The School Days Begin

Back-to-school planning for parents of children with special needs such as bipolar disorder can be a bit overwhelming. So many things to consider! How early should I start the morning struggles to get my kid out the door? Oh, I forgot to get the doctor to write the note for the school nurse about my daughter’s prescription. Will my son’s teaching team really understand what it means to be 14 with bipolar disorder?

Well, parents, as you write out or mentally tick off your back-to-school list of worries and things to do, I would like to recommend a wonderful resource. 24: A Day in the Life of Bipolar Children and Their Families by Janice Papolos. This DVD (also available as an audio CD) “paints a revealing picture of a day in the life of children suffering with bipolar disorder, and of those who love them.” In this presentation, Janice talks about that all too familiar morning sluggishness, the anxiety of the phone calls from the school, problems with writing as well as homework woes in general. And – bonus! – this features a 14-minute presentation you can share with your child’s teaching team.