About Natalie-RO

Natalie-RO

Hey @anotherusername Thank you for sharing this with us and for being so open and honest, it sounds like it has been an extremely difficult time for you and your daughter and we are really glad that you have found us and have been able to reach out for support. I’m sorry to hear that you have been experiencing so much pain, uncertainty and instability as a family, it sounds like you have been dealing with a lot recently and I can hear how hard you are trying to support your daughter and family. I was wondering if you felt comfortable sharing more about what your daughters supports look like and whether she is receiving any professional support or any support from her father or family? I know that you mentioned that she sometimes sleeps on the streets and was wondering if she has any other safe places that she can stay such as with her father or other family members? It sounds like you have been trying really hard to navigate through this and do right by everyone in your life. I wanted to let you know that there are really great services available that might be able to provide you with more support such as Carer Gateway. We also have a free one-on-one support service where you can speak with a professional parenting and family coach to get some more support. Headspace is also another great support service and they have resources for parents and carers that you may find helpful. I’m also mindful of the impact that this is having on you and was wondering what your supports look like and whether you’ve spoken to a GP or mental health professional? It’s important to remember that your health and wellbeing is just as important, and you don’t have to do this alone. We are really glad that you have reached out for some support and I want to remind you that we are all here to listen and support you during this tough time and you don’t have to do this alone. Also, we have sent you an email to check in, could you please keep an eye out for that?

Natalie-RO

Hey @Mama_Bear05 I just wanted to jump in and check in and see how you are going? It sounds like you have been doing such a terrific job of supporting your son and have been trying really hard to help him as best you can. In saying that, I can hear how challenging this has been for you and I’m mindful of the impact this might be having on you too. There are avenues of support available for you if think it might help you to support both your son and yourself. If you would like some additional support, we have a free one-on-one coaching service for parents and carers that you may find helpful. Remember that we are all here for you.

Natalie-RO

Hi @NettaMarie Thank you for sharing more about your situation. It sounds like you have been tremendously supportive and have done a great job of being there for her and getting her the help she needs. It is clear how much she means to you and she is very lucky to have someone like you in her life. It is understandable how challenging this all must be for you, I was wondering if you have any support or if you’ve been able to talk to anyone about this, whether it be family, a friend, GP or mental health professional? I’m mindful of the impact this must be having on you and want to remind you that you don’t have to do this alone and there are support and services available if you need. It is good to hear that you have booked a counselling session, it sounds like this was really helpful for her previously. I was wondering if there was a way for you to be involved in these counselling sessions to some degree so that you can learn about and be aware of your Granddaughter's triggers, self-soothers and boundary setting strategies so that you can support her in these ways specifically? I know that you mentioned you were looking for some advice on how you could get her to talk to you more about this and wanted to let you know that we have an article on effective communications and teenagers which might be helpful to have a read through. It includes some information along with a list of things to try. I’m sorry that you are feeling inadequate and want to remind you that these are really difficult concerns to navigate and it sounds like you have been doing everything you can to support your Granddaughter – even by reaching out shows how much you care and want to support her through this. I was wondering if it may be helpful to create a safety plan together? Or maybe you can get some support from the counsellor on creating one together. We have some suggestions here that might help guide this conversation.

Natalie-RO

Hey @joec2009 I wanted to check in with you to see how you're feeling today? It sounds like both you and your wife are dealing with a lot right now and it is understandable how difficult this must be for you both. I'm really glad that you found us and were able to reach out for some support. I was wondering if you would consider seeing a GP or a mental health professional to get some more support for yourself? No one should have to deal with this alone and it's just as important for you to be receiving support and talking to someone about this. We found a list of local crisis services that you can reach out to here. We also found a mental health support service specific to Americans called NAMI where you can reach out for some support. I'm mindful of the impact that this must be having on the whole family and was wondering if you have looked into, or if you were receiving any support for the whole family? We wanted to share a service called Family Initiative with you that provides support services for the whole family. There is also a list of autism resources and services in your area that might also be helpful. I also wanted to remind you that we sent an email to you yesterday to check in with you, could you please have a look for the email? Please let us know if you had trouble accessing it. We want to remind you that you aren't alone, and we are all here to listen and support you through this.

