Why We're Lost

The Child Who Holds It Together at School and Explodes at Home

What I want to know before I decide the problem is behaviour

Jamie Schwass's avatar
Jamie Schwass
Aug 19, 2026
∙ Paid

A parent tells me their child is fine at school.

The teacher says they had a good day. They did the work. Followed instructions. No major problems.

Then they get home.

Someone asks them to put their bag away and they lose it. Their sibling says something annoying. There are no crackers left. Mum asks a normal question and suddenly we have shouting, crying, hitting, doors slamming, or a child telling everyone to leave them alone.

The parent is left thinking:

How can you hold it together for six hours at school and then completely fall apart over a school bag?

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