Planning a 6 week caravaning trip from Melb to WA - are we crazy?

[~Trish~]

Thanks for your replies everyone!

Rouge - The heat is the one thing I'm concerned about. Great idea about checking out weather patterns, I'll definitely do that.

MrsS - Thanks for the book recommendation, I'll check out our local library!

Megan - DH and I camped all along the Vic and NSW coast about 11 years ago, it was awesome!

The end of the year is the most practical schooling-wise so that DS1 doesn't have to miss much (or any). I'm tempted to think about the September holidays too, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea for DS1 to miss so much of his first school year? So much to consider!

[mbear]

but I'm not sure if it's a good idea for DS1 to miss so much of his first school year? So much to consider!

...if ever there were a time i would feel guilt free taking my kids outta school it would be kinder or yr 1....hon, they're not going to fall behind, or miss a great deal having a couple of weeks off. I have 2 sets of friends that went o/s when their kids were in kinder and they took 4 weeks and 6 weeks off respectively.....from our daughters first year at school last year (09) we really found term 4 to be a cruisey term...not much new stuff was introduced....so Sept school hols and beyond would be perfect.....

Great family holiday idea though...GL !!!!

[~Trish~]

Hmmm mbear.... I kinda like the idea of September better due to the weather. Do you think that socially it's a bad thing to miss four weeks of school at his age (he's five)? I just worry he'd lose connections with his friends when he gets back. He's such an outgoing boy, I guess he wouldn't have trouble getting back into the swing of things.

Oh I don't know! We have a week of time share that we want to use while we are away, we'd like to stay in Scarborough. I'll have to check the resort's availability over the September holidays, that will help make our final decision. It will be nice to have one week where we're not roughing it LOL!

[AllisD]

Hi Trish

I think that you may find that it is the children back at school that will miss your son more than the other way around. To them he will seem to be gone a long time and to your son it will seem so quick!

The quality time with his family and the whole experience will more than make up for the lack of schooling. If you are worried about him missing school work - I am sure that his teacher would be more than willing to give you some work sheets etc to do whilst away.

I know of a few families who have taken older children out of school for 3-6 months to trip around Australia (or do distance Ed whilst they did it) and they felt that the experiences the children gained were worth just as much as months sitting in a classroom.

Good Luck

AllisD

[Vixstar]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS! You are crazy but it sounds awesome!!! DH and I want to....one day....deck out a bus and drive around this amzing country of hours!....one day....


xxxx

[boomba]

You can go only if we can come too !
What an amazing adventure....DS1 will learn more seeing the country than being in year one!

So jealous xx

[~Trish~]

Thanks AllisD! DH's Aunty and Uncle took their three daughters on a 6 month trip around Aus (they were Primary and High School age) and they studied by correspondence while they were gone. They had a brilliant time

Vixstar - That sounds like so much fun! DH and I plan on becoming grey nomads when he retires one day LOL

Amber - Ooh, you should come too! You'd have a bit further to travel than us though . Yeah, J will have a great learning experience, that's for sure