Lockdown Archives - Buddha Baby

Jun

Schools In Or Out???

9 weeks of homeschooling and I may have the opportunity to send Zak back to school on a part time basis…..will I be sending him??

Without a doubt!! I totally understand people’s reluctance for schools to open and it should be a personal decision to do so or not. But I am speaking on behalf of a lot of special needs parents. The best analogy I have ever heard of from the gorgeous Korina from @isthistooyoungforme

If you compare an average family to a car then we would call it a Peugeot….runs nicely and may have occasional problems along the way. You can book it in to any mechanic to get it serviced and should you need a new tyre…National tyres are very accommodating…. that is parenting my two neuro typical girls!! My special child is like owning a Ferrari…specialist care is needed, a team of experts for it to run smoothly and people that know their shit about Ferrari’s!!!

If we weren’t in lockdown and I had therapies, my mum and sister on hand I actually would continue homeschooling. Even though I am not the best teacher we have had hours of fun and imaginative and meaningful learning.

The problem is two things… I don’t have access to my little army that helps me raise my gorgeous boy and Zaks ability for too much of one thing becoming an obsession which has now become….ME!

My girls have independence with their work and staying in contact with their friends. Zak can only access anything outside of us via school.

I worry so much about him settling back into “normal” routine that September start fills me with dread for him. I have to monitor his mental health, my mental health and risk asses him going back to school. He is in a very small special school, 60 kids in total with 6 children in his class, the school is divided into 3 bubbles, he is Autistic….he is an expert on social distancing and obsessive on washing hands so I believe there is more risk to his and my mental health by not going. Fingers crossed he will be returning and I can possibly check in with the other two and take a deep breath

Thanks for Reading xxxxx

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Apr

All Autism Homeschool Love

Home School During Lockdown

The world has stopped and we have all found a new way of being. Autism doesn’t seem to have read the memo and I am in my 2nd week of trying to work, run a home, support a high school child, a uni child and be a Specialist Educational Needs teacher working one to one with my boy!

My first thoughts when I found out schools were closing was one of fear and dread, to one of dancing when I found out it didn’t apply to kids with ehcp’s……result!!!

With the weekend that followed and us being more restricted on the 23rd March, I made the decision to swim in the sea of fear and keep Zak at home.

My first week was full of sunshine, playing football in the garden and going from excitement of having all my kids home to dread of delivering a school environment for Zak.

I started with all the work sent home from school, which to be honest sent me into a spiral…..common denominators and division when he still adds up with a number line left me scared and alone. Fast forward 3 days and a few heart to hearts with anyone who would listen, we have abandoned all that has been set for him.

Let me explain….5 years ago I began a home programme for Zak outside of school hours, delivering a holistic approach and stretching him in his abilities through play. I cannot stress enough how much Zak has come on. The only downside to this is time and not having enough of it. Even though I am his primary carer I do have lots of support through school, family and 2 amazing key workers so it is fair to say the responsibility is split between us. Suddenly I have lost all the above and now the whole job lies with me!! Being a huge believer in the universe and things that are meant for you won’t pass you by I started to think that maybe I was missing a sign….one to take this opportunity to deliver all the things I would if only we had the time.

And now we have that in abundance.

So there you have it…..goodbye textbooks, hello fun and games…with abit of yoga thrown in.

Happy Autism Awareness Day xxxx

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