THEY WANTED TO SEND MY KINDERGARTNER TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION!

As a mother I was excited and nervous as this is my sons 1st year of Kindergarten. Academically I wasn't concerned as he is an extremely bright child and anyone who knows him will tell you that. So his first 4 days at the new school were good after all he came home with the highest color. That Friday, I was told Remington kicked, scratched, punched and spit on one of his teachers and that he was suspended that Monday. OMG...so the next week he returns to school and has more not so good days than good days and I must meet with superintendents, principals and teachers. All I was hearing was Remington slapped the teacher, he punched the principal...Remington, Remington, Remington.

I took all his priviledges away eg. TV, dining out, listening to the popular radio stations, use discipline and time outs everything to no avail. Then his father stepped in and he went to stay with his dad. He had a turn around and was spending more time in the classroom than out as prior to we would be called around 9/10A after dropping him off at 8A to come and pick him up because he attacked a teacher or a student.

As parents his father and I were very receptive to what the school staff was telling us. We also understood that while he is not a perfect child the behavior he exhibited at school was to an extreme we'd never experienced so we weren't sure how to handle the situation at home to curb his behavior at school.

We talked to him we tried just about everything. We had family members telling us to seek counseling. As a woman of faith and a Christian woman I was praying, I even wrote out scriptures that he and I would recite in the morning before school and I had him saying positive affirmations as I believe there is power in the spoken word.

The final meeting I attended at the school his dad asked maybe he isn't being challenged here, maybe it is something the school is doing that isn't working for him, and maybe he just has an issue with white people. That was the first time he was around so many at one time and their approach to discipline was slightly different than ours. I remember the Principal telling me he won't go into time out so we will start him off at like 2 minutes. I told her thats odd because he understands what time out is, he sat in time out for 10 15 minutes at home as it gets extended when he cries/whines while in time out. I told her he understands what it is and is capable of going to time out! When we became to question the school and their ability to handle Remington, at that point the school seemed to be less of a Remington advocate and more against him and us! I received a call that a counselor was available to meet with him and I was all for it.

Come to find out the counselor was from Hartgrove Medical Clinic. They wanted to send Remington there for 2 weeks in lieu of school to figure out what was "wrong" with him. Hartgrove is a mental institution. Initially we agreed and then we quickly changed our minds as we thought as parents the boy has yet to see a therapist and the school hasn't changed any of the methods they use to deal with our child. I also refuse to allow my son to be given any medication and I cannot control what is done to him when I am not present. Then matters became worst at the school. They were painting our son to be a monster who had a mental problem and viewing us as unfit parents unwilling to explore all possibilites which was absolutely and utterly false.

In the midst of all of this I was praying for my son, speaking life into the situation and even laying hands on him. I also attended Living Word Christian Center and the Pastor laid hands on a little boy and told his mom to read Psalm 91 over him for 7 days. Although Remington was at his dads house I read Psalm 91 as in the spirit space and time do not exist! Then I realized that I had to increase my faith in the situation. For I was praying and speaking life but I was still full of worry and doubt. Finally I watched Creflo Dollar and he spoke and said sometimes you just have to plead the blood over a situation and then shut up and I did just that.

We also transferred him to another school and we have seen a complete turn around in him as he has been able to stay in class/school all day from start to finish. Yes he had a few bumps in the road but overall he has done a 150 degree turn around and the full 180 degree turn around is on the way! I am confident and assured of that in faith!!!!

I share this for this reason. I recognize that I am raising a black boy that will turn into a black man. His school which consisted primarily of white faculty was quick to put a label on my child and even willing to send him to a mental institution. They even told us if the counselor had to come back out and decided that he needed to be hospitalized that is what they were going to do! That is the point when his father and I knew he needed to attend a new school.

As parents understand that you have options. Be realistic with what is going on with your child and be willing to seek help. Nevertheless don't take at complete face value what someone tells you about your child especially when you know it is outside of their chracter. We have options and rights and our first responsibility is to be an advocate for our children. They need to be confident and reassured that their parents have their back and are there for them at all times.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials