Count ME In Maine

08/31/2026

It's back to school season. It can be hard to go from summer routines and activities into new classrooms with new classmates and new teachers.

And we know you can do hard things!

08/28/2026

If getting to school is hard, don't wait until staying home becomes a habit to reach out.

Your child's teacher, advisor, counselor, or another trusted adult can help you look at the whole picture.

Start the conversation with three simple questions:

1. What are we seeing at home?

Share what mornings, evenings, and school conversations look like.

2. What are you seeing at school?

Ask about attendance patterns, friendships, classes, transitions, and connections with adults.

3. What is one thing we can try next?

You don't need a perfect plan.

You need a starting point.

When families and schools work together early, they can identify barriers, build connections, and help students get back on track.

Every student counts. Every day matters. Every connection helps.

08/27/2026

When school feels hard, “Go to school” can feel impossible.

Instead, help your child focus on the next small step.

Maybe it's:

👟 Getting dressed

🥣 Eating breakfast

🚗 Getting in the car

🚪 Walking through the school doors

👋 Saying hello to a trusted adult

📚 Getting through first period

🤝 Meeting a friend

The goal isn't to make the entire school day feel easy overnight.

The goal is to help your child move through the discomfort:

“I can do this.”

Talk with the school about ways to make arrival, transitions, or difficult parts of the day more predictable.

Small steps can rebuild confidence.

And confidence can help make the next school day a little easier.

08/26/2026

What do you say when your child refuses to go to school?

When emotions are high, it can be hard to know what to say.

Try:

💬 “I can see that this feels really hard today.”

💬 “I'm not going to argue with you while you're this upset.”

💬 “When you're ready, I want to understand what's making school hard.”

💬 “Let's figure out one thing that could make tomorrow easier.”

Supporting your child does not mean giving up on attendance.

It means helping them move toward school while also understanding what is getting in the way.

Connection first. Problem-solving next.

08/25/2026

The start of the school year is a great time for families to talk about attendance goals together.

A simple family conversation can help children understand:
• Why school attendance matters
• What routines support success
• Who can help when challenges arise

You don't need a perfect plan.Just a shared commitment to showing up and staying connected.

08/25/2026

Your child keeps saying, “My stomach hurts,” on school mornings.

It can be tempting to think, “They just don't want to go.”

Instead, pause and look for the pattern.

Does it happen:

📚 Before a particular class?

🚌 On bus days?

👥 After a problem with a friend?

📝 Before tests or presentations?

🌙 Sunday nights?

🏫 After a vacation or illness?

🚪 At drop-off?

Physical symptoms are real—even when stress or worry may be contributing to them.

Pay attention to when the problem happens and what happens right before it.

Then share what you're noticing with your child's school.

A simple conversation can turn:

“They won't go to school.”

into:

“Let's figure out what's getting in the way.”

That shift matters.

08/24/2026

In our area, teachers are getting ready for their students this week. Check out this great tool for getting students and families ready for school! Link to google drive copy in the comments.

08/24/2026

When your child says, “I’m not going to school,” what do you hear?

Defiance?

Or a signal that something is hard?

School avoidance can be connected to anxiety, friendship problems, bullying, academic struggles, overwhelm, transitions, exhaustion, or simply feeling like school isn't a place where your child feels successful or connected.

Before asking, “How do I make them go?”, try asking:

💬 “What part of school feels hardest right now?”

💬 “When did this start?”

💬 “Is there something happening at school that you're worried about?”

💬 “What would make tomorrow a little easier?”

You don't have to solve the whole problem in one conversation.

Start with connection. Listen for the need behind the behavior.

Every student counts. Every day matters. Every connection helps.

08/23/2026

Sometimes going to school is hard. Bookmark this link for one of those days.

 It can be stressful when kids flat-out refuse to go to school. Your child might be complaining about stomachaches every day, begging to stay home.

08/20/2026

Back-to-school preparation isn't just about supplies. It's also about sorting out the logistics as schedules change--transportation plans, after-school routines, and who your child can go to if they need help during the school day. Feeling prepared can reduce anxiety and build confidence.