Samiam Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 We choose to not to go to co-op so DS13 could go to baseball practice. It's been scheduled during our co-op hours (the afternoon portion) for the last three weeks, and DS13 has not been able to go. This week, I felt as if he needed to go to baseball practice. I asked all three boys how they would feel if we did not go to co-op and they were all fine with it. Man, it was nice having somewhere to be, but not having to get up in the early a.m, rush around, get everyone going, spend all day being "on", and get home in the late afternoon completely exhausted. I wish there was some other way to get the regular interaction without having to do co-op. In my 8 years of homeschooling, I've not found a better way for my children to make real friends. Other activities, either there's not really time for the children to form friendships (ie they are in a class or group environment where you need to be listening to the teacher/coach), or if a more loosely structured group setting, you tend not to see the same people on a regular basis (thinking groups that are mainly focused on gathering at the park), so that boy you thought you might like to be friends with, you don't see again for a month or two. I'm not a social bee, so I tend not to make the effort to have play dates etc. We don't have a lot of children on our street that are my children's age, either much younger or much older. We're new to the area. So co-op has been on our 'in". And it has been fine. All my boys are enjoying for the most part. But, geesh, it's exhausting for ME! Plus it's every.single.Friday for 12 weeks. Someday I'd like to see a co-op that meets for 2 weeks on, 1 week off, type of schedule. That would be ideal. Really, really considering not doing co-op next year and just trying to find a way to get ourselves out there into the world of friend making. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotAVampireLvr Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 A coop is the last thing I'm looking at right now... after being in the PS rat race for 3 years I'm looking forward to taking it slow for a year. We have our extra curriculars and a lot of great friends from church... that along with some great neighbors should carry us through our first year until we get more involved. Our city has a great homeschool group as well with weekly park dates and a homeschool gym class a the Y... When I think about it, school friends aren't really on DS1's radar at all. He has them, but mostly loves our neighbors and friends that get together with on the weekends from church. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2samlibby Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 That would be a lot for me. Our homeschool group does activities for the kids twice a month. They last an hour and 1/2 to two hours. It's fun to get together, do a project together, and then get on with our day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I'm not sure that being tired at the end of a long, full day is a solid argument for having missed that day altogether. I know it's completely unfair to pick on YOU specifically and I know you never said that you hated co-op. It's just that your post reminds me of so many posts like this where homeschoolers decide something is not worthwhile because they feel exhausted, run ragged, or wiped out. I'm all for scaling back to a sane schedule and gaining some quality of life, but sometimes he best, most worthwhile things are physically draining. I know when we come home from our 9-5 co-op day we crash pretty hard, and that it is a nice treat to get an occasional snow day and just hole up. Still I wouldn't want to forgo those friendships and experiences because they drive us to needing an evening power nap :D Again, I'm NOT targeting the OP. Her post just reminded me of a trend I'm observing more among homeschoolers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 And that's exactly why I would not choose a co-op until my dc were high school-age, and then only for things like higher maths or lab sciences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) Well, I co-lead a co-op and I can say that our "canceled" day was awesome. Stayed home... caught up... drank coffee. Only a little sad because it was our "Open House".... which is now rescheduled for next week. I love co-op... but it is tiring... but I feel it's worth it ;) Edited January 21, 2012 by NayfiesMama Canceled due to flooding :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) I've loved the local groups we've been involved in for the last 8 years or so. When they were little, it was twice a month for the morning. Then it was weekly for the last six. Next year is somewhat in flux, but I may have one in a drop-off program where I teach one subject and then have the rest of the day to focus on my oldest and my "stuff." That will indeed feel different. We're at the stage where mine have established friends, and I'm not sure that co-op or local paid classes really make a difference any more in terms of their social interactions. Their closest friends are at church, and we're involved in local martial arts as well. Edited January 21, 2012 by GVA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I'm not sure that being tired at the end of a long, full day is a solid argument for having missed that day altogether. I know it's completely unfair to pick on YOU specifically and I know you never said that you hated co-op. It's just that your post reminds me of so many posts like this where homeschoolers decide something is not worthwhile because they feel exhausted, run ragged, or wiped out. I'm all for scaling back to a sane schedule and gaining some quality of life, but sometimes he best, most worthwhile things are physically draining. I know when we come home from our 9-5 co-op day we crash pretty hard, and that it is a nice treat to get an occasional snow day and just hole up. Still I wouldn't want to forgo those friendships and experiences because they drive us to needing an evening power nap :D Again, I'm NOT targeting the OP. Her post just reminded me of a trend I'm observing more among homeschoolers. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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