Unexpected Big Changes

by Sarah | Sep 8, 2017 | All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Me, All of Us, Redefining Perfect

Each of our kids is unique. They always have been.

Denver was the “on point” kid every time. Every milestone, every clothing size, every single step was right on target. Right on projected ideals. He was always calm, always smart (though unwilling to put in the effort…got bored with school). He had dreams, and often got a single-minded view of them until he achieved them…i.e. He’s in Florida, working at Disney now.

Molly is unique in her own way. She was delayed in many aspects, speech, occupational, physical…but we knew she was brilliant in there. We could tell at two, with the way she could take the pieces from 10 different board puzzles laid out on the floor and put them away in 2 minutes flat. She would literally read the words in books at the age of three…silent, but sure. She’s grown up to continue the trend of intelligence, doing even better now that she’s had appropriate therapies for her SPD issues. Loves school and craves the structure of her every day.

Kennedy…she has always been a free spirit. Her imagination, though sometimes morbid, is brilliant and vivid. She sees life in such brilliant color, she is so sensitive, and caring, and crazy-talented in art. She loves to read, draw, color, and watch movies…but struggles in math. School, especially the cruel world of middle school, is rough on her sensitive heart. She hates sitting in a seat ALL Day long.

When the school year started this year, Molly went back with eager abandon. Kennedy trudged there begrudgingly.

Then, a few weeks ago Erik came to me with a thought.  He said, “I’ve been thinking that maybe Kennedy would do better home schooled.”

Honestly, I sat and stared at him in shock.  I had approached the idea of home schooling when the girls were younger, and Denver was entering middle school. He’d bald-faced refused with such vehemence that I have never broached the subject again.

Even more – several times over the summer I’d looked into one of the online public schools thinking it would be good for Kennedy. As one of her old friends had been withdrawn from school to attend one a couple of years ago, I’d been more and more curious. Her friend was doing so well under the different way of learning, and the conversations I’d had with his mom had made me intrigued.

Still, knowing Erik’s aversion I’d always closed the tab in my browser saying, “Erik will never go for it.”

Yet, here he was approaching me with the idea.

The past month we have researched, gone over the possibility with Kennedy herself.  Kennedy was fully on board. Erik still had some reservations.

We asked Molly if she would feel bad if her sister did school at home and she didn’t, to which she said, “Don’t you DARE take ME out of school! I don’t want to leave!” After we reassured her this was for Kennedy, and that she’d remain in regular school, she was good with it.

We did some more research. Talked to my friend about her experience. Talked to the online school. Talked to each other at length. The fact that it is still a state-certified public school, with local teachers is a huge bonus. She’ll have some work each day to do at the computer.  She’ll be able to get credit for doing activities outside of the virtual classroom.  Her hours of PE are up to us & her how they are done. Different home activities will count. She’ll be able to take sign language for her foreign language. She’ll be able to do a full year of art without “special accomodations”. There are many clubs to join that are up her alley, and there is a local group of students that meet regularly for socializing and learning activities.

It’s a much more creative way to learn. It’s a much more Kennedy way to learn.

And the decision was made.

Monday we start this new adventure. It was unexpected, but is exciting.

So, off we goooooo!!!!!