Natalie-RO

Hi @Ucbe01 Welcome to the online community. Thank you for sharing this with us, it sounds like it has been a challenging time for you and your husband, so we are glad that you have found us. I can tell how much you care about your daughter and want to help her - she is very lucky to have you! It is understandable how difficult this must be for you and your family, it sounds like you have been trying hard to support her and be there for her which must be hard if she hasn’t been communicating with you. I know that you mentioned that she has been sad and was wondering if you were aware of anything that may be causing her to feel that way? Has your daughter been speaking to anyone about this or receiving any professional support? If not, would you consider taking her to see a GP for a check-up and to share some of your concerns? Your GP may even be able to provide a referral for her to see a mental health professional for some more support if needed. I’m also curious as to whether you have spoken to her school or if they have raised any concerns? Would you consider speaking to them about your concerns and to see if they can provide any support or if she could meet with the school counsellor if they have one? I wanted to share this thread with you that I thought could be helpful to have a read through, it has several questions about puberty and responses from a professional along with links to more information and resources. We also have a really great article on puberty and teenagers that I thought might be helpful for you to have a look through. It includes a list of some things to try to support your teen during puberty along with some tips on connecting with your teen, creating boundaries, and communication. I am also mindful of the impact that this must be having on you and your husband and was wondering what your supports looked like and if you’ve spoken to anyone about this like a family member, friend, GP or mental health professional? If you wanted some more support, we have a free and confidential coaching service for parents and carers where you can meet with a professional family and parenting coach for some one-on-one support.

Natalie-RO · ‎12-23-2022

Hi @Coffee456 I’m sorry to hear that you have been experiencing this, I can only imagine how difficult and challenging this must be for you, especially since it has also been impacting your son. It is understandable that you are concerned about your son and I can tell how much of a caring and protective mother you are. I was wondering if your son had any support or whether he was speaking to anyone about this? I know you mentioned that you were worried about his mental health and was wondering if you could take him to a GP and get a mental health plan or a referral for another mental health professional? It sounds like it has also been a lot for you to deal with and I can imagine the impact that this must be having on you, are you receiving any support, or have you spoken to someone like a friend, family member, GP or mental health professional? It is important to remember that your wellbeing is just as important, and you deserve all the support during this time. If you wanted to speak to someone or want some more support, you can call Relationships Australia or you could also speak to a Family and Parent coaching professional through our free one-on-one coaching service. I was wondering whether you have spoken to her father about this and shared your concerns and whether he has been able to support you with this? I also wanted to let you know that we have sent you an email, could you please keep an eye out for that?

Natalie-RO · ‎12-19-2022

Hey @Mrsemgr Thank you for reaching out and for sharing this with us. It sounds like it has been a very difficult time for you and it is understandable how concerning this must be for you. I can tell how much you care about your son and want the best for him and he is lucky to have you. I was wondering whether your son has been seeing anyone, either a school counsellor, GP or mental health professional? If not, is this something you would consider? If you have a GP or family doctor, they can be great to speak to about this and can provide additional referrals if needed. I know that you mentioned that your son hasn’t been attending school and has failed maths and English which is a requirement for vet and tafe. Does this mean that he will be returning to school next year? If so, are you able to speak to the school next year and ask them for some support? I also know that you mentioned that he hasn’t been home for over a week now but has still been contacting you, are you still in contact with him and know if he is safe? I can only imagine how extremely difficult this must be for you and to be unsure about where and who he is with. It sounds like his behaviour has been an ongoing concern for you this year, I was wondering if you have been able to speak to your him about this, or been able to express your concerns with him? We have some really great articles and tips on building effective communications and trust with teenagers that may be helpful to have a look through. We also have a free one-on-one coaching service where you can speak to and get some support from a professional family and parenting coach. It is understandable how difficult this must be for you, and how concerned you must be. Do you have any support with this or have you been able to speak to anyone about this, whether it’s a friend, family member, GP or mental health professional? Remember that your wellbeing is just as important! Remember that we are all here for you.

