By Nancy Stoops

School has just begun and you already feel worried.  You worry about your child repeating last year’s mistakes and you wonder just how to prevent this.  You tell yourself you did all you could to get them off to a good start and now you know most of it is truly up to them.

Maybe this year you need to get them some tutoring or maybe even some counseling.  It’s important for a student to feel good about him or herself.  It’s important for a student to believe that they can be successful if they truly try their best.  I know it’s hard sometimes to figure out the missing component but don’t wait this year until they are at the point of no return.

If your child is being bullied or having emotional problems I guarantee it will get in the way of their academic performance.  Think about how it feels to go to work when you’re emotionally struggling, it’s just as bad if not worse for your child.  Don’t be afraid to talk with your child or to ask for some help. You may have to learn to ask very specific questions to get them to give you more than a” yes” or a” no” or an” okay”.

There are so many pressures on our children and teens today.  So many of the children and teens I’ve had the honor of working with just feel so very alone and different.  These feelings can really get in the way of their academic performance and in the way of them being successful adults.  Many of our students get into drugs and other bad things because they think that’s the only way they can make it through their days.  Make this the year you don’t ignore the red flags.  I know you are vey busy but you only have the here and now to help your child grow into a responsible and proud individual.

This article was written by Nancy Stoops M.A., M.F.T.  Nancy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Nancy runs free family support groups, a group on loss for seniors, and groups for teens.  For more information about any of these services feel free to contact her at (909)229-0727.  You may e-mail Nancy atnancyjstoops@verizon.net. You may purchase Nancy’s books Live Heal and Grow and Midnight the Therapy Dog at Amazon.com.