gardenschooler Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 We've spent the last six years going to a once a week, half day co-op. Well, not really a co-op, it's more like a tutorial. I pay fees for the classes, usually something along the lines of art, writing, or a foreign language, and then I go to a mom's bible study or homeschool meeting. I originally started going because the older dds seemed to really want some kind of group, and we just kept going to have somewhere to belong. Dd16 (who is now in school) especially seemed to crave that kind of activity. Dd13 enjoyed it, too, but she's fine without it. Dd9 and I thought it felt like slow torture - not the activity itself, really, just the long drive out there and back, and the exhausting day. I found several reasons why I could finally talk myself into quitting, despite the fact that dd13 is now about to start 9th grade. Besides being far from home and a huge interruption to our week, not to mention costly (gas and tuition), I'm just tired of being tied to someone else's schedule. I could never get as much accomplished in a week as I'd wanted to. TOG is not going to be something I can cram into 4 and a quarter days a week, I don't think. It was all just too much going, and too much money. I can thank dd9 for pushing me over the edge. She pleaded with me, "Can I just have one year that I don't have to go out there?" Poor kid just wants to be homeschooled, at home. Those are my sentiments exactly - I honestly don't know why I kept it up for so long. I wasn't really getting as much out of it as I'd convinced myself I was. We have plenty of other things going on, and I don't really need a support group, anyway (that's what you guys are for, and you do a mighty fine job of it, too :)). I will have to drum something up for Spanish for dd13, but I'm pretty sure I can do that. I'm looking forward to getting her into some dual-enrollment classes later on in high school, but for now, we're going to enjoy a rest from all this activity. It will be a very productive year, with a full five days a week available. Just wanted to share my big change. I feel very optimistic and just so free at the thought of this new school year being all mine to schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaik76 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I completely understand! We've just dropped our co-op after three years, and it is such a relief! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaik76 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Good grief. How did I end up posting this three times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaik76 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 sorry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I understand! :grouphug: I hope you have a nice, restfull year :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in MA Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 We dropped out of our half-day, enrichment coop a couple of years ago, and we haven't missed it either. Best wishes for a peaceful & fruitful year! Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paisley Hedgehog Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie in AR Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I have several friends who participate in a once/twice (you choose) per week coop. They love it, but I've never been remotely interested in trying to do that. I'll bet you're going to have a great year at home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 To everything there is a season. :grouphug: It does feel good to be free of someone elses schedule. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readwithem Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I honestly don't know why I kept it up for so long. I wasn't really getting as much out of it as I'd convinced myself I was. . :grouphug: Newton's first law and all that :) Glad you made the change. Hope you all have a great year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I completely understand. And that's one thing I love about homeschooling-picking and choosing what works best for your family. Have a great year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikita Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 We've done co-op activities for 5 years, and also decided that this is the year to cut it out of our schedule. I do think my kids will miss it though. However, we live in a big city with lots of homeschoolers, so we will still have other group activities (a homeschoolers gym class, maybe a craft club for my daughter with a few friends, group field trips) but it will be less stress. I was always involved in organizing the co-ops and the burden of planning plus the travel time just took too much away from my own kids. Good luck, it sounds like a good decision. Nikita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie in CA Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 :party: You're free! I quit my group 8 years ago and so much of my stress and self-doubt left. I was so much happier and able to do what "I" wanted not what the group expected from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Just wanted to share my big change. I feel very optimistic and just so free at the thought of this new school year being all mine to schedule. I'm glad for you! There are so many great things to do, classes to take, places to go ~ but it can come at a cost, can't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 We did the same in the past and it was a blessing to our family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Makes perfect sense! I've never "done" a co-op and don't even know if we have such a thing out here. But just from what I've read, it wouldn't be my cup of tea for long, if at all. Sounds like y'all have a great year ahead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beebalm Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Congratulations! We homeschoolers ARE independent! It's in our blood! Seriously, we did the same thing a couple of years ago and feel good about the decision. While we miss some of the contacts, the drive and the classes were, as one of my kids said, stressing our family out! We pulled back and limited our activites to those that were more fulfilling and productive. Instead of driving nearly an hour to coop, we can get more work done and have more time to do things we want to. I wish my children had more homeschool buddies but decided that pushing to force the contact wasn't really building great friendships anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris in Wis Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Life interferes sometimes - like having a baby with colic in the house and trying to homeschool 3 other children. Or having one student dual-enrolled who doesn't drive yet! Or the co-op simply doesn't meet your present needs! I dropped out of our support group this year, too. We didn't participate enough to reap the benefits of the dues (which have increased this year). Also, it was getting so big it was beginning to get a bit "cliquey." People who went to the same couple of churches got together, and if you weren't a member of those churches you basically didn't fit in. And, most families in our group don't go through high school, which is pretty much where we are right now. Very few homeschool beyond grade 8, although it's getting a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhrice3 Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Ladies, I completely understand! This is the main reason I never became involved with the most popular of the local co-op's or others. I felt like one of the reasons I hs my kids was to follow our schedule and to be home. The local co-op's follow the public school's schedule which bothers me alittle. Also, I felt that a majority of parents looked to co-op's for math or science help, and we did not need that help. I have always kept two days completely free - no music, no dance, no church dinner/bible school. My kids have always been able to get 1 1/2 days of school done on those two days completely free and at home. I hope that you see great rewards and freedom with your decision. RRice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 You know, I think that I am one of those who suffered previously from Co-op Envy. I have heard of these terrific co-ops but nothing close to terrific was happening in my radar. People asked me to teach their kids math in a co-op. What would they offer my child? Social time. My son will be experiencing his first CC courses via dual enrollment this fall. That should be an interesting adventure! Best to all, Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kate in seattle Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 We are leaving our full-day, academic intensive co-op after five years. We are moving to a half-day, enrichment type co-op (where I might not HAVE to teach, though I will probably end up teaching) which is considerably closer. We all feel it is a very positive change. kate in seattle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimm in WA Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 We're spoiled - we're gonna be starting our 2nd year (after many years of running to enrichment co-op) with a small group. Last year was 5 moms this year is 6 or 7. Kid total is around 30. It was orig. set up for classes for the older kiddos - not fluff but not hard-core. Basically a framework to build on at home. Last year a mom taught IEW; this year I'm confident to teach it at home to my kiddos. This year we're doing speech (Toastmasters guy coming to teach it) all year and 1/2 year each of government and newspaper. We just do 2 classes (3 last year) with lunch (social time for kiddos and mommas) in between. Speech is 1.5 hrs. and the 2nd period after lunch is 1 hr. It doesn't start 'til 10:30 and is 15 min. away, so we'll be able to get basics done at home before going. Excited to be teaching an American Girl unit study (enrichment activites pretty much) for the younger kiddos. Should be a good year. Co-op without it taking over our life! Just some ideas, Kimm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinagirl710 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Congratulations on your decision! We have simplified in our homeschool and are looking to do more of it. My children are still busy but now we control the schedule instead of the schedule controlling us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan P. Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 I'm doing the same thing this year. I may go to a once per month business/support meeting, but I'm definitely quitting with our Tuesday classes. It takes too much of a school day and most of the curriculum used is nothing that I would pick due to my dc's learning styles and our classical bent. I think if I have to dish out money, then I would rather pay for an online class. FWIW, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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