The beginning of a new school gets my anxiety going. I want to blame it on my husband for not doing it all for me, but I think we’re all in this boat. I’m paying double the amount for school supplies. I’m not looking forward to the attitudes of doing the “work” and sticking to a schedule. Meal planning is not fun — again, it’s planning — but we eat like garbage if we don’t plan. Ugg, and I still have a job!
Thankfully, everything is turning out just fine, but starting a new school year is just as stressful on parents. Especially if we have a child with challenges.
As a mom of a daughter that had some huge challenges in her early elementary years, I am blown away to see where God and hard work have taken us.
We were struggling to help her
My husband and I could barely drag her into the school. (Yes drag – please don’t judge me. I was doing my best and I still have guilt for dragging her into a place she didn’t feel safe being.) She would scream “Someone help me!” as we entered a school, dance studio, etc. Her anxiety was off the charts. She didn’t feel safe with others. It was heartbreaking to experience, for us all.
But now she’s thriving!
Now, she’s singing and performing on stages and cheering in front of crowds. She advocates for herself inside and outside of our home. I get compliments from parents wherever she goes. Her friendships are blooming. I’m covered in a glow that only comes from your child thriving.
The fear I felt at the beginning was so worth the work I put in.
It is essential to prioritize your child’s development during the early stages
For me, it was language and social communication.
I knew she had:
- difficulty expressing what the problem was inside her body.
- difficulty making friends.
- difficulty regulating her emotions – she went from 0-60 in a moment.
- difficulty communicating her needs.
- some social anxiety or social deficits, but I didn’t know which ones.
By making a plan, spending money on tutors and specialists, and staying committed to do the work, I set a strong foundation for her future success in social interactions and relationships.
So what’s the answer?
I recently hosted a workshop called “The Importance of Language Development in Social Communication.“
During this workshop, we discussed:
- 💪 how to build a strong foundation for 0-8 years
- ❤️ how to nurture language skills for 9+
- 🎯 activities and tips when practicing
Research has shown that children who receive intervention for language and social skills development have better long-term outcomes, including improved academic performance, enhanced social relationships, and increased self-confidence.
Want access to this workshop? Check out my Support Vault, where you can find it, plus tons more workshops, exercises, interviews, and other freebies to help get you and your child on track to success. See you there!
Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash