What is a Parent Support Group for School Non-Attendance? A Personal Story of Discovering Alternatives Beyond School
Hello, I'm MASAYA!
In this post, I would like to share my mother's experience with a parent support group for school non-attendance.
Suddenly, for those reading this blog, are you someone who:
・Has a child who has stopped attending school and is carrying the anxiety all alone
・Knows the term "parent support group" but wonders what kind of place it actually is...?
Are there any of you who have these concerns?
Simply put, a "parent support group" is a place where parents struggling with their child's school non-attendance gather to share their respective worries and experiences.
In this article, I interviewed my mother, who has experience participating in a parent support group, and based on her real-life experience, I have summarized:
・What kind of anxieties she had before participating in the parent support group after I stopped attending school
・What kind of changes she experienced after participating in the parent support group
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my mother for her cooperation.
I hope this article serves as a trigger for those worried about their child's school non-attendance to think, "Oh, this kind of option exists too."
Now, please read until the end!
From the Start of School Non-Attendance to Joining a Parent Support Group
When I stopped attending school in the 5th grade of elementary school, my mother said she felt, "It's natural to go to school, so why can't you go...?"
"Will things be okay like this?", "Won't this affect the future?", "Won't they fall behind in their studies...?"
Because of such anxieties, at first, she thought about making me go to school even if it meant forcing me.
At that time, every time we talked about school, we would clash, and there was no room for composure even within the house.
While struggling like that, what she found through the internet was the existence of a "parent support group."
Changes Felt After Participating in the Parent Support Group
My mother says that the first thing she felt after participating in the parent support group was a sense of relief knowing that there were others carrying the same worries.
She attended the parent support group about twice a month, and while listening to stories from other families whose children had gone from school non-attendance to attending free schools or advancing to high school, she began to think:
"Returning to school might not be the only correct answer."
"My child has their own pace."
By learning about the slightly further future that other families' children had walked, her anxiety about the future also eased.
And my mother said that by participating in the parent support group, she realized the importance of having a place where she could consult with someone instead of carrying her worries alone.
Summary | A Parent's Change Leads to a Child's Comfort
How was it?
Looking back at the time when I first stopped attending school, I felt restless even at home due to the anxiety of not being able to go to school, and I felt like there was no place where I could feel at ease.
In such a situation, I think that because my parents stopped forcing me to go to school, it became easier for me to spend time at home with peace of mind.
At that time, there were periods when I couldn't talk properly with my parents, but through this interview, being able to look back on the time when I was not attending school together was very deeply moving.
The fact that we can have conversations that were unthinkable back then is precisely because of my mother's actions at that time. I would like to thank my mother again.
And what was impressive about this interview was that my mother said she felt mentally relieved after participating in the parent support group.
If there is anyone currently carrying anxiety, why not start by looking for a place like a parent support group where you can share your worries?
Thank you for reading until the end!
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We are also waiting for your opinions and impressions about the article!
About the Author
MASAYA
Volunteer staff at Free School BASE. Experienced school non-attendance, social withdrawal, and depressive symptoms when in the 5th grade of elementary school. Returned to society while using a free school during junior high school. After graduating from a correspondence high school, currently studying psychology at university and aspiring to a career in education.