Published on 12, July, 2020
I just revisited Jodie Smitten's excellent site and found this cluster of articles and info on school attendance - often an issue for parents and certainly an issue within my own family over at least 2 generations. Drilling down into the reasons can be quite emotional too. I was thinking at first that it might be more suitable for the Parents and Carers section but then, and especially after the school reports thread, I reconsidered. Reading through some of this, like thinking about my old school reports, set off quite a bit of reflection on my own schooling, much of which damaged or distorted me and influenced my behaviours for some considerable time. It's all still very much with me, in fact, like a voice in my head. I was always able to attend school myself, but I'm thinking now that the cost might have been too great. It also led to an awful lot of masking, some fairly negative behaviours and consequences for me, plus an almost neverending drive towards perfectionism and getting 10/10, no matter what I had to do to achieve it. :( And yes, although it can be a large "turning circle", I'm on to it now, with more insight, I think. :) If you feel OK to share here, how do you all feel about all of this? www.jodiesmitten.co.uk/school-attendance
I definitely had real issues with school. Social overload. Expectations overload. Hiding all my emotions and struggles. Being good to fit in.
I'd come home, raid the biscuit tin and just watch whatever was on telly until 6pm. I just couldn't function past that.
I do think there are benefits to school, but that there need to be adjustments to make it a better environment for everyone. The problem is that this costs money that just isn't available.
Yes, I did a lot of hiding too because it just wasn't safe to stand out. I'd probably have preferred much of it to have been conducted online, although that wasn't an option back then.