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09/05/2009, 8:14 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Posts 2,704 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Panda - It looks as if you have got your timing right about going back to France for your son to do Years 5 and 6 in a primary school before going to senior school.  I suppose that you will have to decide how to keep his French current.  When I have more time, I'll PM you.   Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

09/05/2009, 9:32 Cendrillon Joined on 19/10/2007 S.E. England & S.W.France Posts 897 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Panda I would not class you as a failure, indeed your move to France seems to have been very successful. You have to decide what is best for your child and you can only do what you think is best at the time. Good luck with the move back, you are not the first on here to take this decision, where's Debbie? she doesn't often post these days but I know she made the same decision for her children. Bon courage. Cendrillon    Report

09/05/2009, 10:22 Hoddy Joined on 23/08/2004 .....Forum Moderator..... NW Leics/SE Dordogne Posts 2,589 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? I thought of Debbie too when I first read this. The only thing I would add is that you need to take care on exactly where you move to in order to get your child into a good school. Hoddy    Report

09/05/2009, 11:18 Panda Joined on 20/02/2009 Posts 196 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed?  Cendrillon wrote: Panda I would not class you as a failure, indeed your move to France seems to have been very successful. You have to decide what is best for your child and you can only do what you think is best at the time. Good luck with the move back, you are not the first on here to take this decision, where's Debbie? she doesn't often post these days but I know she made the same decision for her children. Bon courage. Oh no don't remind me!  Debbie told me all this and I very strongly told her how wrong I thought she was. Live and learn and all that.  Sorry Debbie..    Report

18/05/2009, 18:22 Deby Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 668 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Hello Panda, I only dip in and out these days regarding the forum, but do like to keep abreast.    You are certainly not a failure, I never felt I failed - just moved on to pastures new, a new phase in mine and my children's lives.  You afforded your child a fantastic opportunity and I can really see the benefits that my children have had from growing up in France. They stand out from other children in a very positive way, their horizons are broadened, their understanding of life is wider, their acceptances of other people, their appreciation of other food, their ability to go outdoors and enjoy it, their ability to make do - I could go on and on. I never have regretted moving to France, never regretted returning to the UK.  I miss certain things about France, but then I missed things about the UK and other places which I have lived. You sound as if you have the opportunity to go back and forth, a foot in both camps so to speak, that is a good thing. I am happy with the education system here and that was one of the main reasons for returning and it is also what I expected, I feel comfortable with it whereas I did not with the French system.  Not that the French system is bad, just simply not for me and my children.  My children really adapted to change very well which hopefully will set them in good stead for life.  Some children do not get the opportunities which we have been able to afford to our children.  So no you have not failed you have given your son fantastic foundations for him throughout his childhood.  No need for apologies, I never needed/expected one for a minute - cant even remember what you said! A+ Deby http://www.chateau-de-clerac.com    Report

18/05/2009, 18:55 Deby Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 668 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Ps. Not sure where you are returning to in the UK, but some private schools do offer language scholarships - something you might want to look into before you return. Deby http://www.chateau-de-clerac.com    Report

18/05/2009, 19:04 Cerise Joined on 23/08/2004 Laguepie Tarn & Garonne Posts 936 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Panda - you have certainly not failed and instead of saying 'giving up and going back' how about 'making a decision and moving on'.   There is no law that says you have to stay anywhere if you see something you prefer elsewhere.  Your son has had an opportunity to see another way of life and that will always be valuable. There is a very real possibility that we will move to the UK in the next couple of years.  I've mostly enjoyed being here, but think that if we stay we will end up too poor to have a decent retirement - we get by but never make enough money to save anything.  I don't want a 'simple' make do old age such as my neighbours have - I want travel, warmth and no worries over the bills.  If we go - either to Uk or elsewhere - then it will just be the next adventure as this has been. I wish you luck and admire you for having the courage to say 'This isn't working, let's try something else'      Report

18/05/2009, 19:15 odile Joined on 09/05/2008 Midlands + Swiss Jura Posts 1,570 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Fully agree Cerise- bravo for having the guts and understanding to put your childrens' education and welfare first. By the way some 6th form in the UK, state as well as private - do offer the International Bac - so it might be an option for you to consider at a later stage - if you think you might wish to return at some stage. In Leicester for instance Wyggeston Q.E (which the Attenborough brothers attended) is an excellent state 6th Form that offers this option. Bonne chance to you all - hope you manage to keep up their French language skills too. Keep in touch to tell us how you get on.    Report

18/05/2009, 20:26 Panda Joined on 20/02/2009 Posts 196 Re: Giving Up and Going Back - Have I Failed? Thanks Deby, Cerise and Odile for your kind words. I am returning to the Cotswolds and will certainly look at those options (Ibac etc.) I will dip in here from time to time to check on everyone/update. Leaving in a couple of weeks, feels really strange at the moment, but feels right.    Report

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