This story is part of our NPR Ed series on mental health in schools.
In the waning days of summer vacation, Sydney and Laney are enjoying their final moments of freedom flipping over a high bar at a playground close by their house in Spartanburg, S.C.
"You've got to pull your hips into the bar," says their mom, Selena, motioning to the girls, "you've got to kick up like that!"
"I tried to kick!" Laney says indignantly. "I did this — you told me not to stick out!"
Both girls have been diagnosed with mental health disorders. Sydney, who's 15, with bipolar disorder, and Laney, who's 8, with a similar illness called Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. We're not using their last names to protect the girls' privacy.
[For more of this story, written by Jenny Gold, go to http://www.npr.org/sections/ed...t-has-to-take-charge]
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