Well, School Lasted About Two Weeks, Lol

[taweavmo3]

It hasn't even been two weeks at public school, and my dd is sick. She is SO sensitive, she seems to get sick just from being near the stuff, lol. I don't think she actually ate anything with gluten, b/c she didn't start throwing up right away. It started a few hours later with a fever first (which is common for her when glutened) then the vomiting, now D.

I went up to eat lunch with her a couple of times last week, and it made me so uneasy. For starters, the school is overcrowded. This area is expanding faster than they can build schools to accomodate, for K alone, there are over 200 kids. And they are all in the lunchroom at once (at 10:30 I might add, a tad early huh?). Her regular K teacher doesn't stay in the cafeteria, it's mainly volunteers, and not nearly enough of them. I never realized how crazy lunchtime is until I went up to the school. So I'm not really shocked that she is sick.

Anyway, long story short, I'm pulling her out this week. She's been completely exhausted since school started, and I should have just listened to my instincts that were telling me she wasn't ready for full time school just yet! I thought I had learned my lesson already about that one.....but you know how it is, everyone around you tells you to give school a chance, and I was feeling like I was just being overprotective. I am going to homeschool her this year (have a curriculum all lined up, it was my plan B, lol) and luckily we live in a area that has several very active homeschool groups to keep the kids as busy as they want to be!

I would love to hear how everyone else is doing in school so far. Hope it is going well, and that all the kiddos are staying healthy!

[buffettbride]

My DD is in 5th grade this year (which makes it easier since she's older and been in school longer), and her first full year at school after being dxd. It has gone very well, although we have had to take a few precautions we didn't even think of. I send two wet-wipes in her lunchbox so she can wipe her lunch space in the lunchroom and then another to clean her hands. She felt so scared after the first day in the cafeteria that it felt like she was eating lunch inside a loaf of bread! Fortunately, she hasn't had any glutenings as a result of being in the cafeteria and washes her hands religiously after every meal.

The second scary thing for her at school is they change classes throughout the day and another kid eats snack at her desk. So, she has a supply of wet wipes in the classroom she uses after class changes for her desk, then her hands.

It also really helps she is not the only Celiac at school. In fact, there are 3 students and 2 staff members who are Celiac and her teacher has taught ALL of the student Celiacs (coincidentally) so she REALLY knows the drill and just is a great, goodhearted woman.

I completely respect your decision to home school, especially with one so little who was probably way more sick than my DD was (she had pretty mild symptoms compared to some). However, something I've really had to work with DD on is that it is a gluten filled world and hiding from it doesn't make the gluten go away. If anything, she comes out of it a healthier eatier and a healthier child. She drinks more water than her classmates and she eats more whole fruits and veggies than her classmates and WAY less processed food. She said so far 2 lunchroom helpers have pointed out that she has the healthiest lunch at school (thank you, Laptop Lunches).

Of course you need to do what you feel is best for you and your family, and if homeschool is the answer for you then it is. JMNSHO, I'm not a fan of homeschooling, but I can totally see if school is making your daughter sick that it's best to keep her home. Is there any way you could do a 1/2 day Kindergarten program where they don't serve lunch if you REALLY want her to have a traditional Kindergarten experience, that might be an option.

[buffettbride]

And after reading your gluten-free/CF/Soy free for 3 and I suspect that is much more difficult than me simply managing 1 gluten-free child.

[Nikki'smom]

I am so sorry to hear the 1st 2 wks of kindergarten was so rough for your dd! Poor thing!

My dd is almost a week into her new lifestyle of gluten-free and is doing great. She actually told me her tummy feels better which I think is helping her adjust to the new life better.

If it makes you feel any better last yr when my dd was in1st grade they had snack at 8:20am then lunch at 10:20am then the poor things had to wait until 2pm to go home before they could have a snack again.

So far my dd's teacher is great she doesn't know much about Celiac but said she wants to learn and when she gets settled in school she will deff read more up on it besides the stuff I gave her.

