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My son Nicholas was diagnosed at age 11 and is now turning 15..... Since his diagnoses he has missed a lot of school and we decided to homeschool for last year which was his 8th grade year. It was fabulous (after his 7th grade year was a nightmare). He had a year free of flare and he was never sick with colds or flu.... This year is his freshman year and he wanted to go to high school with his friends. Reluctantly we agreed because we want his experience to be as 'normal' as possible. Since school began he has been sick with colds and sinus infections that need antibiotics 3 times. Today he brought up home school again and wants to do it. Our biggest fear is socialization. What have other parents done in this situation???

Reply posted for scottroger411.

Hi there, it's my honour to be here.

Let me share my friend's experience. My son is now 7 years old. He also missed a lot of school, so we decided to homeschool him during Corona. as well as provide him with a variety of online courses from https://www.reecoupons.com/view/preply so he can learn different activities at home, but everything is normal and he goes to school everyday with his friend. 

 Reply posted for jdaniel03.

I just decided to homeschool Victor (4th Grade) and we found a support group with other homeschooled kids. They have monthy events for the kids, little kids, tweens and then Teen groups. They have bi-weekly PT, field trips and also monthly parents support group to give us ideas, and just a time to gather...find a group in your area...this way they are able to socialize w/their age group. Good Luck

 Reply posted for AZMOM.

As a long time Crohn's survivor, the withdraw urge is always great.  I have a tendency to withdraw from my family and my spouse.  Ray pushes me to get out and do things.  It is a constant internal struggle. I come from a family that has little understanding or empathy.  I have always been the outcast. (Not just the Crohn's but also in the way I view life.  My Paleo tendency when I eat seems to bring out a bad side of some of my family.  Pretty weird if you ask me.)  I even withdraw from this site. 

The moms and dad have given you some good advice and you are really taking all sides into consideration.  Consider, also, the pros and cons of antibiotics.  Let him have a major say in the decision.  And...I really second Alan- let him learn to "own" this.  I made great strides when I finally said "It is up to me to get well."

Oh, Alan, I have to keep my supplements front and center, or grumble, grumble, I will not take them. It really is a rebellion type thing with me.

Breezy

 Reply posted for jdaniel03.

Well see, you are all over it.    I hope you all can figure out something for him.  I know you hate running to the peds ofc over and over and over. 

Hang in there!

Claire's Mom (PS I'm Julie too.)

 Reply posted for Lizzies Mom.

LizziesMom,
Thank you for your input and we know all too well about the mini adult you are referring to. We are weighing heavily, our pros and cons. Nutrition as you have stated, is so hard to control. For the longest time, we were happy he would eat and so we didn't force the issue, as long as he was eating. We do stay away from foods that he can not tolerate, and he does take lots of supplements and for now, his flares are under control. But we do not have a specific diet that he follows. We should, I know but as I said we try not to make food more of an issue than it need to be. I guess no matter what you do as a parent there is always guilt involved. Thank you for your advice!
Julie

 Reply posted for AZMOM.

I should have stated earlier that our program is more of an independent study, rather than an isolated situation of homeshcool. Its a charter school where they go to class a couple times per week and then meet with the teacher every other week. It worked well as we had wanted it to for last year. But he is frustrated right now, because he has been sick 3x this school year so far. The thing we struggle with now is that he has a group of friends that he hangs out with, but mostly he is a homebody which is fine, but we don't want it to take it to the extreme. We really have to weigh out the pros and cons, but bottom line is that if he is too sick to hang out with his friends what good will being in school regular school be?
I appreciate all of your comments and thoughts.
Ironically enough now, we are off to his pediatrician because he is sick! Grrr....

 Reply posted for jdaniel03.

I second Lizzie's Mom's comments and am a big believer in being in school if you can be. 

I will say this though.......  where I came from in AZ, the homeschool association was VERY active.  The moms team taught different courses and every week, the kids were involved in some sort of home school group outing.  I'm just ignorant enough about homeschooling to not know what all the outings were but I know they were committed to having the kids in a group setting at least weekly and more often, multiple times a week.  Is there something like this where you live?  If you attend a church, is there a youth group there he can also be active in? 

I don't have any experience with the homeschooling but I know when my daughter (already at age 7) feels "different" she tends to want to pull back from situations.  I just wouldn't want to let him totally withdraw from kids his own age and isolate himself.  I personally believe it is important for all of our children to not be 100% defined by their disease.  It is certainly part of who they are and what makes them special but they are so much more than that.

It sounds like you are working hard to make the best decision for and with your son.  I'm sure you will do just that.  Let us know how it's going!!

I'll be thinking about you all.

Claire's Mom 

 Reply posted for jdaniel03.

Socialization is sooo important for today's teens.   Homeschooling certainly has its pluses, and the major minus is the non-socialization factor.   I think being you are already aware of the issue then you are smart and can make the extra effort to make up for the socialization elsewhere.   A good friend of mine homeschools her children, and I have to tell you, her kids are mini-adults.  They haven't been socialized outside of their homeschooling "network", and have made it difficult for friends (such as me) to continue with our friendship.   Make every effort for him to have friends over, hang out, make plans, etc.   Insist that if you agree to go the homeschooling route, which may be better for him medically, that he gets together with teens his own age and does kids stuff whether it be sports, video games, movies, whatever, keep him socialized.  Don't let him turn into a mini-adult.

As for diet, meds, supplements.   It is hard.  My daughter was diagnosed very young and this has just become a lifestyle.  We eat organic, keep lots of "safe" snacks in the house, meds 3xday, and she pretty much has a handle on it.   However, she isn't a teen yet.  All you can do is your best, which you are doing.   Be well.

Lizzies Mom

 Reply posted for alanschachter.

Interesting, thank you. Question though, how do you get a teenager to go along with the SCD diet? He does take lots of supplements, probiotics etc. Thanks for your help!