Homeschool Chat

[Disney Mommy 3]

Yeah for you!! I bet once you bring her home her anxiety level, and bad thoughts will diminish. I know if I am getting sick, or just feel run down, my mind will wander. If she's already upset, it's not a far jump for her to start thinking other sad or scary thoughts. Give her time to get school out of her system and see if she doesn't get better. If she isn't better in a couple of months, maybe ask your pastor about someone who's good with children.

I am excited for her that she won't be dreading school while she's at Disney!!!Way to go mom!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Yeah for you!! I bet once you bring her home her anxiety level, and bad thoughts will diminish. I know if I am getting sick, or just feel run down, my mind will wander. If she's already upset, it's not a far jump for her to start thinking other sad or scary thoughts. Give her time to get school out of her system and see if she doesn't get better. If she isn't better in a couple of months, maybe ask your pastor about someone who's good with children.

I am excited for her that she won't be dreading school while she's at Disney!!!Way to go mom!!!

Thank you. Maybe I will wait a few months, maybe over the summer. Then we'll see how she's doing at that point and go from there. Thanks alot!! who knows maybe everything will be much better.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I contacted the school dept. earlier but was waiting for a call back. She just called me and said everything is all set, just mail and fax over again your letter of Intent so they have it on file, and you're all set. She was extremely pleasant as well.
Right now dd9 and I are packing. Yes I know we still have 33 days to go, but it's been in the 40s here and we're sure not wearing our tanks and flip flops anytime soon so we began our packing . dd9 is in charge of "the list" she is writing down for me how many outfits, and pj sets each person has as it goes into the suitcase. I made that mistake the last time we traveled and I packed early then had to unpack everything because I had NO IDEA what was in the suitcase So we are prepared this time.
dd9 was of course thrilled that we were starting hsing. I have this great dinosaur/fossil chapter book i'm going to have her read. (Animal Kingdom)
And we are going to learn alot about the countries that can be found in Epcot....Fun Fun
We'll be going to the library for some books

 

[wvdislover]

I'm so glad to hear about your decision and that you're happy with it. It broke my heart to hear about all your DD has been keeping bottled up inside her We don't realize all the burdens our children can carry sometimes. It'll be fun to see how your DD changes for the better, now that she is free from the major source of her anxiety issues. Hopefully, getting out of that environment will help her a lot. Have a great spring break! Hope all the kiddos get well soon!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I'm so glad to hear about your decision and that you're happy with it. It broke my heart to hear about all your DD has been keeping bottled up inside her We don't realize all the burdens our children can carry sometimes. It'll be fun to see how your DD changes for the better, now that she is free from the major source of her anxiety issues. Hopefully, getting out of that environment will help her a lot. Have a great spring break! Hope all the kiddos get well soon!

Thanks!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I have this great dinosaur/fossil chapter book i'm going to have her read. (Animal Kingdom)
And we are going to learn alot about the countries that can be found in Epcot....Fun Fun
We'll be going to the library for some books

That is fantastic!!! Remind her that the princesses can be found in Epcot for Autographs as well and she can get books about each of their countries too!! I just loooove the library!! Good idea about the packing as well. Something we do---if we are getting kind of close to the end of toothpaste, or shampoos, deoderant, stick them in a special small rubbermaid that's labeled "Travel" and when you are doing your toiletry bag, you have products already and can get rid of the containers at WDW. No need to repack and bring home!!! And of course, we always use tons of Ziplocks!!!! We went mid-May 2 years ago and it was great! Pretty warm, but not sweltering yet. You are going to have such a good time!!!

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

We had a really nice talk last night about everything that bothers her and I feel really bad. It's not just school stuff, although that is the brunt of her "issues" she says she worries about stuff alot, like something bad happening to a family member. She says when she's bored and starts to daydream, only thoughts that worry her come into her head. I know I am going to ask her Pediatrician for a referral for her to talk to someone, I can talk to her, but I am not a professional and don't really know what to say, other than, try to think of something happy like Disney World. But she says she's tried, and that doesn't work. I don't really know what else to say to her to help. And ya know, the funny thing is that you'd never know she was "bothered" she's always happy , and doing crazy things. But I think that's why everything is getting worse, she's keeps it inside and it just builds up there.