Personally I couldn't home school all yr! I do do alot of worksheets with my kids over the summer but the thought of doing it all yr makes me want to jump off the nearest bridge! LOL

I do wish you all the best of luck with home schooling! It is a great option for your little one and I am glad you are happy with your choice

[gfpaperdoll]

I think home schooling is the perfect thing for a child. Much more natural & better for the child to be in a good home environment. More stimulating also I think. I do not see any proof that the modern school system has done anything more than turn out factory workers. The prisons are still full of messed up people...

[taweavmo3]

I just realized I made it sound like the glutening was why I am pulling her out, lol.....it's not just that, I think it just helped me make my decision. She's been behind for her age, and is starting to catch up. Her dev. Ped told me that she thought K this year was not a good idea, she thought that Emmie would get overwhelmed and wouldn't say a word. Her solution was a small private school with a low teacher to student ratio, which we can't afford at the moment. But I also had two private speech therapists tell me that I should go ahead and put Ems in K, and just see how she does.

So, I was really torn as to what to do anyway. I figured we'd give it a chance, but it has been alot for her. She comes home so tired and cranky, she's been falling asleep for the night at 5 or 6pm. At the school she's in, they have homework for kindergarteners, which I know Emmie is not ready for. This is a kid that still takes 2 hour naps in the afternoon if given the chance, and still falls asleep at her normal bedtime.

I figured the glutening was inevitable, and I think it was more than likely just a CC issue, b/c her reaction hasn't been bad. I do put her in situations so she can learn to stay safe in a world full of gluten.......it probably does sound like I'm trying to shelter her, and that's been a struggle of mine. I want to keep her safe from accidents as much as I can so her speech/language progress doesn't suffer, but at the same time I have to teach her how to take care of herself when everyone around her is dripping with crumbs. I'm always conflicted, but I've pretty much felt like that since my first child was born, lol.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings! We'll see how this homeschooling thing goes, I'm just going to take it one day at a time and see where we stand next year, it's a really scary undertaking!

[jerseyangel]

Good luck with the homeschooling, Tamara. I understand your position completely--and agree with you that this is the best option for little Emmie.

Being conflicted kind of "comes with the territory"--dosen't it! I know I felt that way all the time while my boys were gowing up, and still do on occasion

You sound like a wonderful mom

[buffettbride]

Not that I want to discourage you from homeschooling if you think that would help (and a private school does make a difference--that is where my kids go), but my daughter who was extremely advanced for her age was also tired and cranky and asleep by 6pm the first probably month or so of kindergarten. They had a rest period during the day and she always fell asleep because she was used to her 2 hour naps daily.

However, don't feel pressured that your child HAS to go to kindergarten. It could be with an extra year at home with you working with her that she'll be ready for 1st grade next year, or even want to try kindergarten again.

You know your daughter best and what is best for her and your family. I'm PERPETUALLY conflicted with everything (food related and otherwise) and I have a really hard time just making a decision about anything.

[Nikki'smom]

Hey if she isn't ready she isn't ready! You know her better than any one and you will do what is best for her!

My son who isn't celiac just started K offically today bus ride and all. His last yr teacher said he wasn't ready on the last day of school mind you! She said academicly he was great but maturity he needed to develop esp since he was a summer bday. Any turns out it was the Zyrtec he was on making him act up and foggy brained. Switched to clairitan and he is a whole new kid! Trhiving and doing wonderful. I choose to put him in K esp since it is only a half day in my town.

My point is I knew my son would be fine and today he couldn't wait to get on the bus and go. So if you think your dd isn't ready then absolutly keep her home!

My DD is a Nov bday so she was home with me an extra yr and WOW what a difference the yr does make.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Cheri A]

You know your kids best ~ I'm sure you will have a great home school year, esp. if you have a co-op to hook up with.

I am "always" conflicted too!

[EBsMom]

Anyway, enough of my ramblings! We'll see how this homeschooling thing goes, I'm just going to take it one day at a time and see where we stand next year, it's a really scary undertaking!