Natalie-RO · ‎12-16-2022

Hey @Adelaide314 Thank you for reaching out for some support, your friend is lucky to have you! Do you know if your friend has a family doctor or a local GP? Speaking to a GP could be helpful and if more support is needed, they can provide more appropriate and specific referrals to other health and mental health professionals. Do you know if there is anything specific that your friend is concerned about?

Natalie-RO · ‎12-09-2022

We’re getting closer to the end of the year, and what a year it has been! As school holidays have begun or are beginning, we know that this time of year can be a very busy and difficult time for parents are carers. Over the next few months, many important celebrations will take place: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and Chinese New Year. Even for those of us who don't celebrate holidays at this time, the end of a year can bring up complex emotions and struggles for many. - Grieving loved ones who are no longer with us - Spending time with family - Increased triggers for drinking alcohol, taking drugs and gambling - Struggling with money, financial stress and gift giving - Support services are shutting down, and mental health professionals are taking leave - Loneliness - School holiday stress and pressure - Increased carer or family responsibilities If you’re feeling nervous or worried about the next couple of months and wondering how you will get through it and support your family, remember that you aren’t alone, and help is available. We understand that this can be a difficult time for parents and carers and have put together a list of resources to make getting the support you need easier. Parenting and carer support ReachOut coaching service provides access to free and confidential one-on-one support with a professional family and parenting coach. Raising Children provides information and resources on nutrition, development, behaviour and parenting children of all ages. Raising children also has information, tips and resources for single parents Deadly Tots provides information, resources, parenting courses and community events for Aboriginal families. Relationships Australia NSW offers a range of support services, courses and programs to help single parents and their children cope with change after a family separation Parentline offers free telephone counselling services to parents and carers all around Australia. In some states, Parentline may also offer face-to-face counselling, webchat, parenting courses, and provide resources for positive wellbeing for families. Parentline ACT: 02 6287 3833 9 am-5 pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays) Parent Line NSW: 1300 1300 52 9 am-9 pm, Monday to Friday; 4 pm-9 pm, weekends Parentline Queensland and Northern Territory: 1300 30 1300 8 am-10 pm, 7 days Parent Helpline South Australia: 1300 364 100 24 hours, 7 days Parentline Tasmania: 1300 808 178 24 hours, 7 days Parentline Victoria: 13 22 89 8 am-12 am, 7 days (including public holidays) Ngala Parenting Line (WA): 08 9368 9368 (metro) / 1800 111 546 (regional) 8am-8pm, 7 days Financial aid and Christmas hampers The gifts, food, parties and expectations can all start to add up. If you’re not able to spend money comfortably, go easy on yourself – the expectations can add to and even prolong the stress. Instead, do something meaningful for others and give gifts such as a handpicked care package, a babysitting voucher or an offer to help with the huge pile of dishes after Christmas lunch. If you’re struggling to afford essential items like food, medication and transport costs, here are some services that might be worth contacting. Ask Izzy is a national directory for food, emergency relief and community lunches/dinners. Salvos Assistance Line can be contacted at 1300 371 288 and provide financial assistance for essential items. Salvo's food hamper and gift assistance can be contacted for assistance with Christmas gifts. Vinnies directory for national food and emergency relief services National debt helpline access to financial counsellor/advocate Family and relationship struggles The end of the year and new year can bring stressful relationship challenges – dealing with grief and loss, coping with complicated family dynamics or spending time away from loved ones. Sadly, it can also be a time when domestic and family violence surfaces. No matter what it is you’re going through, know that we’re here to listen and point you in the right direction if you need emergency help. 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 provides crisis counselling, information and referral for anyone experiencing domestic and family violence. They also have a local service directory on their website. Family Relationship Advice Line 1800 050 321 is a helpline for anyone dealing with separation issues. They offer advice and information on maintaining healthy relationships, navigating family conflicts and provide referrals to support further. Griefline 1300 845 745 is a helpline for people coping with grief and loss. They also have online forums and support groups. Listening Ear 02 9477 6777 is a non crisis hotline for people experiencing loneliness and isolation. Anyone who needs someone to talk to is welcome to call them. Homelessness If you find yourself without a safe place to sleep, there’s a good chance you’ve got a lot on your plate. It’s overwhelming to figure out your next steps, so consider contacting one of these state-based homelessness services. ACT OneLink 1800 176 468 NSW Link2Home 1800 152 152 VIC Crisis Accommodation 1800 825 955 QLD Homeless Hotline 1800 474 753 WA EntryPoint 1800 124 684 SA Homelessness Connect 1800 003 308 TAS Housing Connect 1800 800 588 NT Shelter Me website Drug and alcohol support Celebrating with friends and family might mean exposure to drugs and alcohol will increase, which can be challenging if you’re limiting your consumption or recovery from addiction. If you need support, information or a referral, it might be helpful to get in touch with your local alcohol and drug service. National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline 1800 250 015 is free to call and available 24/7. They provide counselling, treatment and information on support services. Turning Point offers online counselling and a peer forum so you can connect with people who understand what you’re going through and support your recovery. Family Drug Support Australia 1300 368 186 is a telephone support service for families affected by alcohol and drug issues. The Daybreak App can help connect you with others changing their relationship with alcohol. Giving back Christmas can be a really challenging time for many, and supporting those who may be going through a difficult time can be especially rewarding. For example, you could serve a meal at a community centre, take gifts to an approved charity accepting Christmas gifts, or visit people at your nursing home. Some councils can also offer a community Christmas party you can join. Here are some volunteering opportunities if you’re interested in giving back to your community. Christmas Volunteering Opportunities SecondBite The Smith Family Salvos Christmas Donation Drive Helpful articles Telephone support for parents Single parenting Effective communication and teenagers Getting help for teenagers Blended families Family conflict 10 tips for surviving school holidays Supporting your young person during the holidays Self-care tips for parents Crisis services Lifeline 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78 13Yarn 13 96 76

