Deciding whether to take an issue forward involves a lot of thought and careful consideration. If you are unsure whether there is a problem, ask yourself some of the following questions:
- What is bothering me?
- Why is it bothering me?
- How does it make me or my child feel?
- When did it start?
- Who is involved?
- What will happen if I don’t solve the problem?
Answering the above questions can give you an idea if the issue or concern you have is worth pursuing. It is important to think about the positive aspects and negative aspects of going forward with an issue. You have to pick your battles.
If you choose to proceed with advocating about something that has occurred or is occurring in the life of your child, visualize what resolving the issue might look like. Is this a reasonable expectation? Advocates should always have a resolution or options for resolutions in mind before they go ahead with a complaint. Make sure that the solutions are going to benefit your child. If you have difficulty thinking about what a reasonable resolution might be, discuss the issue with others who have had similar experiences or who you respect and admire for their ability to think things through.
