So what's pants about HE?

[lindenlass]

I've just been reading this thread and some of the comments on there are so great, particularly onwardsandupward's explanation that the reason we all rave about HE nonstop is because we are constantly being called upon to defend our choice. And if we were to moan about it, we risk people saying 'well send them to school then' which is not want we want to hear!

We are totally and utterly committed to HE - I cannot imagine sending my children to school. We're also totally and utterly committed to bfing and co-sleeping but there are crap things about it which I don't moan about to anyone except DH because I know I'll hear comments along the lines of 'well don't do it then'. It is ridiculous because people are allowed to moan about conventional choices without being told not to do them!

Anyway, all this rambling is leading me onto saying - would it be helpful to MN HEors to have a place to vent about HE? I'll start off (we're autonomous btw):

• I get tired of random questions at random times which usually come when I'm engrossed in something else and I'm crap at remembering that MN really isn't as important as answering a child's question when it's pertinent

• I get fed up when one or other child wants me to get them to sleep, not Daddy, as I've had them ALL DAY LONG and want a break - it's DH's turn when he gets home from work!

What do others find hard/annoying/whatever?

[storkycake]

I thought that was a troll!

I'll give this some thought overnight and get abck to you

[milou2]

Being challenged on topics which matter to me again and again. For example what exactly is it that I find appalling about the GTA clip on YouTube about Nico shooting in a hospital, when I have got to the 'this is silly and ridiculous and a totally unrealistic kiddie game' stage when I see other clips.

Also I miss the routine of breakfast at 8am because we are committed to going somewhere for 8.45am. My son is still at the lurking at home stage of home ed. Mind you he loves a good gathering with people he actually knows well, just isn't interested in actively making new friends. Other people have to reach out to him. He is like my husband and mil now I write that down.

I find my lack of social gatherings very hard. Time to sort it out and put my particular needs for frequent socials to the top of my priority list.

[lindenlass]

Not a troll! And those were actually the only two things I could think of, which I guess are really pants things about bein a SAHM, not an HEor!

[GentleOtter]

I am finding it hard to get my dd into a routine (of sorts) plus it is extremely difficult trying to 'teach' when there is a toddler running around.
Dd has a very short attention span so I can only help her with things for a few minutes then she wants to do something else.
The worst aspect comes from our remote location and the lack of children nearby - she gets very lonely and although we take her to Scouts and other activities, the children tend not to include her much as she is 'different' to them.

[storkycake]

Well I do love HE most days, but the days I don't are when we realise that Dh & I have all the responsibility for our children's education on our shoulders, which sometimes feels a bit 'Eek!' iykwim.
But most good parenting decisions come with that feeling don't they and I personally would put the decision for us to HE as a bloody good one

I did think I would find the 24/7 thing a bit harder, but Dh is very good and does 'take over' when he gets in from work.
Umm, I'm not sure how educating 4 is going to pan out I'll be honest, that's a bit worrying. I'm not sure what will happen when they become teens either, 'cross that bridge' though eh?
I'm taking a wait n see approach to all that tbh, so many things could change between now and then.

Oh, actually the thing I do really dislike about HE is the groups. So many obstinate and opinionated people all in one place, despite the fact that you do all agree on the one thing you're there for. The community seems to have more than it's appropriate share of oddballs, it has to be said
It's taken 2 years to get to the point where we feel we know people well enough to have proper friendships and support, which is a long time I think.

[lindenlass]

gentleotter My dd1 has a very short attention span which used to worry me, but it doesn't any more. She's 5.5y and has learnt to read all by herself, and has incredible general knowledge and numeracy skills. It obviously doesn't hinder her, her short attention span, it's just how she learns, but it wouldn't be tolerated in school so I'm just so grateful we're HEing her

My dd2 on the other hand, has an incredibly long attention span, and will sit at something for ages and ages - she spent 3h colouring in lots of pictures to make a little book a while ago, she must have been just over 3y at the time! It's how she learns too, and works well for her, but also wouldn't be tolerated in school - she'd have to keep stopping and moving onto other things. Again, I'm just so glad we're HEing and can accept her the way she is instead of trying to mould her to fit the rest of hte class

storkycake I take the 'wait and see' approach too, and feel more overwhelmed by being someone's (four peoples'!) Mummy than by HEing them - wouldn't be able to trust anyone else to treat them the way I think they should be treated!

And our local groups are great, but I hear different reports from different areas - they must vary so much! I was always under the belief that they were quite structured with a lot of educational stuff going on, from reports from the whole country, but when I started going to local ones (and then set one up ourselves) I've found them to be much more laidback, sociable affairs - really flexible and fun. I love them Or maybe I'm just an 'obstinate and opinionated' person and fit in well with groups of other 'obstinate and opinionate' people

[onwardandoutward]

Ha! Lindenlass, I just worked out who you are! Hello, lady! (don't 'out' me... you know me from CoS and other places!)

[needmorecoffee]

trying to cater for 3 kids. One of whom wants to go to HE groups/camping etc and one who refuses completely to leave house.
Oh, and the judgey-ness of autonomous HE'ers vs more schooly types.

[lindenlass]

onwardandoutward I've known who you are for ages now! Big scary stalker, me!

[Fillyjonk]

not getting much of a break

the questions, constantly. from 2 of them.

[bollockbrainASSofBETHLEHEM]

cant do my christmas shopping!!!

I have to do online shopping in the middle of the night and get it delivered to my parents house, Then parents have to take the children out so i can zip round and bring it back here to my loft.

Then parents have to take dc out again so i can wrap - oh its very frustrating!