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[quote=Anonymous]OP, I am about to write a book, so apologies in advance:

I cannot recommend homeschooling more highly, but before you do, you need to "un"school yourself.  This is not an easy or fast thing to do, but it is essential to be successful with your son at home.

What I mean is, you have a certain, deeply ingrained idea of what school looks and sounds like.  But institutional learning is COMPLETELY different than learning independently.  So your approach to your son will be tainted with your own memories and expectations.  Those preconceptions will get in the way if you don't address them first.

The best place I can suggest you start is with a book called the [b]Teenage Liberation Handbook[/b].  I know your son is not a teen yet, but this book is for you, not for him.  It's inspiring and sensible at the same time.  There is also A Little Way of Homeschooling, which is a collection of stories by families who homeschool, but that is written from a Catholic perspective, which may not be your approach.

My suggestion for the first year would be to "detox" from the school environment, and do mostly child-led learning.  In other words, decide what is most absolutely essential for actual, sit-down schoolwork.  Probably math, right?  Because that is sequential, and he would need to stay on track if you decide to put him back in school.  Look at Teaching Textbooks, which is a complete curriculum that you do not need to help him do--he can do it all himself.  Then for everything else, just let him be.  Take him to the library every week.  Go to many places.  Go to cultural events and shows.  Have him listen to books on CD.  Let him build with Legos endlessly.  Have him write letters and emails to family and friends.  Maybe have him start a blog to keep track of his new homeschooling life.  Keep him involved in daily physical activities.  Sign him up for clubs in your local homeschool group.  Read out loud to him every day.  That's all.  Let learning be fun and organic again, like it was when he was a toddler.

This way, there is all the time you need for therapies and playtime with friends.  No unnecessary, miserable long drives.  (I am also completely drained by driving endlessly--that's not a trivial concern--that's everything!)  No fights over doing busywork that is boring and extraneous.  Recapture the zest for life and family and reading and discovering that school probably sucked right out of him.  Let him find his true self again.

Some people can handle the often random and nonsensical structure of institutional school, while some people shrivel up and die a little inside every day.  Don't bring the institutional school home.  Bring your son home.  Bring him back to the meaning of life:  to love one another, to learn all we can.  You will all appreciate the positive changes this step will start!

You're not giving up--you're RISING up!  Congratulations on caring this much and being this bold!  Don't look back![/quote]

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