingles are also to be avoided as these are such a serious risk to him, and can quickly turn life threatening. Lewis has been back at school for 2 years now, not enjoying it at all, and we have been talking about home ed again, although we were thinking let him finish his last year of primary, and home ed next year. But Fin being ill has made us think. I don’t really want Lewis at school bringing home every germ he comes across (he always picks up everything!). Is this as good a time as any to take him out of school? I don’t want it to look like I am taking him out solely for the purpose of germ avoiding (although that does play a part-it has made us think about bringing the home ed forward anyway).  Lewis enjoyed home ed last time, and as we are trying to move closer to hospital at the minute, it would mean we were moving to somewhere with a really good home ed community, something which we didn’t have last time. We were also thinking about flexischooling, maybe asking the head if we could keep him out until half term when Fin gets an mri to see how much his tumour has shrunk, if at all, then go from there? I have all the info I need to approach the head, but don’t know if we would be better just removing him altogether. Do you think it would look like we were trying to hide away? As I say, we wanted to take him out anyway…I wish we had done it sooner. It would also be amazing for us to go back to seeing Lewis blossom again, to get our boy back, to let him pursue his interests, and to spend time together as a family

Any thoughts?

What does Lewis want?  It sounds like you’d like to take him out of school.  If he wants to come out of school then I would go for it, although I must say there are plenty of germs in the HE community, mine and my friends little ones spent most of last winter catching one thing after another and none of them go to school!

It sounds like you know you want him to be at home and you want some reassurance.  I’d say go for it

Yes Id say go for it too.And how lovely for you all to have him at home and spending precious time together. if it feels right with you trust your instincts and go for it.He can always join school again at some point if he wants to/you want him to.xxx

As long as Lewis is happy with the decision then I would say go for it too, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about it, if it’s right for you as a family then that’s all that matters. If you are moving anyway does that mean he would have had to move school anyway? If so, then definately do it now as it’ll be one less upheaval than moving schools now and then coming out of school altogether in a year. I agree that it might not mean less germs if you’re going to be involved in a home ed community, but what it may give you is a chance to focus your energies and those of your family in one place, to be together during a time when you may be feeling pulled in lots of different directions.

Whatever you decide we’re here to hold your hand x x

I would say go for it too.  If you have all the info you need for the head of his school does it really matter if they think you are doing to germ avoid.  They may not even realise that that is an issue.  If you have home educated before I am sure it will not come to any surprise to the head if you choose to take him out.

3/4 of our home ed group are unvaxed and actively seek out measles/chicken pox etc. Not a criticism of them in any way, but with an immuno-compromised child, it may be something you wish to consider - HE and non-vaxing often seem to go together. Personally, I’d still go for it if you think your child would be happier, but I wouldn’t choose it as a less germy option than school!

Angie

thanks mamas I guess I am just looking for reassurance as we already made the decision to go back to HE for middle school anyway; this is bringing it forward a little. Lewis wants more than anything to come out of school; I feel terrible that before Fin was ill I was preoccupied with having time for me, and not having time to HE….this makes me feel terrible now, as it has been me not wanting Lewis to come out of school, when he really struggles with it. As for germs, reading my op back, it sounds as though I’m trying to keep us in a little bubble. I’m not, as I realise we can’t avoid everyone and everything for a year or two! I think I’m more having a confidence crisis2. With all the troubles we have had over the last two years, I think I’m just having a major wobble. I’m getting carried away with the what-if’s of HE , and losing sight of how wonderful it actually is. I need to take a little time to clear my head, and focus, and remember how much Lewis loved being at home, and how much he benefitted from it.

I need to write that letter!! Someone shove me a little, so I actually do it!