Beginning kindergarten is always a very difficult transition for children to make.  It sounds like your child is having an especially difficult time, probably also due to the fact that dad is deployed.  In situations like this, a joint effort between the teacher and the parents is extremely helpful in providing the same message to the child about the expectations that they have at school.  If they are misbehaving at school, there should be repercussions at home as well. Work together to come up with a plan for your child.  Hopefully, over time and as she becomes adjusted and feels safe at school, her behavior will improve.  If over time things are not improving, than it may be important to get your daughter eveluated and assessed by a child psychologist.  Speak with the counselor at your daugther's school as well.  School counselors are a great bridge between community resources and school resources.  They also may be able to help you problem solve how to handle this in the immediate future.  We encourage you to sit down with them.

Resistant and defiant children require a whole lot of patience and love.  Please take care of yourself at this difficult time so that you can more easily deal with your child.  Also, please check out our website and know that you can call our hotline 24 hours a day with parenting problems and we will be happy to work with you on this particular issue.  

Counselor, Dominic
Boys Town National Hotline-A hotline for parents and teens
1-800-448-3000
www.parenting.org