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    Home schooling

    How is the home schooling going for your grandchildren/great GC?

    Has anyone got GC who are going to school, as Key Workers children?

    Are they enjoying home schooling, or missing their friends and school life in general?

    Are they difficult to motivate at home? Are the parents coping with home schooling and their own work?

    All my three GC are being home schooled. GD, 11 misses school and her friends and would much prefer to be at school. She is very self motivated to do the work at home though. GS1, 8 prefers to be at home, but is not so keen to get on with the work at home! GS2 is only 4. He would like to be at school, but is fine at home too.

    All four parents work from home so it's not easy juggling work and school work.
    It was much harder in lockdown 1 as no one could help them.
    This time each family have a full day of childcare from me.
    Since the new year and the children are not going to school and no one is having any other contacts, DDs1 and 2 formed a childcare bubble of their own. The children go to their auntie and do morning school work with cousins (and play later) one day a week. So they have a day with DD1, a day with DD2 and a day with me. Two child free days for each family.
    This is enabling the adults to get more work done and giving the children , especially GS1, an only child, valuable social time together.
    “A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.” – Unknown

    #2
    My GS2 age 9 is being home schooled. He has a desk with a laptop in one area of his bedroom. He refers to it as his ‘learning zone.’ Both his parents have been working from home for sometime. GS2 thinks it is quite grown up to work from home. They all have quite a structured day meeting up at lunch time for a good old chat. He says he does miss playing football with his friends at lunch time, but likes having ALL his meals with his mum and dad. Typical boy - food and football rule! At the end of his school day he just plays. Usually with Lego, until his parents finish work.
    Always face the sunshine and the shadows fall behind you.

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      #3
      I have all 4 grandchildren being home schooled/learning online.

      The two girls' parents can't work (although they still have work-work which has to be done regularly as well as admin). Both girls are self-motivated and like learning. GD1, though, is getting bored because she always wants more and harder work, especially maths. GD2 has worked really hard all week, but today she's tired and only wants to do drawing and colouring. So she and mummy are building a secret den under her bed (one of those midi beds) using cardboard boxes which GD is decorating. She spent quite a while yesterday with daddy doing maths (she's also good at the subject!) They've both had zoom sessions, but it's not the same as seeing their friends. GD1 is pleased she's now got a phone because she keeps in touch with her friends more easily. The girls have a playroom with desks, but mainly work in the dining room.

      GS2 (the one who was 16 yesterday) is in his GCSE year and he's realised that he has got to keep on top of the work. His recent report from school was very good, and he's had 3 lots of self-isolation last term, so is used to working on his own. His Dad gives him as much support as he needs, and as DS1 isn't working he's at home with time to spare now he's finished radiotherapy. So that's much better than last term when DS1 was in hospital so much and not feeling great.

      GS1 is the big worry. He's at college doing an BTEC ICT course. The whole thing has been a shambles - timetables are changed at a minute's notice, the practical part of the course was moved from their local college to one GS1 can't get to, and no provision was made for an online alternative, he's had no support, which he should have under his EHCP plan, supporting material for lessons hasn't been made available, ... I could go on and on! So it all came to a head this week and hopefully the support will now be put in place - even though they are still getting their own timetable wrong! Whether it will be enough for him to catch up on the time lost remains to be seen. So DS1 is now effectively home schooling GS1 as well! Even with all this, GS1 is probably the least affected by being at home. He finds social interactions difficult and they cause him a lot of anxiety so he's been quite happy chatting with his circle of online friends. He's taking a keen interest in American politics and various other unlikely topics, so at the moment things aren't too bad.

      The boys are lucky that they both have nice big bedrooms, desks and all the electronic stuff they need.



      "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are. "

      (Marianne Williamson)

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        #4
        Like your GS Sunshine one of mine (the eldest boy) has his own work space set up. He also misses his little mates but has a 'hand me down' XBox with a headset. This enables him to play against them & communicate with each other. Apparently it gets very loud.🤣 DD1 has srict rules that he can only play when all his school work is finished.

        Unlike you though Gem, we don't have family bubbles. My DDs said they wouldn't risk it & neither will we. We'd love to & I must admit that when you post about being with your GC it's heart breaking for us not to be with them. As I've said before I don't think we've had sleepovers since October 2019. I hope that the vaccine will change all this in time.
        "Good friends help you to find important things when you have lost them....your smile, your hope, and your courage."

        (Doe Zantamata.)

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          #5
          We have a family childcare bubble as well, with our GDs. I've looked after them anything from 2 to 6 days a week since they were born, although now it's just school holidays and after school (or the period when schools were still closed but their parents' shop was open). Their mum and dad didn't have much choice - they had to open their business because it's their only income, and thank goodness they had GPs willing and able to help. I don't know what they would have done - probably would have had to take the girls to the shop with them.

          We've all worked hard to keep everything as safe as we can, and I can't deny it's been great to spend time with them, even if it's not been as relaxed and casual as it used to be BC. (Before Covid!)
          "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are. "

          (Marianne Williamson)

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            #6
            I suppose what I'm saying, without saying it, is that it's excruciatingly heartbreaking to read about other Grans talking about how fantastic it is having fun & being able to be with their GC. I thought I could handle it & started to join in GRU again. It seems as tho' I can't so not sure whether to have a break til Covid passes.
            "Good friends help you to find important things when you have lost them....your smile, your hope, and your courage."

