My Teen Daughter Is In Boarding School And It's Great... (I'm almost ashamed to say).

[mrsmac]

LOL I hear you on the denial! I was telling my SIL that the photos of DD on FB holding a smoke were just someone else's LOL cause DD HATED smoking and would never smoke! HA HA
I eventually had to admit defeat on that one.
I think we go into denial to protect ourselves, I know I did, i quite enjoyed it really now I know far too much!!

[camille101]

Pandora - boarding school is an option we can have up our sleeve that we don't plan on using - just as a last resort (for her it would be perceived as a punishment, not for its educational opportunity). She will go to the local high school and we'll see how we'll go. Despite having 39 absences, she is meeting the attendance requirement because her current school lets her make up the time after school.

It is wonderful to hear that you've got an option if ever something could go wrong. My daughter is with a boarding school before and love the total transformation of it. I've set as same as you are as an option or last choice and definitely a good choice.

[Bathsheba]

Update: Dear Daughter flew back to NSW and has returned to boarding school for yet another term last weekend. She seemed to be quite happy.... or at least WILLING to go back and continue While she was down here during the school holidays (3 weeks) she was much more happy within herself and very trustworthy! Everytime I asked her to call in (while out with friends) she did... right to the very minute! I think her new school has given her a new respect for watching the clock and making sure time doesn't "get away on her". Not once did we have reason to suspect she was either wanting to see or sneaking off to see the boy that caused all this in the first place. So i guess this term has taken on a bit of a new 'meaning'. Instead of needing to be a safe place for her physically i think it's now more of a place to help her re-engage with the learning process. as well as being unsafe she has disengaged from her studies for years and i suspect this is her last chance to have a good crack at passing her high school certificate (HSC/VCE). We have yet to receive her school report but the feedback is that she has done very well

DH is still desperately trying to find work in NSW so that DD can continue at this school as a day girl. We can't realistically afford to pay the boarding school level of fees so this should hopefully be her last term as a boarder. Please pray that DH gets work up there soon! My sister has offered to have her live with them maybe for a term but i would rather it didn't come to that... I just want us to move up there as a family!

[littlelara]

Oh, I really hope he gets work up there.
It sounds like you guys made the best possible decision for her and now to all go up is such a wonderful and supportive thing to do as a family.
I can't imagine my family ever even considering such a thing.

[Fleur]

Fingers crossed for you Bath, it's really great that it's working so well for her

[feeb]

Sounds like everything is going great!! I hope she keeps up the good work!

[KimB]

How is hubby's work prospects going Bath?? Hope he got a job up here in NSW so that you guys can move. Glad to hear that DD is behaving and now likes school. Makes a huge difference. xxx take care

[Bathsheba]

Job hunting has been discouraging however I now suspect I know why there has been a delay: DH has just been diagnosed with a hernia which needs operating. If we had moved up to NSW to the rural town we want to then the whole thing would have been trickier... may have involved travel to Sydney etc... ugh! Here it is easy... specialists galore. SO maybe there is a reason for everything afterall.

I just came in here to say also that DD has re-added DH and I into her FaceBook page so we can monitor her usage. Thrilled to read lots of really positive posts such as: "me and william (10yo cousin) are in a paddock, its pouring rain and dancing to we no speak americano, life is good.." and "im covered in mud, after half an hour straight riding on a gokart in mud ponds." She spends lots of time with her aunt, uncle and three cousins and always seems to have lots of fun. So finally I think she is embracing her inner country girl! yee ha!

BTW I don't usually make a habit of copying people's facebook comments into BB but given the context, the content and that I haven't put her name I think it's ok.

[mrsmac]

I think you are just illustrating a point Bath not invading anyone's privacy!
So glad she has settled down and is happy, its such a scary time raising teens I shudder when I remember DD2 has still to go through it now that I am "hopefully" out of the woods with DD1.

[Bathsheba]

Thanks MrsMac To further confirm my thoughts that DD is truly happy and not just putting on a show: My sis (her aunt) rang me this morning to say how good it was to have DD to stay this weekend. DD's uncle has made a "go-kart" the size of a small car and while at first relucatant to ride it through the mud (they have a small hobby farm and it had been raining heavily) DD got on and had a go (ie got over her inner city "ick" factor!) ... aunty watched her from the verander and then saw her drive off slowly at first but soon enough saw her flying around the paddocks squealing with laughter as sprays of mud covered her! She had a ball of a time. They then let her shower, fed her up and drove her back into town to school. Looking forward to her staying again in a fortnight DH and i are SO relieved!

[Pandora]

How did she go last term Bath did sher school result reflect the change in attitude you've seen?

[Bathsheba]

We are yet to receive her actual report but a verbal report (regarding her grades) from the year level co-ordinator (over the phone) said that she passed everything and "exceeded expectations based on her academic history ie her previous school reports). So we have reason to believe that she has re-engaged with the learning process and is well and truly back on track It seems to have helped that NSW seems to be a bit behind Victoria in the curriculumn... in the areas that DD was weakest at anyhow.


ETA: Pandora you must be psychic! We just received her report in the mail!!! And Oh My what a difference to her last 3 -4 reports!!! I am SO PROUD! EVERY teacher basically said that DD is a valuable addition to the class/ a pleasure to teach ( ) and a QUIET conscientious student!!! A total turnaround from her previous "Distracting influence/ lazy/ disengaged" comments from previous reports! Now i know i know all this could change as her new school becomes her comfort zone... but I suspect all this has coincided with a greater maturity and that she might be careful not to damage her new reputation. Oh please let this be true!

Can't wait to show DH! And to gush to DD when i call her tonight!

[Fleur]

Wonderful news Bath
So very happy for you that things are going so well.

[Pandora]

Thats awesome Bath. Im really happy for all of you.
I was going to ask if you were allowed to call her but obviously you are from the last line of your post.

[Bathsheba]

We've just finished talking to her! She has her mobile phone and she is allowed to use it until 9.30pm every night. Her report included a Dormitory Behaviour component too... Respect for co-boarders, respect for her environment, abiding by rules such as lights out, mobile phone usage, respectful language, and overall level of being able to get along with others. She got the highest possible mark for every criteria of her boarding behaviour plus a lovely comment about how polite, friendly and considerate she is by the boarding mistress. I am one proud mumma! And yes, DH and I GUSHED.

[feeb]

Awesome news!!!!!!!!

[deletedit]

I was having a bit of a complain to the visiting midwife about DD#1 and the midwife said "you should send her to boarding school, St Marks is really good" LOL

This is the country though, so it isn't unusual for kids to go to boarding school. The range of subjects here is pretty poor and there's surprisingly few high school students. I guess they're *all* at boarding school so she might actually have some local friends if we do end up sending her.

Sounds like it can be a very positive environment