I have been lamenting, contemplating, pondering, etc., my decision on whether or not to enroll Evan into Kindergarten this upcoming school year. I feel as though this is one of those decisions that Evan will see the consequences of, quite possibly, for the rest of his life. Does that sound dramatic? Well, it feels that way to me. I have been praying about this, and running every scenario in my mind and still don't know what to do. Here's why:
1. The kindergarten age cut off is August 31st. Evan's birthday is August 12.
2. He seems a lot slower than my other children at grasping the alphabet, numbers, writing, or even holding a pencil.
3. He is currently receiving free speech services from Wake County Preschool services through Project Enlightenment.
4. If he does not enroll in kindergarten, he will not be eligible for speech services. These services stop the day he turns 5 and is eligible for kindergarten.
5. If he does enroll in Kindergarten, he will receive speech at the school for free.
5. Our health insurance will not cover his speech services since they are not a result of a physical abnormality. If I pay for a private therapist, they cost around $80 per session and he is currently going twice a week. (Yes, I know people, my major was Hearing and Speech Sciences, but I didn't get my Masters so while I do recognize his need for services, I don't know how to do therapy.)
6. I can't afford to send him to a Transitional or Private Kindergarten or even to a 5 day/week preschool (currenty running between $310-$420/ month).
7. I have called to set up a meeting with our Principal to see my options of having him start Kindergarten and requesting him to repeat again even if he masters all the required skills.
I am so apprehensive about having him be the youngest in his class as well as having speech/ learning delays. I feel as though I am being punished for choosing to hold him back. Why can't the county just allow me to say if he is fit to start kindergarten and allow him to keep the speech services if he's not mature enough to go to a structured classroom until the following year? I feel if he starts, he will be in the "lowest group" on everything and therefore will always be behind. What is a mom to do? If I keep him out, yes, I will still do homeschool kindergarten activities with him, but how will he receive his speech? He desprately needs that. I'm being forced to conform to do what the State wants me to do rather than what I see as right for my child. I am so conflicted.
2 years ago
3 comments:
Tough decision. Fortunately, as his mother you are blessed with an intuition that no one else has. In the end, you will know what is best for your son despite what others may try to convince you of. Just go with what you know to be best and don't let anyone persuade you otherwise.
I agree with the previous poster.
We're having a similar thing going on with our Evan. I've been consulting with his speech teacher (which is through the elementary school he would go to). I think we're going to send him to K, but keep him back if he is struggling. The speech services are the most important for him and I think a year without them would hurt him more. And we can't afford private services.
That's hard. I had a hard time making the choice with my oldest and without the speech issues. His bday is sept 1 and sept 1 is the deadline here. We decided to not send him and I am so glad we did. He is so much more comfortable as the oldest and not the youngest. My nephew went "early" instead and his mom wishes she had not started him then. My dad told me to think long range...even puberty (being the youngest boy and girls hit it even earlier...) h.s., sports, driving licenses, mission, etc. It helped me to think about it that way and make the decision-the speech issue makes it all harder though. Good luck! :) (Now we are having to think about the same with Addi too, but depends on whether we are still homeschooling then or not...
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