My Kid Hates School!
If your child is saying they hate school...
or everything around school has started to feel like a drag
...you don’t need a 10-year plan.
You need a way to make sense of what’s happening—right now.
This isn’t about pulling your kids out of school
And it’s not about committing to anything long-term.
Some families will stay in school.
Some will make changes.
Some will explore something different.
That’s not the point of this.
The point is this:
When school isn’t working, everything starts to blur together:
- your child’s resistance
- your own urgency
- outside pressure
- questions about the future
It’s hard to tell what’s actually going on...
and even harder to know what to do next.
You've tried everything!
They're not listening
I don't want to give up on them!
I need solutions that will work
This is a short reset to help you sort it out
Three simple days.
No overwhelm.
No big decisions required.
Just a way to step out of the pressure long enough to:
- see what’s really happening
- understand where the friction is
- and figure out a next step that actually makes sense for your family
Why listen to me?
I didn’t come to this from one path.
I started very mainstream—sending my kids to school.
When I finally noticed how miserable they were
— and I stopped tryiing to coerce them to fit in, I pulled them out.
Fully intending to send them back.
We just needed more breathing room. More playtime.
From there, I started learning more about what kids really need...
and what adult life actually requires.
And I kept matching that up with what school had to offer.
Two of my now grown kids never went back to school. At one point, my youngest went to high school for a year and a half—because she wanted some of those experiences.
Now, on the other side...
I can clearly see:
- what actually mattered
- what didn’t
- and how different that is for every family
I’ve also seen this play out in lots of different ways with other parents.
There isn’t one right answer.
But there is a way to look at your situation more clearly.
Your 3 Step Solution
1
Step Out of the Pressure
When school isn’t working,
the urgency isn’t coming from your child.
They’re feeling overwhelmed and disconnected.
The urgency belongs to you—
because you’ve been taught something is at risk.
We’ll slow that down and step out of the loop where:
they pull away → you push → they pull away more.
You don’t need a plan yet.
You need a pause.
2
Change
the Environment
(Not the Child)
When kids resist, it’s usually not a motivation problem - even though it looks like that at first!
It’s friction.
Too much pressure.
Too little autonomy.
Or just burnout.
Instead of trying to get them to engage, we’ll look at:
- what’s actually happening during the day
- where things feel easier vs harder
- and how small shifts can change the dynamic quickly
3
Rethink What “Counts”
Right now, it probably feels like: nothing is happening
—or not enough is happening.
But you’re likely looking for learning in very specific ways.
We’ll zoom out and look at:
- what is happening
- what skills are already in play
- and how to recognize progress without forcing it to look like school
I know...
“It can feel like everyone else’s kid is keeping up.
Meanwhile, your kid is tired of it.
They’ve checked out of the whole thing.
They’re just ... DONE.
You just need a Reset!
1.
Take a deep breath - we can fix this!
2.
Watch the three videos
3.
Incorporate a few changes
4.
Set up a call with me if you need to bounce ideas off someone (who won't say, "just make them!")
5.
Enjoy the Summer with your kids!
What People Say About Coaching with Sue Patterson
