She made it on the bus all week. Praise God!

Californiablonde

Well-Known Member
This may be a jinx, but I am relieved and happy to say difficult child got to school on time every single day this week. Of course it was a short week due to the holiday on Monday, but four days in a row on the bus and making it to every class is a record for difficult child. The principal didn't have to come and pay a home visit at all this week. Thank goodness. She was getting really sick and tired of driving to my house and dragging difficult child's butt to school every day, but she is a determined woman. She kept on with it because she was sick of difficult child's excuses to sit at home.

difficult child didn't seem to be phased at all with these home visits. As a matter of fact, I think she rather liked them. On the days she missed the bus and couldn't make it to school, the principal had early morning meetings and couldn't make it over to bring difficult child to school for a couple of hours. Therefor she was missing her first few classes of the day and getting truancies. The payoff for difficult child? She got to sit at home and watch her favorite shows during that time while waiting to be escorted to school.

This week I decided to yank the cable cord out of the TV and take it with me to work each morning. Without that cord, difficult child can't watch anything. So now that she knows she can't sit at home and watch her favorite dvds while waiting for the principal to make housecalls, she has decided it's best to get on that bus and get to school on time. I am hoping it sticks. I hope, and pray, that something one of us is saying or doing (the principal, her teachers, the school psychiatric, me, my mom, etc) is finally getting through to her. Wish me luck for next week!
 

1905

Well-Known Member
Give her some prize every day she makes it. It doesn't have to cost money, or it can be cheap. Teen girls want little trinkets and lip gloss, nailpolish, snacks..ler her pick them.
 

Californiablonde

Well-Known Member
That's a good idea, Upallnight. This week didn't go so good. Monday she got on the bus alright. Yesterday she said she felt nauseas and refused to go. I wouldn't call her in sick. She has already been told many times by many people that nausea isn't a reason to stay home, unless she has a fever. She blew up my phone yesterday while I was at work with texts and calls. She wanted me to call her in sick but I refused. The principal picked her up and took her to school late. Today she complained of a headache and refused to go. Wouldn't take medicine when I texted her and told her to take some. The principal is busy, so my mom is coming and taking her to school a few hours late. She was doing so well. I don't know what the heck happened. And by the way, when I get home from work, her illness is mysteriously gone and she eats like a horse.
 

1905

Well-Known Member
Of course it is CB! What's her favorite thing? A snack? Give the teacher the snacks and she can have one as soon as she gets to her class. She needs immediate rewards. Be creative, she is fine and dandy staying home a few extra hours or even minutes. Be creative, find a way for her to be rewarded as soon as she gets on the bus. This is out of control. You have to stop this or make is even more uncomfortable to "miss the bus". It's a game to her, don't buy into this, be tough, don't go there with her. Just do it .
 
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