The Grocery Store

My daughter doesn't speak at school. She won't speak to anyone but her mom, dad, two cousins, grandma, and two friends from school. When we go to the store she's a whole different person. She talks, screams, and has temper tantrums just like any eight year old would. She has no issues with the bathrooms either. This is such a vast difference from her behavior at school. At school her father and I have to go in and help the teacher do testing. She has a comfortable pattern for using the toilet now. However she started the year holding it all day. Then went from that to going with a friend. Now she can go alone just down the hall form her class. My daughter will talk to me right in front of people now. A short while ago she would tug on me so she could whisper in my ear. She is making positive strides towards speaking freely. Her biggest hurdle is talking in school. If school were the grocery store where no one judged you and your peers didn't treat you differently she would speak. The biggest problem she has is when people baby her.

Excessive moodiness

When my daughter holds in all her frustration from her day at school, she explodes. If then she hasn't eaten on a regular schedule that day she becomes physically agressive. This is hard to handle. It's hard on her grandmother. I wasn't the same as a child and it baffles grandma quite a lot. Asking my daughter to hang up her coat becomes a struggle on these days which lead to temper tantrums and ultimately my frustration. At these times I try to keep calm. Most of the time I can, however when you are being hit it's hard to be neutral. I tell her how her actions affect me and then we discuss the day. We ask for God's guidance and I pray for patience. This is what helps us at the end of these days.