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relationship with their partner to remember why they married them all those years ago. Schedule time together to do things you both enjoy or set yourself a regular “date night” just for the two of you. Keep in touch. You can still to be close to your child even after they have left home. You should try to maintain regular contact through visits, phone calls, emails, and texts, but you need to also realize that you need to get the balance right so they don’t feel smothered by too much contact. Don’t do it alone. Remember, hundreds of thousands of parents are in the same position as you are now. Talk to the people around you — your friends and partner — who know what you’re going through. If you’re finding it hard to shake the blues, you can visit your GP to talk about how you’re feeling and get some additional support.
• Pat yourself on the back. Raising a child is no easy task, and you should congratulate yourself on your excellent work so far. I suspect this new phase of parenthood is more difficult for parents than it is for young adults. Knowing that Drew will be settling into a dorm room and meeting people who will be lifelong friends helps with this transition. What to do with Drew’s room and when to do it is a conversation we will be having this summer. I suspect it will be harder for me than for him. For those of you who have gone through this phase, I am open to any suggestions you may have on how to successfully transition. I am incredibly proud of Andrew and what he has accomplished thus far. I am very much looking forward to seeing him develop into the type of adult I just know he will become. GO DAWGS!
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- Lucas Foust
IS YOURCHILD BEINGBULLIED? What You Can Do to Help
A new school year is a prime opportunity for kids to make new friends among their classmates. Unfortunately, kids also form connections during the school year that aren’t always positive, and many children become the targets of school bullies. If you suspect your child is being bullied, there are a few things you can do to help. KNOW THE SIGNS Kids usually don’t open up about being bullied right away. However, there are some common signs that your child is being harassed. Here are a few of them: • If they’re refusing to go to school or ride the bus, they may be dreading their bully. • If they’re rushing to the bathroom after school, it may indicate that they’re being bullied in the bathroom, which is a common tactic bullies use to avoid teachers. • If their grades suddenly change, it may be the result of constant harassment. • Anxious or depressed moods can be the result of bullying as well.
If you spot one or more of these signs, it’s time to talk to your child about what’s happening to them at school.
LISTEN When your child does open up, the best thing you can do is listen. It can be tempting to try to give them advice or question the way they handled the situation, but doing this can give your child the impression that it’s their own fault they are being bullied. Let them tell you the whole story, without judgment, and then help them come up with ideas on what to do next. FINDING THE RIGHT SOLUTION Once you’ve been informed that your child is being bullied, you should inform teachers as soon as possible. Apart from that, there are several ways you can help your child to deal with bullies, so talk to them about what approach they would be most comfortable with, such as de- escalation strategies or a buddy system with their friends. As with most conflicts, the sooner you handle the situation, the better.
2 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
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