As a mom of a son with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) I can share with you some tools that we have been given. Here you go:

1. Tell your daughter that she need to sit down for 15 to 20 minutes and either think about all her worries or write all her worries down. Some kids are writing resistant and that's OK....just thinking about them quietly is OK too. She doesn't need to verbalize her worries or share her list -- it's private. Then when "worry time" is over, that's it...she has to store up her worries for her next "worry appointment." We did this 3 times per week and it was amazing the difference it made -- DS knew that he needed to tell himself, when he was worrying -- that it wasn't worry time yet and he needed to "store" it.
2. We were given "tools" called TBIC
T is thinking or positive self talk -- I can do this, it's OK, etc.
B is breathing -- remember to breathe evenly and slowly and quietly -- focus on it, out and in, out and in and keep it even.
I is imagery -- imagine the BEST place on the earth and then imagine yourself there and what you are doing and how it feels.
C is challenge -- challenge yourself in small measured steps. If anxiety is caused by tall escalators, tell yourself that you can last just another 10 seconds -- it's not much and I can do that. Or if the anxiety issue is being in an elevator then say, well, I have to go to the 40th floor and I'm on floor 2 so I just need to keep going one at a time -- there I've done 4 floors which is about 10% so I'm getting closer and just keep talking yourself through the challenge.

Those 4 simple things have worked wonders for us. What doesn't work is me telling my DS that it's OK or his worry is silly. What does work is letting him know that HE can manage his worry and I'm there to support him. If he needs me to stand with him, I can do that...but I can't remove the worry -- he's the only one with that power.

I'm glad you took your DD out of the school environment. When we took our DS out it was like he was a different child -- much happier and focused on school than worried about how his teachers would behave or react.

Hope this helps a bit.

Karen

 

[3princesses+aprince]

That is fantastic!!! Remind her that the princesses can be found in Epcot for Autographs as well and she can get books about each of their countries too!! I just loooove the library!! Good idea about the packing as well. Something we do---if we are getting kind of close to the end of toothpaste, or shampoos, deoderant, stick them in a special small rubbermaid that's labeled "Travel" and when you are doing your toiletry bag, you have products already and can get rid of the containers at WDW. No need to repack and bring home!!! And of course, we always use tons of Ziplocks!!!! We went mid-May 2 years ago and it was great! Pretty warm, but not sweltering yet. You are going to have such a good time!!!

Thanks, we are so waiting for this trip. I am the most excited, I just want to be there. The kids will be more excited when we're ready to go! But me, as soon as our countdown hit 60 I was thrilled, so with just 32 days to go, you can imagine my excitement!!!!!
And that's a great idea on the items your running low on. I wish I hadn't bought all of our travel sized everythings yet I just went super crazy for this trip!!

As a mom of a son with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) I can share with you some tools that we have been given. Here you go:

1. Tell your daughter that she need to sit down for 15 to 20 minutes and either think about all her worries or write all her worries down. Some kids are writing resistant and that's OK....just thinking about them quietly is OK too. She doesn't need to verbalize her worries or share her list -- it's private. Then when "worry time" is over, that's it...she has to store up her worries for her next "worry appointment." We did this 3 times per week and it was amazing the difference it made -- DS knew that he needed to tell himself, when he was worrying -- that it wasn't worry time yet and he needed to "store" it.
2. We were given "tools" called TBIC
T is thinking or positive self talk -- I can do this, it's OK, etc.
B is breathing -- remember to breathe evenly and slowly and quietly -- focus on it, out and in, out and in and keep it even.
I is imagery -- imagine the BEST place on the earth and then imagine yourself there and what you are doing and how it feels.
C is challenge -- challenge yourself in small measured steps. If anxiety is caused by tall escalators, tell yourself that you can last just another 10 seconds -- it's not much and I can do that. Or if the anxiety issue is being in an elevator then say, well, I have to go to the 40th floor and I'm on floor 2 so I just need to keep going one at a time -- there I've done 4 floors which is about 10% so I'm getting closer and just keep talking yourself through the challenge.

Those 4 simple things have worked wonders for us. What doesn't work is me telling my DS that it's OK or his worry is silly. What does work is letting him know that HE can manage his worry and I'm there to support him. If he needs me to stand with him, I can do that...but I can't remove the worry -- he's the only one with that power.

I'm glad you took your DD out of the school environment. When we took our DS out it was like he was a different child -- much happier and focused on school than worried about how his teachers would behave or react.

Hope this helps a bit.

