School

[jesspond]

What is everyone doing about school for your kids who are closer than nature intends in age? We're starting to have this debate since if we are to have the kids in seperate grades, we'll need to put Ava in prek NEXT YEAR. Which is EARLY but she'd have to GO early for us to get them in seperate grades. There are a lot of reasons why I'd like to separate them (so they could have their own grades, so they weren't "like twins," so they had totally seperate identities, so there weren't as many questions asked) and also good reasons to NOT put Ava in early (she might not be ready, she's probably going to be pretty open and the questions will come anyway, she's huge and might be able to get a scholarship in a sport one day-according to my husband, kids are more open nowadays, etc). I feel SO lost. How do you know what's best for your kids so early? What is everyone else thinking of doing?

Until recently I was sure that we'd send them seperately....since Ava is a girl, we would just send her early. However, girl or no, she is not....calm and collected in any way. If anything, Ethan woudl be who I would place money on being "ready" early....though he does have the SPD and social anxieties. Truthfully if they were NORMALLY spaced, I'd NEVER send Ava early. Agh!

[Wendi]

Jess!!! Fantastic topic!! I have a lot of thoughts on this but I want to hear everyone else's first.

Our big thing is: we have two boys. Isaac is a May birthday. They say, if you a May/June/July BOY do not start them early. Wait a year. If we wait a year, same grade.

Our CURRENT thought is to homeschool 1-2 years (since we will probably still be overseas then anyways) and then decide based on personality, what would be best for them.

[jesspond]

Oh you totally cheat on the homeschooling. Not nearly as big an option here since that'd almost just be weird! lol Plus, I'd have to homeschool and that sounds overwhelming. Though if we're 100% honest, if I can get away with it, I'm going to "homeschool" prek, but I don't know if that'll work with Ethan or NOT because of his...."issues" (they're not that bad, but they are what they are nonetheless I guess).

I hope some of the others weigh in...I'm totally unsure of what we're going to do!

[Wendi]

Where do you live Jess?

We will be overseas most likely for four years (starting in June). So we are thinking we will just do one year and then see where to put them.

However, we are really leaning toward NOT starting Isaac in the May group and waiting a year. That will put them in the same grade. I don't think we can delay Elijah. He is a january birthday and he's going to be big!

[jesspond]

We live in Ohio, Middle of Nowhere. Like literally. 3h from Cinci, Columbus, and Indy. Pretty much REALLY the MIDDLE of nowhere. lol

So you ARE thinking you'll possibly have Elijah and Isaac in the same grade eventually?

[amy]

We likely won't have this dilemma, but I have a curiously interesting story about this.

I have a friend who has recently adopted a 2-year-old from Haiti who shares a birthday with her blond-haired blue-eyed daughter. They will be the same year in school and have the same birthday and parents but certainly would not appear at first glance to be biological sibs.

I am interested in hearing stories about this when the two are in school!