Back to school?

Normally at this time of year, Manda would have had all her school supplies together, pretty cover sheets on her binders and two weeks worth of outfits organized and ready for September.

This year will be the hardest, not only because its her senior year but because she can no longer handle the load she used to.  I've sent an email this week to her principal, guidance counselor and school psychologist asking to meet regarding an IEP (Individualized Education Plan).

Everyone was understanding when Manda became suicidal this winter and I had to take her out of school for two weeks for an outpatient group therapy program.  She did improve, especially when her psychiatrist added Lithium to her daily intake of pills.

But a couple weeks ago she started to feel off again.  I felt it and saw it in her eyes.  And it scared me.  This time when I took her to the ER, the doctors decide to admit Manda to their adolescent psychiatric unit based on her past history.   She did well and was discharged last week but has absolutely no desire to start school.    Her 3-book summer assignment for an AP class has not been looked at.  I've already told her she can drop the class and stick with the basics this year.  She gets upset because she has such high goals for herself (she wants to be a surgeon and already has her pre-med and med school colleges selected) but at the same time, she gets panicky thinking about the work because "my brain doesn't work like it used to."

I am so afraid she will not graduate but I will do everything in my power to see that she does.  In her own time, not on society's pre-arranged calendar.