Natalie-RO · ‎12-07-2022

Hey @Billi Just wanted to let you know that we have edited your post and removed the link you included as outlined in our Community Guidelines

Natalie-RO · ‎11-23-2022

Hey @proudmommyof2 Welcome to the online forums! Thank you for sharing about yourself and family, I can tell how much you love your children and want the best for them – they are very lucky to have you! I was wondering if you felt comfortable sharing more about what you’re feeling and your situation? I know that you mentioned that you took on too much, could you help us understand what you mean by this? We are really glad that you have reached out and are wanting to connect with other parents and get some support. Do you have any supports in your life or have you been able to talk about what you’re feeling with anyone, either a close friend/family member or a health professional?

Natalie-RO · ‎11-21-2022

Hi @Banjolover_6 Thank you for sharing this with us and for being so open and honest. It sounds like it has been a very difficult journey for you and your family and it is understandable that you’re feeling this way. It sounds like you and your husband have both been very supportive for both your 16-year-old and her daughter – they are both very lucky to have you! It is understandable that you’re feeling this way and that your husband is also anxious about leaving them both. I was wondering if you have been able to speak to your husband and express how you are feeling? I know that you mentioned that you’re feeling like your life has been put on hold which is understandable, it sounds like there has been a lot of changes going on and that you have all had to adjust to. It is understandable that the first time taking a trip away without them must bring up a range of feelings, but I was wondering if you think that after this trip, these feelings and concerns might change, making it easier to organise and go on more trips together? I also know that you mentioned that the ex-boyfriend was manipulative and abusive and was wondering if they are both safe from him and whether they still had any contact with him? Whilst you are away, do you have a safety plan in place for them both and will she have access to support if needed? Thank you again for sharing this with us.

