PART 1 SCENARIO: Julie was a mother of a 3 year old daughter and a newborn baby boy who attended the family resource

program on a weekly basis. Julie always had a positive attitude towards everything, even in times of

great stress. She had a strong relationship with her 3 year old and made sure she spent time preparing

the child for the new baby coming home. She was a very hands-on mother and teacher and participated

alongside her daughter in all of the programs. She attended with both her own twin sister and a sister in

law, both of whom had children the same age as Julie's who all attended the programs together. She had

a strong support group within her own family and often acted as a support for others. After her son was born, they all continued to attend on a regular basis, with her daughter being only slightly more clingy to her mom. After about 6 weeks, Julie, with her regular positive attitude, approached the ECE to ask for suggestions. She shared that her daughter had refused to have a bath ever since the baby was born and she was interested in ideas on how to approach this situation. She shared with the ECE that her approach to parenting had been very intentional, but not like most families. She shared that her family lived a very non-traditional existence. Her husband was a film

maker and she was an artist. In the house, they removed their dining room furniture when the children

were born and dug the floor out and replaced it with a sandbox. The kitchen table was removed and

replaced with a child's sized table and child sized chairs. The walls of the downstairs were painted with

chalkboard paint so the children could create at any time. Upstairs, the whole family, mother, father, and

both children slept in the same bed and the two other bedrooms were a play space and an art studio,

respectively. Her daughter was allowed to choose her own bedtime. In the fall, Julie would begin

homeschooling her daughter instead of sending her to kindergarten. She said her family respected her

right to live in an alternative, non-traditional manner and asked how we might be able to support her

with the current issue she was facing with her daughter. Despite having lots of family support around her, Julie wanted feedback and suggestions from the ECE only. She had tried the suggestions of her family but felt the ECE would be able to offer her a more objective point of view.

Upon discussion with the ECE, Julie learned a few new strategies to address her daughter's

unwillingness to bathe. She learned about and then used a 'dry shampoo' for her hair and she set up a

small bowl with warm soapy water and a facecloth so that her daughter could start to clean herself,

just not in the bath. But just as quickly as one issue would resolve, a new challenge would arise. The

daughter next decided she was not going to learn to toilet train nor was she willing to be in any room

without her mother. She was not even comfortable staying with either of her two aunts who also

attended the program. Within a short time of increasing challenges, Julie told the ECE she was feeling

overwhelmed.

QUESTIONS part 1: 1. Identify and define all of the issues being faced in this situation. There may be multiple issues being faced by multiple persons. Be sure to list each individual person and then provide detail about the issue(s) each one faces:

2. Think about the approach you would take as ECEs in this scenario. Based on what you currently

know, does it do everything up to this point to support the family (participants - alice) ? Why or

why not? What would you have done instead.

ANSWER PART 1: Issues Faced by Julie

Julie is facing a range of issues in her parenting journey. She has a 3 year old daughter who is struggling with the arrival of her newborn brother and is having difficulty adjusting to the changes. She is also feeling overwhelmed by the increased demands of having two young children.

1. Parenting Stress: Julie is feeling the stress of parenting two young children. It is normal for parents to experience stress, but with the addition of a newborn, the stress can be even more intense. Julie is also the primary caretaker for both children, making the stress even more intense.

2. Lack of support: Julie is relying heavily on her family members for support, but is finding it difficult to manage the demands of two young children. She is feeling overwhelmed and is in need of additional support.

3. Non-traditional lifestyle: Julie and her family live a non-traditional lifestyle, which can make parenting challenging. They have removed the dining room furniture and replaced it with a sandbox, and their kitchen table has been replaced with a child-sized table and chairs. The walls of the downstairs are painted with chalkboard paint and the whole family, mother, father, and both children sleep in the same bed. This lifestyle may make it difficult to adhere to traditional parenting approaches.

Issues Faced by Julie's Daughter

Julie's 3 year old daughter is also facing a number of issues in this situation.

1. Adjustment to a New Baby: Julie's daughter is struggling to adjust to the arrival of her newborn brother. This is a normal part of parenting and it is common for children to have difficulty adjusting to a new baby in the family.

2. Fear of Change: Julie's daughter may also be feeling fearful of the changes in her life. She has gone from being an only child to having a sibling and this can be a scary transition for a young child.

