Was school ever an area of escape for you during hard times at home?
336873
Sure, school is often a haven for kids who have a difficult home situation. There are a lot of reasons:\n1. School is predictable and offers a routine schedule. So most of the time you know what to expect and can be prepared for it. This may be very different from a chaotic, unpredictable home life.\n\n2. School can provide a place where you have relationships with people who are consistently giving you positive feedback. You can have friends and teachers who care about you and who are interested in you.\n\n3. School work can provide a way for you to excell at something and get positive feedback for it. It can give you a sense of accomplishment that you don't get from your family.\n\n4. School can provide non-academic ways to be a part of something and feel accomplishment, such as athletics or clubs. \n\n5. School can help you see a future for yourself when you don't see a future if you just looked at your own difficult family situation.\n\n6. School can also provide a place to have someone to talk to about your troubles--your teachers, your school counselor or your school psychologist.\n\nThese are just a few ideas about how school can help you get past difficult times at home. Almost everyone has difficult times, but it is friends and people who care about you who help you through it. Encourage your friend to talk to people who can help him.
135446
that does happen to me. I hate that it does, but it does! I want to get to a place where I am totally happy all by myself...but I have yet to reach that point. I had a bf break up with me right before finals last spring, and it just screwed up all my studying and final projects because I was so miserable!\nI tend to try to distract myself in situations like that, and studying isnt a good way for me. perhaps you are the same?
583032
right after school is a very good time.  YOu could just release all of ur stress from ur day at school and  its very refreshing.
985266
I think I can answer this. We never used desks, but I definitely had a very rigorous curriculum, lots of homework, and I practically killed both my son and I with worksheets and homework our first year of homeschooling. He was busy doing lots of work, and I was spending hours planning and grading work as well. \n\nWhy? Because I felt so much pressure the first year of homeschooling to be the perfect teacher and to teach him everything, and not to miss teaching anything. And the truth is you can't teach everything, and you especially can't teach a child everything in one year, and especially I just kind of figured out at some point that I was just trying to do way too much. Plus I had scheduled my ds for half a dozen social activities, lessons, and sports because I wanted to make sure that he was getting plenty of socialization. I was just feeling so much pressure that I had put on myself not to screw this up! I wanted to make sure my ds was getting 100% of his socialization and academic requirements. But in trying to be the perfect homeschool mom, I was actually really messing up. So towards the end of my first year, I started loosening up. \n\nThank goodness, and homeschooling became so much easier for my son and I, pretty much all the rocky patches were gone. I worked on making homeschooling more fun and enjoyable and pleasant, and started tailoring our hs curriculum to my children's interests. The children have more free time now to just goof around, and we're not just rushing around to homeschool activities all the time. We just choose a few of their favorite activities; instead of half a dozen.
352401
yes it is better for you to get out of the house if you and your mom are like oil and water (they don't mix)and you don't need the depression.  If I were you I would get a job even within walking distance (if possible) and save and have someone take you to get your license (a co worker, friend) and then save more to get your own place and you could do it although if you are in school DO NOT QUIT for no reason finish and then do whatever
671062
The happiest moment happened in my schools was while I finished my school studies because of thinking about college life, more freedom and a lot. \n\nThe saddest moment also the same because I will not get those days again. Now I wish to get those days back.
555433
I'm homeschooled and I've always loved it. My two older sisters graduated from homeschool. I had bragging rights and my public schooling friends were jealous because I went back to school a month after them and I'm graduating this June...I have tons of friends coming to my graduation and while at first I thought it would feel weird to graduate alone I realize now that it'll be all eyes on me!!
87352
High school for me was rough but fun. I didn't really start coming into my own until late my junior year. I was still a pimply teenager that resembled Beavis. But looks can be decieving. After awhile I took care of myself a lot better and I found myself being the person that people turned to for advice or a quick joke. I got along with just about everybody. Basketball players, nerds, and everybody in between. Though I enjoyed high school, I would not want to go back. Academically, I struggled through but I did graduate.
1014724
High school was not great for me . I was raised to never stand up for my self so it was rough. I was picked on alot. I didn't fit in. I had some friends but they turned out not to really be my friends but just using me. My mom kicked me out just after I turned 17 so I had to quit school and live in my car and work full time but next year I went back to school took night school and regular school and made up all of my credits. No dances, no real fun but I wouldn't change anything because it has made me a better person today.