Natalie-RO · ‎11-16-2022

Hi @annon123 Thank you for sharing this with us. It sounds like you’re going through a really difficult time at the moment and it is understandable how concerning and worrying this must be for you. I can tell how much you care about your daughter and it’s great that you have been rallying so much support to help her, she is very lucky to have you! I know that you mentioned that she is enrolled at a new school and was wondering if you could connect with the school. It could be good to speak to them and see what supports they can provide and whether there is a school counsellor that she could connect with. It is understandable how worrying this must be for you to happen again, I know you mentioned that you had previously had a conversation with her about this. I wanted to share this article about effective communication and teenagers that might be helpful. It provides some information and tips on communication along with a list of things to try. I also wanted to let you know that ReachOut has a free coaching service that provides one-on-one support to parents and carers. I can imagine how stressful and concerning this must be for you and how much it must be impacting you. Are you receiving any support at the moment from either family or through a GP or Mental health professional? We have also sent you an email to check in, could you please keep your eye out for that? Remember that we are all here for you!

Natalie-RO · ‎11-02-2022

Hey @brokenmom Welcome to our Parents Forums! Thank you for sharing this with us. I’m sorry to hear about what happened on Halloween. It sounds like it must have been very confusing and hurtful for you. It is understandable how upsetting this must be for you and how it has caused some anxiety. I was wondering whether you had any supports or if there was anyone that you could speak to about this? I was wondering if you have spoken to your daughter about this to gain some clarity around what happened and to express how you’re feeling? Do you think that speaking to her would help ease some of your anxiety around going with them to cut down Christmas trees? I also wanted to check in to see how you're feeling after sharing this?

Natalie-RO · ‎11-02-2022

Hi @Denzil I just wanted to chime in to check in with you. I know that you mentioned that your daughter has been struggling with the medication and was wondering if you could share more about what those struggles look like? I wanted to share this article with you around how to help your teen with ADHD that I thought might be helpful for you to have a look through. It includes some information along with some strategies that could be useful. I also wanted to share another article that we have on what puberty is like for teens with ADHD. I can imagine that this must make it challenging for your family at times. I’m curious as to what supports your family might have and whether there has been support from a psychiatrist? I know that you also mentioned that you have been struggling and wanted to check in to see how you were and whether you had any support? Remember that we are all here for you.

Natalie-RO · ‎10-26-2022

Hi @SAmom Thank you so much for sharing this with us and for reaching out for some support. I can tell how much you care about your children and want the best for them - they are very lucky to have you. I’m sorry that you have been experiencing this. It is understandable how difficult this decision must be for you and you shouldn’t have to make it alone. I was wondering what supports you had and whether you had any family or professional support that you could speak to about this? If so, are you able to get some support in making this decision? Whilst we can’t help you make this decision, I wanted to provide a thread from another community member who was in a similar situation that I thought could be helpful. I know that you mentioned that there wasn’t going to be a funeral and was wondering if you could still do something with your children to honour his death? I also wanted to include an article around the grief of losing a parent that I thought could be helpful to have a read through.

Natalie-RO · ‎10-12-2022

Hi @PatDad It sounds like you have been doing such an incredible job at getting your son some help and support. It’s really great to hear that you have found a GP that specialises in mental health for teens. I wanted to check in with you to see how you are doing and how you’ve felt after sharing this with us? It sounds like you have been trying very hard and it is understandable how much of an impact this is having for you, so it’s important to remember that your health and wellbeing is also important. Again I just want to remind you that you are doing such a great job, your son is very lucky to have such a caring and supportive father. Please remember that we are all here for you.

Natalie-RO · ‎09-12-2022

Hi @ASD-ADHDMuma Welcome to ReachOut's Parents and Carer forums! Thank you for sharing this with us, I'm sorry to hear that you are having a bad day but I'm really glad that you have found our online forums. It must be very challenging for you to have three neurodivergent children and it is completely understandable that you’re feeling this way. I can tell how much you love your children and they are all very lucky to have you. I was wondering whether you and your family were receiving any support at the moment? I know you mentioned that you have been very stressed and that you've been having difficulties with your mental health and was wondering whether you’ve ever spoken to a GP or mental health professional about this? It is important that you are also receiving support!