3. Lack of Independence: Julie's daughter is also struggling with a lack of independence as she is not comfortable without her mother. This can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed and powerless.

Issues Faced by Julie's Family

Julie's family members are also facing a number of issues in this situation.

1. Overwhelmed by the Changes: Julie's family members may be feeling overwhelmed by the changes in the family. They may be feeling the pressure of having to take on the additional responsibility of caring for two young children.

2. Lack of Understanding: Julie's family may also be struggling to understand Julie's non-traditional parenting approach. They may not be comfortable with Julie's decision to homeschool her daughter and may be unsure of how to best support her.

3. Lack of Support: Julie's family may also be struggling to provide the necessary level of support to Julie. They may be feeling the pressure of trying to provide the extra support that Julie needs, while also managing their own lives and responsibilities.

2.

Supporting the Family in the Scenario

As ECEs, it is important to approach every family with an open mind and heart, and to provide support in a way that is respectful of the family's values and beliefs. In the scenario of Julie and her family, we must take into consideration the unique circumstances of her family life and consider our approach to providing support carefully.

Review of Current Situation

In assessing the current situation, it is important to recognize the positive aspects of Julie's approach. She has shown a strong commitment to her children, providing a loving and supportive environment for them. She has also taken the initiative to reach out for assistance with her daughter's refusal to bathe and is open to suggestions.

It is also important to recognize the challenges that Julie is facing. She is overwhelmed by the current situation and is struggling to find ways to support her daughter in transitioning to a new family dynamic. It is clear that she is feeling isolated and in need of additional support.

Strategies to Support the Family

Given the unique circumstances of Julie's family and her need for additional support, it is important to consider strategies that are tailored to her needs. The following strategies can be used to provide support to Julie and her family:

1. Provide Education and Resources

As ECEs, it is important to provide Julie with education and resources that can help her better understand her daughter's behavior and the situation she is facing. This could include providing her with books, articles, or online resources that provide her with insight into her daughter's development and behavior. It could also include providing her with contact information for local parenting groups or support groups, or offering to connect her with other families in similar situations.

2. Offer Support

It is also important to offer Julie regular support. This could include regularly checking in with her to see how she is doing and to provide her with a listening ear and a space to be heard. It could also include providing her with one-on-one sessions with an ECE, where she can discuss her concerns and receive advice. Additionally, it could include providing her with child care services so that she can take a break and have some time for herself.

3. MAKE Opportunities for Socialization

Finally, it is important to MAKE opportunities for Julie and her children to socialize and interact with other families. This could include organizing group activities or playdates with other families in the program, or inviting them to participate in community events or classes. This can provide Julie with an additional support system and allow her daughter to begin to explore the world outside of her family.

Conclusion

Overall, it is important to take into consideration the unique needs of each family when providing support. In the case of Julie and her family, it is important to recognize the positive aspects of her approach and the challenges that she is facing. By providing her with education, resources, support, and opportunities for socialization, we can create a supportive environment that will help her and her family cope with the current situation and transition to the new family dynamic.

PART 2 SCENARIO: Julie confided in the ECE that life at home was very unsteady and unpredictable. Her husband was having an affair with a very public figure in Canada and his picture was showing up in newspapers and on the news. Her young daughter had seen some of this and in addition could feel the tension in her family. Julie felt the best way to deal with the situation was to insist her husband stay married to her and that he remain living in the house. Feeling guilty because of the stress, Julie was giving in to anything and everything her daughter demanded, and she dealt with the stress by pretending there wasn't any. The house was turned into a play and learning space for the kids to do whatever they needed to express themselves. Julie did not express herself to her husband or anyone for months and months. Although her husband strongly disagreed with this approach to family life, his input was ignored. Things remained in this state for more than a year until Julie was ready to seek advice from the ECE. She recognized the need for some structure and with the support of her family, the ECE, and a public health parenting program, she was able to take charge in somesituations that needed to occur for the

best needs of the child. She introduced more structure and routine into the day. It was a slow process

of change.

QUESTIONS PART 2:

1.(Having now read the second part of the case study, reflect upon your answer in Part A #2.

Is there anything you would now change, adapt, do differently that you had not previously thought

of?