Could I be any more cliche than this? Henry watched The Lion King a couple times this weekend and took 2 different Lion King books with him to his first day at the new school, so I just can't avoid using the circle of life phrase.Henry has been feeling a lot of anxiety about this change to a different school. But the good news is that he's been expressing that verbally without too much other acting out. This morning he told me he didn't feel too well. And that he was nervous about going to a new school.
Of course I understand how he feels. How nervous do any of us feel when we start something new? He's not quite 9 years old and loves his routine- gulp. I can't let myself get too far inside his head or I'll be trying to smuggle him in to work with me and "office-school" him to never let him out of my sight!
So I tried very hard to remember that a mom's job is to say "I understand how you feel. It's normal to be worried about something new. But you'll be fine. Everything will be great. I think you'll love your new school!"
I remembered that a new infant was starting today at L's house, and I thought about how his parents must feel- leaving their baby for the first time.
I told Henry to think about how scared that baby might feel, but that we knew he would have so much fun at L's house and soon he would love it there.
There was a little mix-up with the bus, so we had some extra time to snap photos while waiting. It finally arrived, although it stopped about half a block from where I had been told...
Henry sat down across from a chatty 5th-grade girl. She introduced herself and asked us our names. Henry pointed to her Camp Rock binder and said "Camp Rock".
"I have a Camp Rock binder, Camp Rock notebook, Camp Rock folders, and Camp Rock pencils", she replied.
"Wow" I said.
"I'm a big fan" she explained. Then she offered to help Henry find his classroom.
This feels as hard as every other first.
10 comments:
We are in that exact same spot today [sort of]
Best wishes
Aw, this got me choked up and Henry's not even my son! LOL
I love that little girl for offering to help him find his classroom!
And this?
So I tried very hard to remember that a mom's job is to say "I understand how you feel. It's normal to be worried about something new. But you'll be fine. Everything will be great. I think you'll love your new school."
Such a wise reminder to all of us; this seems like a time of such transition and stress whether we are home schooling or starting a new school. My gut reaction is to hold Nik close when what I really need to be doing is preparing to send him out into the world --one small step at a time.
It's killing me seeing him in that picture on the bus. Like Niksmom, I too am getting all choked up seeing Henry go off to his first day of school. Oh, this really is such a hard time of year. I had such an anxious feeling just reading this post. Please let us know how he makes out today!
ooooh I'm getting the heebie-jeebies over all of our kids going off to school again too! So glad we're all holding each others' hands through this. So damn hard :-(
aw, man! i feel the same as nik's mom! the picture choked me up, too.
i'm thinking of you all today.
I am also very eager to hear how his day went! I know what you mean...I feel like everything in life is a "first".
Is Henry attending the private ABA school? Did the district agree to fund the placement?
Odd man out. Not feeling teary for Henry, but feeling giddy! So excited that he is off on a much more loving and understanding environment! (maybe my giddiness will rub off on the nervous mama?)
:-)
Please let us know how Henry's first day went!
Thank heavens for that little girl----
Just reading this post made me feel a little nauseous. It's so hard not to pass our anxiety on to our kids. I'm thinking of you at this hard time of year and hoping it will be a good one for all of our kids.
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