Natalie-RO · ‎09-12-2022

Hi @fatherneedshelp Welcome to ReachOut's Parent & Carer forums. Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. It is clear how concerned you are about your son and I can tell how much you care about him and want to help. It also sounds like his recent behaviour has triggered memories around your own painful past which must be heightening the fears you have for your son. Whilst our service and resources are Australian specific, we wanted to share some important resources around substance use specific to your community which include Drugfree and Substance Use Resources I also wanted to share this article with you about setting realistic boundaries with your teenager that I thought would be helpful for you to have a look over. I am also mindful of the impact this must be having on you and wondered what your own support network looks like?

Natalie-RO · ‎09-07-2022

Hi @Annttngr We are relieved to hear that you are safe! I understand how hard it must be for you to distance yourself but it’s great that you have and have created these boundaries. Creating boundaries is really important and it's important that you look after yourself and safety.

Natalie-RO · ‎09-07-2022

Hi @Ihearyou Thank you for sharing your story! I’m sorry to hear that you have been experiencing this, it sounds like it has been a difficult time for you. I just wanted to check in with you to see how you are doing?

Natalie-RO · ‎09-07-2022

Hi @Mamabear099, Welcome to our online community! It sounds like it's been a difficult time for you and I'm sorry to hear that you've been going through this. I understand how exhausting and frustrating this must be for you and it sounds like you've been trying really hard to get your toddler to bed. I was wondering if you have spoken to a GP about this? If you haven't, I really encourage you to reach out to your GP as they may be able to help you and provide you with some support. I have also included a link to Parentline that may also be able to provide you with some support or appropriate referrals.

Natalie-RO · ‎09-07-2022

Hi @Justme2022 Welcome to our online community! I’m sorry to hear that you have been experiencing this, I can tell how much you care about your granddaughter and how supportive you have been for her. She’s very lucky to have you in her life. I understand how concerning this must be for you, it sounds like you have been trying really hard to provide support for her and create these boundaries at home. I have included a link to our online coaching service for parents and families that provides professional one-on-one support. I know that you mentioned that it is difficult to communicate with her and have these conversations with her and I thought this article would be helpful to share about effective communication and teenagers I was wondering if you had any other support for yourself or whether you have considered speaking to a GP or mental health professional? It sounds like it has been a very challenging time for you and it’s important to make sure that you are also receiving support. Again, I just wanted to remind you that you are doing such a great job and I can tell how much you care and love your granddaughter. Even by reaching out to us shows how much you want to help her and want to support her. She is very lucky to have someone so special in her life.

Natalie-RO · ‎09-07-2022

Hi @ethanbrody02 Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. Given your situation, it sounds like it would be helpful to speak to a local medical practitioner/doctor as they will be able to provide expert medical advice. We also needed to remove the link that you included in your post as it does not align with our community guidelines.

Natalie-RO · ‎09-05-2022

Hi @Dannii1978 Welcome to our online community! I’m so sorry to hear that both you and your son have been experiencing this, it sounds like it has been a very difficult and challenging time for you both. I can tell how much you care about your son and how supportive you have been for him, he is very lucky to have you! It sounds like it has been ongoing and I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t received much support from the schools, that must be really difficult for you to not have that support. School is meant to be a safe place for young people and I’m really sorry that your son has had such a difficult experience and been bullied. Bullying is never okay, and I understand how hard it must be for you to watch. It sounds like you have always been very supportive and provided such a safe space for him at home. I know that you mentioned someone came to your house and put nails under your car, I was wondering whether something like this has happened again and whether it is safe at home? I understand how difficult this must be for both of you, especially since it has been going on for years. I know you said that your son has been seeing a psychologist which is really great. I was wondering whether you had any support available for yourself or whether you’ve considered speaking to a GP or a mental health professional? Again I just wanted to remind you that you are doing such a great job of rallying support for your son and he is so lucky to have such a caring and protective mother. We are all here for you.

