FOR OUR APAP FRIENDS: 100% AFROTAINO-APPROVED Saturday, January 12th at SOBs The SOBs Brazil Show featuring: Dend

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  Amandeep September 19, 2014 at 7:51 AM

  Jan28 Hi, Shannon, I have some ideas that may help. I think that your very first step is to sit down with Bella and talk through all the optonis. Let her know that it’s really important to you that she is happy, and that it’s also important to you that she learn to overcome difficulties, and that you are trying to figure out the best way to help her. Let her know that you will support her, no matter what, and that if you decide together that changing the class is important, that you will work with her to try to do that. Lay ALL the possibilities on the table. Everything from Bella decides she’s going to figure this out and go to school determinedly every day. to We pull Bella out of school and homeschool. Your goal is to empower Bella to participate in the decisions the daily ones about do I go to school today? and the larger ones, like, How do I respond, what thoughts do I choose, when something is happening that I don’t like. Over and over, bring the conversation back to what BELLA can do with her thoughts, emotions, and physical reality. I have two documents that might help you, and I’d be happy to forward them to you. One is a document specifically about helping a child adjust to a difficult schooling situation, and the other is a problem-solving plan for a Family Meeting, that can be used with 2 or more people, that I think will describe a process that will really support you and Bella right now. Feel free to email me to request these. Also, it sounds as though Bella may be an introvert, meaning that she refuels and recharges with quiet time with familiar people, in her own safe, low-key environment (home). She may just need one extra day a week home with you. As you brainstorm solutions together, you might consider scheduling an agreed-upon number of Mental Health Days for Bella, and give her the option to schedule ahead, or use those days when she needs, depending on your flexibility. The key is to decide together, to bring Bella back to a place where she feels like she can change her situation. Even talking to her about If you’re sad, you can cry. brings it to a place of choice, and that’s really important so that she doesn’t feel like she has no control over her own life. I know how hard this is! I’m sending so much love to you and Bella! In joy, Lisa Kathleen (Full Circle Parenting)

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