            (Doe Zantamata.)

            Comment


              #7
              Oh Nana don't do that, it has been lovely to have you back. Why not just avoid the posts about looking after GC. Do you Zoom with your GC?
              What is life if full of care we have no time to stand and stare

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                #8
                Nana - we are a forum specifically for grandmothers. I think it's impossible to avoid talking about our major reason for being here. I'm really sad for you if this hurts you - that is most certainly not our intention or wish.

                There are other grannies who can't see their grandchildren at the moment - in fact probably most of us. It's sad times, but I hope we can all draw strength from sharing our ups as well as our downs with each other.

                It was lovely, for example, to hear about your GCs enjoying themselves in the snow, and to read about Sunshine's GS2 being preoccupied with food and football. Most of our chats specifically about GCs are under "Our Grandchildren and Everything about them" so you can avoid them if you'd rather do that. Hopefully more general topics would be less painful. xx
                "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are. "

                (Marianne Williamson)

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Daisy View Post
                  Nana - we are a forum specifically for grandmothers. I think it's impossible to avoid talking about our major reason for being here. I'm really sad for you if this hurts you - that is most certainly not our intention or wish.

                  There are other grannies who can't see their grandchildren at the moment - in fact probably most of us. It's sad times, but I hope we can all draw strength from sharing our ups as well as our downs with each other.

                  It was lovely, for example, to hear about your GCs enjoying themselves in the snow, and to read about Sunshine's GS2 being preoccupied with food and football. Most of our chats specifically about GCs are under "Our Grandchildren and Everything about them" so you can avoid them if you'd rather do that. Hopefully more general topics would be less painful. xx
                  I echo what Daisy says here.
                  We are a forum for Grandmothers and we will, along with all other topics, discuss our grandchildren!
                  None of us who are able to see ours, to help out with childcare, intend to hurt those who can't see their GC. I for one feel very sad for those who cannot. I'm sure we all do.

                  But just as the dear ladies who were widowed during this past year didn't let the rest of us talking about our OH's upset them or keep them away from the forum, the same applies to the GC topic.
                  “A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.” – Unknown

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I haven't had to do anything with GS who is in Yr 9. DD says his lessons are much more organised than before and he has to sign in for registration the same as if he was at school. Lessons are on Zoom and apart from practical science, involve teaching and then work sheets or whatever, but the teacher stays with the class to answer questions etc. He's had good reports about his work, so something must be working.

                    Her friend who teaches Yr 2 is in school 3 days a week and spends the other 2 days working on line with her own class and doing the usual lesson preparation, marking etc.

                    There seem to be a lot of children at my local primary judging by the number of parents/ cars waiting at home time.

                    DD says GS never stops talking when he's finished his work! Thinks it's because he's not seeing his friends F2F. He was asking about all the places she's lived and why she was there etc. Also where she'd been on holiday, who she went with, why they went there etc etc etc!

                    And yes, I am envious of the grannies who can meet up with their GC, but see no point in upsetting myself over it. I'm happy for those grandparents who are able to do this. There are lots of people in worse situations than we are who may never be able to see their GC again, because of where they live, travel restrictions etc. Thank goodness for Face Time, Zoom, mobile phones whatever. Even if we do have a little cry when our conversation is over! At least we can see our GC, and them us, and know that this situation will end and we will be able to see each other in the flesh. Each family is different in what they are able or willing to do and each must weigh up the good against the bad and do what they feel right for their own circumstances.
                    Believe you can and you're halfway there.
                    Theodore Roosevelt.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      We don't have any grandchildren of school age.
                      But, i understand how sometimes parents working from home and home shooling could find it tough going.
                      Sometimes I forget to like posts,but that doesn't mean I don't like them.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Nanto - I agree. It's very hard for some parents trying to work at their own jobs and help with their children's schooling as well. It must be toughest of all for those with the youngest children who have less endurance and need more support.

                        WeeGranny - How lovely to hear that your GS's school have got things so well organised, and I'm sure it's good discipline for when they go back that he has to sign in for registration. It sounds as though he's doing very well. It's a difficult age without Covid etc, and he must be feeling the absence of his friends, even if they keep in touch by phone or online. In years to come, I bet he'll remember those conversations with his mum as something special. As you say, all this would have been so much worse without modern technology - even things we regard as everyday like sending and receiving photos or text messages help.


                        "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are. "

                        (Marianne Williamson)

                        Comment


                          #13
                          I will start a separate thread for this important topic of the pandemic separating grandparents and grandchildren.
                          We can keep this one for discussing home schooling during the pandemic.
                          “A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.” – Unknown

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Good idea, Gem, Thanks.
                            "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are. "

                            (Marianne Williamson)

                            Comment


                              #15
                              We through no choice of our own do not now see our two youngest and it breaks my heart but that would never stop me wanting to know how other grandparents are doing with their GC , its just a fact of life ,
                              We have one granny who we are friends with on FB but who doesn't post on here now who's only GC lives in Australia and she's lucky to see him once a year for a couple of weeks , she wont have seen him at all this year , yet she always asks after others ,

                              I think if the thread upsets Nana just don't read it x
                              Im not fat just 6ft too small

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