Natalie-RO · ‎09-05-2022

Hi @Anxious_Mum77 Thank you for reaching out! It sounds like you have a really good relationship with your daughter and it’s great to know that she was able to call you when this happened, it is a real reflection of how supportive you are and how much she trusts you. It must have been a difficult situation for her to be in and it sounds like she handled it really well and did the right thing. It must have been hard to stand up to her friends and I understand how this would add to her concerns with seeing her friends again at school. I have included an article about talking about bad friendships along with one around peer pressure. I was wondering if you felt comfortable speaking to the school to raise your concerns and see if they could offer any support?

Natalie-RO · ‎08-24-2022

Hi @Hope23 Welcome to our online community! I’m so sorry to hear that you are experiencing this, it must be very difficult for you to not know how your daughter is and to have no contact with her. I can tell how much you really care about your daughter and her safety. I’m aware of how difficult this must be for you and how concerned you must be for her. Have you raised these concerns with your ex-husband or attempted to express your concerns about her safety to her? I know you mentioned that you can’t contact her but was wondering if you could contact anyone that she is close with? Are you aware of whether she has any supports at the moment or if she is seeking professional support for her diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder? You have provided such incredible ongoing support for your daughter and I understand how challenging this must be for you. I was wondering if you had any support available for yourself or if you had anyone that you could speak to like a GP or a mental health professional?

Natalie-RO · ‎08-24-2022

Hi @TimTam78 Welcome to our online community! It sounds like the changes in your daughter’s behaviour and your relationships must be a challenging and confusing time for you. I understand how concerned you must be for her and by reaching out for some support shows how much you care about your daughter and want to help her. I understand your concerns, it sounds like you have been really supportive of her with both school and trying to accommodate family activities so that she will join. It’s also great to hear that you haven’t been pushing it and have been respecting her boundaries. I was wondering if you have you tried speaking to her about your concerns or asked her why she hasn’t wanted to participate in these activities? Have you noticed if your daughter has been more withdrawn with friends and in other situations or mostly at home? You mentioned that you met with the school yesterday, has her teacher raised any concerns prior to your parent teacher meeting? Is there an opportunity for you to speak with her teacher or the school about your concerns and see if they can provide any ongoing support such as a school counsellor. It might also be helpful to meet with a GP for a general check-up and to see if they can offer any support or referrals if needed. I have included an article about effective communication with teenagers that provides some information along with things to try and tips to support your daughter. I also wanted to let you know that ReachOut has an online one-on-one support service for parents. I just wanted to remind you that you’re doing a great job and from what you’ve shared I can tell how supportive you have been for her and how much you care about her. She’s very lucky to have such a caring and supportive mother!

Natalie-RO · ‎08-19-2022

Hi @Emily1980, Welcome to our online community forums! I’m really sorry to hear that you and your children have been experiencing this, it must be really distressing to know that this is happening to your daughter and it sounds like it has been a really difficult time for both you and your daughter. Thank you for sharing your story with us, I understand how difficult this must be for you and it takes a lot of strength to reach out to us, it really shows how much you love your children and they are all very lucky to have you! It’s great to know that you have contacted DHS, given the situation it was very appropriate and shows how much you care about your children. I was wondering if your daughter has access to any professional support from a GP or a mental health professional? Or if this is something you would be able to provide her with access to? There are also some really good online services that could offer some support like headspace. Have you considered contacting the school to explore how they can support you and your daughter with what is happening to her as well? I also wanted to ask you weather you had any support for yourself or would consider seeking some professional support? Also, we have sent you an email so could you please keep an eye out for that.

Natalie-RO · ‎08-08-2022

Hi @Imaleo18, I’m sorry to hear that you have been experiencing this, it is completely understandable that you would be feeling drained. But the fact you are reaching out for support really shows how much you care about your daughter. I wanted to let you know that we have an online coaching service - it's free one-on-one service for parents and might be helpful to get some strategies in place to help you cope with and hopefully improve things for you and your daughter. Also, we've sent you an email with some additional info, so keep an eye out for that.

Date Registered	‎08-03-2022 09:42 AM
Date Last Visited	Wednesday
Total Messages Posted	30
Total Likes Received	1

Online Status	Offline
Date Last Visited	Wednesday

About Natalie-RO

About Natalie-RO

About Natalie-RO

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