Balancing

I am trying to figure out when to step in and say something on behalf of my child. This is something that I normally do not do, but I am reaching the breaking point and apparently, my daughter is right there too.

I try not to rant and rave on my child’s behalf. I prefer my child to handle the issue on their own.

At this point, I am encouraging her to speak out on her own behalf. Her initial plan was to form a protest with a group of students who felt they were being treated unfairly. She was angry and running off at the mouth. I was upset over the same situation, and I hadn’t expressed my disappointment to her, and I was surprised at her own anger. Until that point, I thought it had just been me.

Her dad and I talked to her and gave her recommendations on how to handle it on her own (and how NOT to handle it). We suggested she approach the adult in charge privately to discuss it. We suggested she ask what she could do rather than make accusations. We also suggested she not bring anyone else into the issue — make it about just her and not the group of kids.

As a mom, I had already started thinking about how I would compose the letter I planned to write to the adult in question. While I am upset by the treatment my child has received, I can see that it isn’t just my child.

At this point, I’m happy to let my child initiate this needed conversation with the adult in question. It is something my child needs to learn to do, and I hope she takes the advice her father and I gave her. But if she doesn’t get results, I’m more than willing to take the next step. After all, I already have that letter partially composed….