I have serious issues with my granddaughter not being in school. She has had problems from early on. There has been a lot of moving around with the family. Also, the mother and father are divorced but living together. She lays around most of the day watching TV and playing on the computer and does not like to go out of the house.
I think that this child going on 13 needs serious attention with professional help. How do I approach this issue with the parents? I don't want to take a chance on losing my son, but then again what about the granddaughter? I want her to have a normal life and at 13 this is certainly not normal. She is a beautiful girl and I love her deeply. I think that I am going to have to take an upper hand with this matter.
Also, you need to know that this has been going on for years. She would attend school for a couple of months and do good, then come down with a supposed illness that last the rest of the school year. My son has simply given up. Both of them are to blame. This poor girl will have no education and I am mighty afraid of her getting into trouble.
Please, all replies are welcome regardless of how you feel.
Thank you

Can you not report the parents to the education authority in your region? They can enforce school attendance and refer the family to deal with any issues that are affecting this. It can be anonymous if you wish to avoid bad feeling. I agree that something needs to be done. Good luck.

Thanks for your reply. You know actually I did email the school board twice and received no response.

I can't believe this! Most schools anymore are on parents like flies if the kids start missing too much. I know our school is; been there!
I wonder if your granddaughter is having problems and see doesn't want to confront them? Could be something trivial, but the world to her.
You need to contact the school's guidance counselor or someone in the office (a teacher) to get you where you need to go. At that age, I would think the state would be stepping in. The school board, in most cases, doesn't deal with truancy problems.
Definitely counseling is in order for the whole family. Something's not right. Are the parents afraid of her? Sounds like it; or they just don't want to deal with the problem at hand.
Best of luck. She's lucky to have such a caring grandmother!

No offense, but it sounds like her parents are so wrapped up in themselves that they burry their heads in the sand when it comes to your granddaughter. How sad. There is something going on and that poor girl needs someone to help her.

You shouldn't waste your time with the school board. Maybe try a guidance counselor like a PP said or the school principal. Also, have you tried taking your granddaughter out one on one, like for lunch or shopping or something. Maybe she needs to feel like somebody is paying attention to her and will open up if she feels safe. I don't know. Something needs to be done.

Dear HappyMom28,
I wish that I could have more one on one with her. But the problem is that we live 1000 miles apart. I did have a heart to heart with my son over the weekend and told him that it was time that I am now going to step in. I have stayed out of it to let you try to handle it, but nothing is happening, but she will have some guidence this year I will see to that if I have to make trips to see that it is done.
I should have mentioned also, that they have moved around alot, which doesn't help matters any.
Thanks again for your letter.

I think your having a consultation by yourself with a psychologist, who deals with adolescents and can guide you on how to proceed, would be helpful.