General Chat

no way. its a cop out. if you have kids then you see them thru school - the homework, the experiences etc. if you're going to send kids to boarding school, why have them in the first place? angela

I was an army wife with 2 young children, the oldest one about to start school full time and a posting to Germany iminent. There really wasn't a school to send my daughter to so had a few choices to make. The choice I made was to stay behind with the children and hubby went ahead for 2 years. Rather than just see the children at holiday times only I chose to see my hubby at holiday times only. It was hard but we managed it. I couldn't and wouldn't have made any other choice really - it would have broke my heart to leave them behind. Sue xx

Wow, what a response! The reason I asked this question is because my next eldest sister went to boarding scholl for a couple of years and the difference between us is extreme. I won't go into it for her privacy but I often think has she turned out the way she is because of boarding school. Hmmmmm I wonder. Thanks for your input and opinions XXX

Why have children if you don't want them with you.

My youngest son was a weekly boarder, went in Monday, came home Friday. He was adhd/autistic traits/dyslexic and the local authority couldnt handle him in any of their schools. The school he went to specialised in teaching kids like that and there was a wide spectrum - some families paying up to £15000 a year for their kids to be there. We just had to pay for uniform and all the extra tuition and holidays etc. (It was a bit cringey to park my 12 year old VW next to (literally) a Ferrari on parents day, but when you come down to it most people who had sent there kids there were in the same boat as us, no matter how much money they had. There was no way he could have gone to the local comprehensive (where my elder boy went, got 12 GCSEs, 3 A levels, went on to uni and got a first). IF there had been any way he could have gone to the local school we would have wanted that. BUT he would have been bullied and no doubt suspended or excluded. As it was, at the private school he learnt to play a piano and guitar, got awards for swimming (own pool there), went air ballooning (headmasters hobby), appeared in a film (producer was headmasters mate), target shooting (it teaches them control), tai chi (ditto), got his scuba diving award, Duke of Edinburgh award, skiing certificate, went abroad twice a year and though he didnt come out perfect he learnt how to handle himself, have confidence and to be at ease with people across all social levels (one kid was the son of a foreign prime minister and my son was offered holidays in that country - I didnt like the idea we were assured he would have a body guard at all times, so erm, politely turned it down). You cant generalise about boarding. In some cases it is the best thing you can give a child.

Hi all ,My reply was from one of observation,I know everyone is different, and Im sure most of you who went to boarding schol are very normal and well balanced people! I just wanted to say Im not saying your all'Cuckoo'(probably not a very good term to use) so please dont think I meant that. I apologise if you think I was being Personal. Regards Roxanne