Elementary school sabbatical

[Vanquisher]

WWYD?

This coming January, February, March, and April Chad is doing another away rotation ( , do they never end?). The city he will be in is 2.5 hours away by car. He will be able to come home about every other weekend.

Okay, so I have had it with Chad being away from this family, but I don't know what to do about it.

I don't even know what my options are, but maybe the district will let me homeschool for part of the year? If this was the case, he has a rental house in Greenville, and we could stay with him whenever we wanted. It might mean that Ryan wouldn't get to play spring baseball, and he REALLY enjoyed it.

I could try to get him to switch schools for those four months, and we could basically live up there? This seems like it would be a major PITA.

Or, I could go about life as usual and just plan to see my huband twice a month for four months. With how residency has been, I am not sure I like this option, but I don't like ANY of my options. Seriously, WWYD?

Off the top of my head, since Ryan is doing so well in school, I think I would institute a 4 day school week and take off Mondays or Fridays or two days in a row depending on what fits Chad's schedule best. The baseball part is harder to work around -- is the season running the whole time Chad is gone?

I'm sure the school will balk because some of their ratings/scores are probably based on attendence. Phooey on them though because I think family time trumps school.

[Vanquisher]

Ryan got warnings and truancy letters for missing 11 days of school last year. I don't know how accomodating they would be for something like that.

We are planning on taking a week off in October to do Disney World this years.

:huh:

It's a good thought though. Baseball begins at the end of February here.

[Vanquisher]

They do have fall ball, and we were thinking about doing that. I think I HAVE to get permission of some sort from the school district lest Ryan not be promoted to 5th grade next year. It would be great if they let me continue his curriculum with the books at home though.

[samssugarmomma]

I would go!

I second just telling the school that you will be out of town for those months and ask how you can work together to make sure Ryan's school work gets completed.

The baseball issue is trickier. Is he old enough to give some input on if he would rather go and miss baseball season or stay home with his friends at school and do it. Scratch that - maybe that isn't a fair to ask a kid........(I only have a 2 year old, and I'm making this up as I go... )

[Vanquisher]

I would go!

I second just telling the school that you will be out of town for those months and ask how you can work together to make sure Ryan's school work gets completed.

The baseball issue is trickier. Is he old enough to give some input on if he would rather go and miss baseball season or stay home with his friends at school and do it. Scratch that - maybe that isn't a fair to ask a kid........(I only have a 2 year old, and I'm making this up as I go... )

I definitely think he deserves some input here, but it isn't really his decision to make either. He is 9, BTW, and will be in the 4th grade.

[DCJenn]

That's a tough one-

I say yank them out and sign him up to play community baseball in Greenville. In fact, you can always do the temp move early and get him enrolled in school there for the entire spring semester.

or say F-it and homeschool for the semester.

Jenn

PS- if it were me, I'd stay put but that's because I'm lazy and really can't fathom any move again- even a short term one.

[diggitydot]

It didn't even occur to me to yank my kids out of school for the three months that my DH will be out of town. Not that it's a bad or good decision for your family, it just never even dawned on me to think of that.

[Vanquisher]

It didn't even occur to me to yank my kids out of school for the three months that my DH will be out of town. Not that it's a bad or good decision for your family, it just never even dawned on me to think of that.

Well, in med school, it wouldn't have occured to me either. We did three month-long away rotations in medical school, and then one three-month away rotation last year as well. This just feels like too much. In medical school, I at least saw my husband most days, and we had most weekends free.

Now, I can go, and the kids can go days without seeing him. Weekends are rarely ours. This year, PGY-4, his call schedule is supposed to be a lot lighter, but what the hell is the benefit of that if he is gone?

My son will be 10 years old in January, and for all of his life, Daddy has been on the f'ing dawkter quest. At some point, family has to come first, come hell or highwater. :huh:

I don't know. Maybe I should wait for a few more months (after PGY-4) is underway to feel it out a little more. Maybe I am too emotional about this right now because we feel so daddy deprived. My daughter isn't in school yet, so really my son is the only factor.

I can see why this is high on your list but maybe waiting into the school year to get a feel for the teacher and for the PGY4 schedule will help you to make a decision. Do you know what the away rotation schedule is like? Maybe the residents doing the first 2 quarters of it can report back.

Does spring break fall in that time slot that he is away? Does Ryan get MLK Jr, President's Day, etc?

[Flynn]

Re: Elementary school sabbatical

Or, I could go about life as usual and just plan to see my huband twice a month for four months. With how residency has been, I am not sure I like this option, but I don't like ANY of my options. Seriously, WWYD?

(Keep in mind I know I've never been in your shoes! )

I'm not saying this is for everyone but this is what I would do. I get in the "residency has screwed with MY life and I WON'T LET IT happen to my (our ) KIDS!!!!!!!" Missing Dad is a big deal though. I still wouldn't pull my kid out of school. But that's me.

DH suggested he leave for his new job in July and I wouldn't see him until September. No problem. Go. I want one more Northwest summer. You've been gone for 7 years, another month or two is no big deal.

It's a hard decision though Heidi.

I probably wouldn't do it unless you know the schedule is super-cushy and he'll have all sorts of free time. I can see you posting from there pissed off b/c he's still gone and the kids aren't getting to see Chad any more than they did at home. At home at least they'll still have their friends, their sports, etc.

[Vanquisher]

I probably wouldn't do it unless you know the schedule is super-cushy and he'll have all sorts of free time. I can see you posting from there pissed off b/c he's still gone and the kids aren't getting to see Chad any more than they did at home. At home at least they'll still have their friends, their sports, etc.

Is that your nice way of saying I am a total cry baby whiner?

[diggitydot]

I probably wouldn't do it unless you know the schedule is super-cushy and he'll have all sorts of free time. I can see you posting from there pissed off b/c he's still gone and the kids aren't getting to see Chad any more than they did at home. At home at least they'll still have their friends, their sports, etc.

Yeah, that was kind of my thought, too. I'd be super pissed if I yanked one of my kids out of school for a couple months just for Dad to still not be able to spend time with the fam.

Is that your nice way of saying I am a total cry baby whiner?

You? Me? Nah. I just know I'd be super-pissed if I uprooted to look at the inside of a rental.