Pat's Answer

Hello, welcome to Ask Pat. Thank you for reaching out. 

It sounds like there is a lot going on at home and school for you right now.  You say there are issues in school, that are causing you a lot of worry and you want to get your parents to contact the school regarding these issues. You are worried that you may annoy your parents if you put too much pressure on them, and you say that your parents can change moods easily, so you are not sure how to get them to deal with what is going on in school. 

It is understandable you are worried and anxious. You have been so brave to trust us with your feelings. You have the right to seek help and support, and to talk about your thoughts and feelings. We are sorry to hear you feel unsure about whether you have asked your parents too much about something. It is always okay to ask for help when things feel overwhelming. You do not mention if you have spoken to a teacher in school about the issues, would that be something that you would feel comfortable doing?   

Talking and sharing your problems can really help and you have the right to be heard. Have you ever thought about when would be a good time to talk to one or both of your parents to let them know how worried you are about the issues in school and how everything is affecting you? Sometimes the people close to us do not realise the effect their behaviour can have on us. Maybe you would prefer to speak to someone outside your home, this could be someone in your extended family like an aunt or uncle or maybe a grandparent, or any other adult that you feel comfortable talking to. It is important to know that all families are different, but you do have the right to feel safe and happy in your home and in your school.    

There are some articles on the Childline website that you might find helpful. Here is the link www.childline.ie/home-and-families/    

You do not have to go through this alone. If you feel you cannot talk to somebody that you know just yet, then Childline is here for you and we really would love to listen to you. At Childline we focus on you and what is important to you. The services are free and available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Team do not judge anything you say or do and will listen to everything you wish to share. The ways in which you can get in contact with us are through the telephone service 1800 66 66 66, through the text service on 50101, or by web chat that you access through the website www.childline.ie.    

Thank you again for getting in touch and sharing how you are feeling, as we appreciate how hard it can be for some people. Mind yourself and know that Childline is here for you whenever you feel you want to share more.   

Take Care  

Pat