Karen

Thanks for this advice, it sure won't hurt to try it. It sounds great. I am just not a worrier, I am the opposite, so it's been so hard for me to understand where this is coming from with her, but I am learning and trying to figure it out. My best friend is a lot like my dd, so she has been giving me advice also. We're getting there. And with school being what was stressing her out the most, I'm sure i'll see improvements as the months go by!!!
Right now we're just doing a lot of Disney Planning. This is our first trip, we are so excited!!!!!!!!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

What's everyone up to today? Are you all getting ready for Easter tomorrow? Today is a cold rainy day here, tomorrow is supposed to be a little warmer but not much! I think 45 degrees

 

[Lora]

What's everyone up to today? Are you all getting ready for Easter tomorrow? Today is a cold rainy day here, tomorrow is supposed to be a little warmer but not much! I think 45 degrees

We're doing our normal "sick day" activity: watching old home movies. DD11 has a fever. It looks like at least a couple of us will miss church on Easter.

 

[Temair]

I'm working on my garden today. Planted the strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, and some herbs. My peas a growing good and about 2 inches tall. I'm looking forward to eating for my own garden this summer.

 

[dvcbnd]

Hi, we've been running errands all day in preparation for tomorrow...bakery, Italian food specialty store, payless (for dd's shoes), etc. Now we're boiling some eggs for coloring. I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy Easter. May you all have a wonderful day!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

!!!happy easter!!! I hope everyone is having a nice day

 

[DawnM]

Have you done the scavenger hunt for kids at Animal Kingdom? We did it this last time and the kids learned quite a bit about animals! And they got a little passport book fully stamped to keep.

Dawn

I contacted the school dept. earlier but was waiting for a call back. She just called me and said everything is all set, just mail and fax over again your letter of Intent so they have it on file, and you're all set. She was extremely pleasant as well.
Right now dd9 and I are packing. Yes I know we still have 33 days to go, but it's been in the 40s here and we're sure not wearing our tanks and flip flops anytime soon so we began our packing . dd9 is in charge of "the list" she is writing down for me how many outfits, and pj sets each person has as it goes into the suitcase. I made that mistake the last time we traveled and I packed early then had to unpack everything because I had NO IDEA what was in the suitcase So we are prepared this time.
dd9 was of course thrilled that we were starting hsing. I have this great dinosaur/fossil chapter book i'm going to have her read. (Animal Kingdom)
And we are going to learn alot about the countries that can be found in Epcot....Fun Fun
We'll be going to the library for some books

 

[DawnM]

Our local schools are out this week....NOT US! We will keep trudging along sinc we will be going to Disney World the first week of May! Of course, Disney isn't really vacation, right? It is a FIELD TRIP! Yeah, that's it.....

Hope everyone had a good day for Easter. We went to church and have had a relaxing afternoon. We are cooking a nice Easter dinner for our evening meal......a rotisserie turkey, dill potatoes, corn, salad, and nutter butter banana pudding! Can't wait.

Dawn

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Hey Dawn!! Your going to Disney in May too?
I have not heard of a scavenger hunt in Animal Kingdom? Have you done it?

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Thanks for this advice, it sure won't hurt to try it. It sounds great. I am just not a worrier, I am the opposite, so it's been so hard for me to understand where this is coming from with her, but I am learning and trying to figure it out. My best friend is a lot like my dd, so she has been giving me advice also. We're getting there. And with school being what was stressing her out the most, I'm sure i'll see improvements as the months go by!!!

I know exactly what you mean. I'm not a worrier either, but these tools have helped DS significantly (oh, and changing his school to home school has helped too!).

Good luck!

K

 

[DawnM]

Yes, we did it.....I had been to AK many times and never even knew it was there.....each "station" has a little informational talk about the animals in that region and then they look for things (like at one station they find indiginous bugs and at another they look for varying animal (fake) scat/poop) and identify them.

If you pick up a map when you fist get there it has the stations marked and you can start at any one of them.

Dawn

Hey Dawn!! Your going to Disney in May too?
I have not heard of a scavenger hunt in Animal Kingdom? Have you done it?

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Ooo, that sounds like something my kids will like. I will check that out. Thanks!!!
Today I'm working on my Letter of Intent. I sent one in October, and they just told me I have to send that back over and I cannot for the life of me find it. So I'm working on another, I have to go google samples again to jog my memory!

 

[HomeschoolMama]

Ooo, that sounds like something my kids will like. I will check that out. Thanks!!!
Today I'm working on my Letter of Intent. I sent one in October, and they just told me I have to send that back over and I cannot for the life of me find it. So I'm working on another, I have to go google samples again to jog my memory!

I just used the one off of HLSDA's website.