It *is* a scary undertaking at first, but it gets easier and easier. I pulled my two out of school 4 years ago and have been homeschooling ever since. (They attended a small private school. It was NOT a great experience. Private schools have different problems than public schools, but they have problems just the same.) I never planned to keep them home this long, but it's been such a wonderful experience that we just keep recommitting each year. Both of my kids work way above their grade/age levels, excel in their chosen sports, play a musical instrument and are very involved in various groups and activities. I just can't imagine doing it any other way at this point! Now that my dd is gluten-free/cf/sf and my ds is gluten-free, it's gravy to have them at home. I have no worries about accidental glutenings now while they're healing (we're only 3 months into the diet) and I can spend a lot of time teaching them how to read labels, cook gluten-free, and generally navigate the gluten-filled world.

If you want to do any sort of K level work with your dd at home, there are SO many resources. PM me if you want to discuss it. Good luck to you. Your dd is lucky to have a mom who's taking such good care of her!

Rho

[skipper30]

We are also a homeschool family. We are starting our 3rd year. We love it. Three out of our 4 have issues that helped or will help the decision to keep them home a very easy one. Our third little guy has a language disorder and a whole host of other issues. Our 2nd is our Celiac and our oldest has a chronic tic disorder, OCD and major anxiety. So for us, homeschooling was an easy decision. We have a great group of about 15-20 families that meet together and do tons of fun stuff!

I am interested in what kind of language disorder Emmie has.

Good luck and happy schooling!

Dallas

[crittermom]

My little lady started K this week. Her teacher is wonderful. She spent an hour on the phone with me from her home asking questions and learning all she could about Celiac and Katharine. She requested I bring in material for her to read and did some research at home as well. She has some allergies and there for understands the whole idea of CC.

She has a special treat tin set aside for Katharine's gluten-free treats for birthdays and she has Katharine's tub of gluten-free playdoh in a special place so it won't get CC. I am lucky that it is half day K in my town as well so I am still in control of her lunch. Do to the amount of material the teacher has to cover she does not do snacktime in the classroom either. This is great on two levels: 1. No CC scares and 2. Katharine's appetite is not huge so if she doesn't have an AM snack she tends to eat a better lunch. She is loving K and everything thus far is going great.

All her symptoms are gone from that darn Syrup...can you tell I am still steamed! She is doing great again. Circles are gone, behavior has calmed down, and her stool is back to a normal color. After reading some others here I realized that Katharine had been complaining of leg pain, I had no idea that that could also be a symptom. Jeez you learn new stuff everyday! Now I know what combinations to look for next time she gets glutened and to never be too sure we are gluten-free!

Anyway good luck with the homeschooling. You are making the right choice for your little girl.

[sspringer]

Could you tell me where to find the best information to provide teacher's? Thanks

[Ursa Major]

Tamara, homeschooling is an excellent choice for your daughter. You know, even without a 'real' teaching program, most kids learn more at home than in their kindergarten year, anyway. I always taught my kids the ABCs and counting/adding etc. before school. Especially if they asked and wanted to learn, they were way ahead of other kids when they started school.

There is no need to have any sit-down planned lessons with a five year old. Read to her regularly, make up alphabet games, count buttons (or whatever is countable in your environment or on walks), sound out letters, play color games (I see something, and it is red/blue/green/whatever), mix colours when painting to see what colour you get etc. Just by doing that, she will be ahead, especially with one on one attention from you.

I homeschooled my second youngest daughter from grade five to eight, and my youngest all the way to the end of grade six (I have five kids). It is the absolutely best for many kids to homeschool them.

I hope you and Emmie will really enjoy another year together! And if you decide to homeschool another year after this one, more power to you!

Dallas, I just wanted to point out that ALL of your kids issues could be caused by gluten. That goes for language difficulties, OCD, tic disorder and everything else. I find that my tics are much improved on the gluten-free diet, and so are my OCD difficulties. You may want to try making your house a gluten-free house, and might be surprised at the improvements all of your kids would make, not just the kid who is officially diagnosed with celiac disease.