57890
I had fantabulous vacations too. But, I guess schools are good also. I sometimes get bored sittin' in my house all the time. I like my school (Believe it or not. But, vacations will always be missed I guess.\n\nYou have a good screen name Batgirl.\nKeep Rocking!
963616
often, i have more peace at work...i am not emotionally attached there...with my kids, life at home is always busy busy...running off to practices, scout meetings, games, concerts...it is chaos, but well worth it.
578132
college was the greatest experience I have ever had.  It is hard to leave the comfort of home and family but it is a wonderful feeling knowing that you are providing for yourself and you no longer need to rely on anyone else
253452
School is one place for sure...It's been 6 years since the last grade and I still suffer from post-traumatic stress!
1140393
I was homeschooled from 2nd to 9th grade and went to a Catholic high school in 10th grade til graduation. We tried to get me in for 9th grade but there wasn't room, so they guaranteed me a space the next year.  There were two of us who were homeschooled and entered at the same time/year and both of us did very well academically and socially.  There were no issues related to homeschooling at all. The real issues are about parents and their perspectives about education and relationships, and that affects kids no matter where they go to school.\n\nI did go to the first semester of 8th grade in a public school, and it was so irrelevant and frustrating (because home schoolers are with adults so much that they don't get into a lot of typical middle school stuff) that I asked my parents if I could come home again.  I recommend a higher-performing school or a more nurturing community school if you decide to put your kids in junior high. Everything people are saying here about the crud of middle school was my experience and I didn't need it.  \n\nHowever, the one thing I realized after I entered the corporate workforce in my late 20's, was that I hadn't learned what I call "playground politics" in school (they weren't kidding when they said that "all I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten"), and so I had to be a quick study of how petty politics of personality work (Ironic, huh? I didn't need this in high school but I did need it in the San Francisco workforce!). I'll never be an expert at playing the game but I think it's also because I'm a more straightforward and optimistic personality and had not really experienced the brunt of passive-aggressive tactics before.  \n\nAlso I think it's very important to know the social players in your environment and your kid's environment, and talk about it with them. Make them aware of what's going on around them and teach them to network and have lots of different kinds of friendships, from the loose aquaintances to the tight-knit. My parents didn't teach me that and I graduated from a high school full of the kids of Silicon Valley millionaires with no clue of what was going on around me.  Also have them do a skills/career options inventory early on so they know what they might be good at or interested in doing with college/career and can be thinking about it before they have to make choices in college.  That doesn't have much to do with homeschooling but sometimes more relaxed families don't think about it. \n\nBottom line: homeschooling spared me a lot of grief, allowed my personality to fully develop, and allowed me to read more than my peers, so I have better reading breadth and comprehension, and my mom taught me phonics and grammar so I can spell and write better than a lot of the teachers I had! I had time to enjoy competitive horseback riding and I had to give that up when I went to school. Homeschooling is great when you have friends to do it with and plenty of interaction with the community.  High school is great for getting ready to go to college and it's at the developmental stage where a child is discovering and defining their individuality. It's a good time to go.
409043
How easy it was .\n\nTo be honest, school is easier than life.
62143
If at all possible, find a place away from home to study -- a change of scenery can help you focus on the task at hand.  Even if it's quiet at home, it might be hard to study because your environment will remind you of the stress that's going on.  \n\nAlso take time to deal with the emotions that you're feeling rather than trying to bottle them up (it never works).  It can be helpful to keep a journal, meditate, or just vent to a good friend.  If you try keeping it in, you will become preoccupied by it and will have difficulty focusing at school and when studying.\n\n4/5/06 Addendum:\nI just saw your extra notes and it sounds like you really are in a difficult situation.  First of all, don't feel responsible for the problem- I'm sure you didn't choose to have the physical challenges that limit you.  But understand that having a family member with special needs does add extra stress to a family.  You might want to suggest family counseling, or seek out other resources to help you find other means so you don't have to depend on family members so much.  Your school counserlors might be able to direct you to agencies that might be able to help.  Depending on your age and physical needs, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation might help you get job training or at least might also know of other agencies to help you.\n\nIn the short-term, playing classical or other calm music while studying can help you tune-out whatever else is happening in the house (if possible, headphones are even better).  You may want to study at quieter time of the day, such as getting up a little before others in the morning so you can read in peace.  Never give up and in time you will succeed.
20718
I've found that the home is probably one of the worst places to do homework. Try staying later at school to study, or go to a library. This will minimize the numerous distractions like television.