Quirky kid does/does not = "Regular" High School

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So your kid wants to go to real high school. I don't blame him. My son goes to regular high school, but he is autistic, looks normal, acts kinda normal. It's really hard for him these days. It almost seems like he's going backwards. He wanders around at night. His interest in things is minimal. I think high school is good, but he is what he is and sometimes they just can't cope out there. He has some great friends, but none of them understand what he's going through. Perhaps he needs someone like him to help him along. I hope your "kiddo" does well. As for you, well, I guess it's the one day at a time thing.

Thought I would update this post, as high school has "started".

I took kid to what passes for freshman orientation in these parts. The main portion took place in a very loud gymnasium, with all of the different clubs sending a representative up to a microphone to give a spiel. Then there was a (rather poor) tour of the campus. I purposely hung back and allowed kid to absorb the situation and make his own judgements.

When it was all said and done, I asked him for his assessment, and if he wanted to attend.

He looked at me as if I had 3 heads.

"I thought all of those stereotypes only existed in the movies! I mean, the football quarterback who was so stupid that the drama club guy had to come up and help him with his announcement; the cheerleader who looked like she was in a manic phase of bipolar; the cliques of girls who all looked exactly alike... why didn't you tell me it was all real?"

I didn't laugh. Honest.

(me) "So, um, do you want me to register you for classes?"

"NO! I want to be homeschooled. Those people are weird."

(he met his first fellow "quirky" homeschooler at the library this week and is gleefully happy)


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I don't know if it's an option in your area, but you might consider a magnet school. I went to one focused on arts & communications midway through High School and wish I'd gone sooner, because it probably would've saved me from dropping out entirely a year later. Each one is a bit different, depending on what they offer, but most of them allow students to have a more direct hand in guiding their own education. My school even offered classes like computer graphics, electronic music composition, and video editing in addition to the more typical courses. The first time I visited the school, I was shocked to see a greenhouse next to the main building :p

Most of them also have the benefit of being much smaller, more diverse, and the students tend to be more accepting, friendly, and intelligent than what people would expect from HS students. Being an art school, mine attracted a lot of goth/industrial/punk types, but that probably varies depending on the curriculum offered.

Just something to think about.

That was so funny, the way it played out.

Although, in all fairness to real people, do tell him that while there are cores of truth in the stereotypes, they remain stereotypes, movies do exaggerate, and he shouldn't use those impressions to make too many assumptions about any one person.

I was actually a cheerleader in High School. Yeah, they couldn't believe I wanted to do it then, either. I just really loved dance, and my parents had always refused to pay for ballet lessons, etc. But I cannot honestly say I've kept in touch with any of those girls (now women, of course). We were teammates, not friends, although I know they liked me well enough.

However, I think the high school experience can be well skipped by most people.

We're in a one high school place. Literally. It's alright.

He knows everyone isn't the stereotypes (I think, I hope - we've discussed it!), and he has even met a football player with a brain...

I am actually intending to have him take a couple of classes at the school (physics comes to mind) at some point. There are just some classes that don't translate well into a "home" setting (no lasers in my living room). For now, we'll just plow into the curriculum I planned. As soon as the packers bring it next week... sigh. Moving bites.


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Oh - check my update - he decided to stay home as soon as he saw the "freshman orientation". Much happier kid, stimming has stopped, etc.


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i'm one of those pro home schoolers myself...

but ultimately its his life and his decisions. If he wants to go to highschool, let him. If it works out, great, if not, you will know pretty soon and then you can withdraw him.

Re: The Locker Room Issue

One of the worst meltdowns I ever had in junior high happened because I had trouble opening my locker in gym class. Not only did I feel embarrassed in front of other students because of my helplessness, I was also frustrated because I was going to be late for my next class. I was an academically oriented person, and gym class was torture for me as it was.

Correction: he still stims, but he has certain "I'm absolutely overwhelmed and over-stressed" stims that stopped when the high school question left the table.

I guess I don't consider the non-overwhelmed stims "stims" - they're just part of him, his regular mannerisms, you know?


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