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Kate's avatar

So we moved across the country a couple of years ago, and suddenly my high energy child who dislikes having to do what they are told by authority figures is in a public school where they embrace normal child behavior and actually help kids make better choices rather than using it as a euphemism for punishment. In kindergarten they had in school suspension multiple times and came home with brightly colored “bad behavior” slips on a weekly basis and definitely adopted the identity of being the naughty kid. I just want to say there are good and bad ways to encourage appropriate behavior and I really regret not having the confidence to push back on the bullshit at our old school. Also, I was in a meeting recently to figure out why our kid has trouble listening to instructions, and the school psychologist and speech therapist both said “this is such a great kid” - and I thought how amazing it is to be in a place where a kid can have behavioral issues and that is not seen as precluding them being a great kid. (My kid did punch someone earlier in the year, and they dealt with it at school and worked it out between the kids, and again, it did not make them a bad kid.)

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Sophie's avatar

Woof, I needed that read this particular morning. I literally walked out of my job “sick” yesterday because I got an email my kid was having a rough day. Not even to pick him up, just because it gives ME such big feels. And we are in a pretty good, well supported environment but I still break a little every time I get an email or call. Solidarity, y’all.

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