Change is good

Ryder scratching Gabriels itchy back

Making a decision to pull  your child out of school, before he's even old enough to begin is not an easy one.  Gabriel is intelligent, friendly, energetic, and loves his friends.  Even at 3 years old, Gabriel bonded with his school mates in preschool.  He's proud of the artwork he's created,  he's begun looking up to his teachers,  and has become an expert in his own diet and restrictions.  School has been good for Gabriel in some ways.  


I was lucky to have found a school whose teachers genuinely cared about Gabriel.  The allergist and I had a very pointed conversation.  This doctor, who has followed Gabriel since birth, reminded me that Gabriel's sensitivities were getting worse- not better.  The allergist prescribed homeschooling, and Gabriel last attended preschool on the day of their Halloween party.  Just 3 months ago.  


I am happy to announce that Gabriel hasn't had a rash since he stopped attending preschool.  Yes, not one rash.  Now, sure, in the world of pneumonia, asthma attacks, Epi pens, and GI biopsies, a rash doesn't seem like such a big deal.  Maybe I'm being a bit optimistic,  but I believe a rash is the first sign of other symptoms to come.  Doctors have actually found that eczema and rashes release a secretion into the body that triggers asthmatic symptoms.  This doesn't just mean that eczema and asthma are related, it means that eczema can actually cause asthma.  For most of Gabriel's toddler years, his back and butt was covered in a scarred, scabbed, raw, bloody rash.  It was deep, and painful just to look at.  If a dry patch on your knee can be called eczema, and eventually cause asthma, I can only imagine what Gabriel's scars may have caused.  Baths are no longer painful, and Gabriel hasn't asked me to scratch his back near as often.  Gabriel's allergies are affecting by the things around him.  When he was constantly surrounded by foods that he is allergic too, peanuts or not, it caused reactions.


Long term, Im happy with this homeschooling idea.  Im comfortable knowing that Gabriel will be safe at home.  Im excited  knowing that he's got a great nanny to spend his time with, and Im confident that this intelligent little boy will learn more at home than public school would limit him too.  
In the big picture- this looks good.  


I try to keep the big picture in my mind at all times, because when I think about September.... and that my little boy will never have a first day of school, it breaks my heart.