Welcome to Episode 1 of the Unexceptional Moms Podcast. Today, Erin and I are talking about the podcast and why we named it, “Unexceptional Moms.” We introduce ourselves briefly and since kids are back in school and it’s only the beginning of the school year, we discuss 10 ways to foster a positive relationship with school.
What you need to know about the podcast:
Each Monday we’ll be airing a new episode. You can find us on iTunes, you can listen to it right here, or you can even watch it on youtube.
We want you to leave each episode with a take away. Something helpful that will offer you hope and encouragement as you parent kids with disabilities. For most episodes we are creating a freebie so you can go back to it and remember what we talked about. Like for this episode, we created a PDF with the list of 10 ways to foster a positive relationship with school.
Click Here to get the PDF, “10 Ways to Foster a Positive relationship With School.”
10 Ways to Foster a Positive Relationship With School
One of the biggest battles for many special needs parents is the battle with school. We don’t want it to be a battle, but sometimes it feels that way. Sometimes we feel as if we have to fight during IEP (individualized Education Plan) meetings to get the services that our child needs. Sometimes we feel we have to be on the constant lookout to what is coming at us next from school.
We don’t want the relationship with our child’s school to be negative, and thankfully there are a few practical ways to make this a better year, so here are 10 ways to foster a positive relationship with school.
1. Pray: pray for your child’s teacher, their IEP team, and for your child.
2. Write them encouraging notes throughout the year.
3. When you have a meeting, bring food!
4. Do random gifts if you can (keep it simple!)
5. Send a letter introducing your child and yourself towards the beginning of the school year.
6. Consider volunteering in the classroom.
7. When needing to confront something with the teachers use language such as, “I was wondering,” or, “I was puzzled by.”
8. Always try to work together.
9. Thank your team every time you get a chance.
10. Pick your battles.
Click Here to get the PDF, “10 Ways to Foster a Positive relationship With School.”
You don’t want to miss this first episode as Erin and I talk about each of these, what our experience has been, what we do, what we don’t do (because you don’t have to do them all!) and what has worked or not worked. Also, get ready for some laughs, and hopefully as you listen to us you will be reminded that you are not alone.
One last thing, subscribe to our podcast and share it with your friends on social media.
Listen to the show:
Special Needs Parents, Are You Surviving?
I created a guide with 13 practical ways to help you find peace in the midst of chaos, opt in to make sure you get a copy of this freebie!
Very good advice. Especially in regards to letting the teachers know you care for their well being etc. I have found if you let college professors know you care for them they will also appreciate it.
However what does a parent do when the school team refuses to work with the parent? My family was kind to the team but the teams did not take my families suggestions at all and much of the IEP felt forced onto us so I become a homeschooler and actually developed MORE of a social life, not less.
Yes, sometimes regardless of the best efforts, it is hard to work with the school. As an advocate, you keep pressing on and you hold the school accountable. We could do an entire podcast about IEP’s and such, maybe we need to do that! But, the best tactic is always to try to have a positive relationship because things tend to go better when something comes up.
A IEP podcast is a wonderful idea! Do it! I agree. Kindness can go a long way.
Kudos for launching this site! Much needed for special needs warriors!
Thank you! We are really excited about it!