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I remember lying on a cot in the principal’s office. She asked if I was ready to go back to class, and I said no. How did I get to this point? Shy first-grade me had a strict, no-nonsense teacher. I was shy, and on top of that, a boy had been chasing me on the playground and licking my face. Basically, I did not want to be in school, so I developed a stomach ache every day. At first, my mom would come pick me up, and I would get to play at home with my siblings. Well, as no-nonsense as my first-grade teacher was, the principal was even more so. She wasn’t having this stomach ache business and had me lay in her office. I’m not sure at what point I stopped lying in her office, but I eventually started going to class again, finished first grade, the boy moved away, and life moved on.
Currently, I have a first-grader, and now I don’t know what it is with first grade and these stomach aches, but here we go with mini-me and her mysterious stomach aches. She was sick shortly after Christmas break and struggled to get back into the routine. As we have worked through these stomach aches, which are anxiety, I thought I'd share some of the strategies that we’ve been using.
Visual Schedule:
The teacher in me pulled out a notebook and roughly sketched every part of her day. My daughter has been bringing this notebook to school and drawing smiles or sad faces next to each part of the day. She also writes notes about her day that we can talk about after school.
Schedule:
Speaking of schedules, we have been consistent with bedtime and morning routines. We also have a small visual schedule that I picked up on Amazon.
Preparing:
We prepare the night before by laying out clothes, packing her lunch, and backpack.
Before bed, she journals three positive things that have happened each day. The trick is they have to be different every day.
Calm Down Strategies:
Doing deep breathing by “smelling” a flower, holding her breath briefly, and then “blowing” out a candle slowly. Another one is to name 5 things she can see, 4 things she can feel, 3 things she can hear, 2 things she can smell, and 1 thing she can taste.
I also need my own calm down strategies. I set my alarm for 4:30 in the morning to have some time reading my bible and then get myself completely ready before my kids get up. Listening to music also helps to be less rattled.
Incentives:
She is also working for a few rewards. Thanks to a suggestion from my college roommate, we have started the “Brave Jar”. Each morning that my daughter is able to get out the door without tears, she can pull an activity from that jar that we will complete that afternoon. The activities range from puzzles, games, going for a walk to watching a movie and getting ice cream.
Be Consistent:
Using all of these techniques has not been a miracle cure, but it certainly helps us make progress.
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this,
that he who
began a good
work in you will carry it on
to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus.
Really, we are all a work in progress. I pray daily that God will work with my kids to draw them close to him.
As I navigate through the challenges of parenting and supporting my daughter through her anxieties, I am reminded of God's promise in Philippians 1:6. Just as I am committed to guiding my child through her struggles, I am assured that God, who initiated a good work within us, will bring it to completion. This verse serves as an encouragement for us to trust in God, especially in times of uncertainty and difficulty.
In our journey of faith, we often encounter obstacles and uncertainties that may cause us to doubt or fear. Yet, just as I work with my daughter to overcome her anxieties, God is ever-present, guiding us with His unfailing love and grace. He invites us to cast our burdens upon Him, for He cares for us deeply (1 Peter 5:7).
As I witness my daughter's progress and growth, I am reminded of the transformative power of God's love and the importance of perseverance in our faith journey. May we be encouraged to press on, trusting in God's faithfulness, knowing that He is continually at work within us, shaping us.
Let us hold onto the promise of Philippians 1:6, confident that God, who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion.