School Starts Next Week
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| Sat, 08-18-2007 - 11:33am |
Although I haven't been around much lately (I found this major house move to be all-consuming in every way possible) I wonder if I could beg off some positive thoughts and good vibes from everyone? I find that the closer the first day of school gets, the higher my anxiety level rises. It is so hard to be the 'calm in the storm' and be reassuring that 'everything will be fine' to your nervous offspring when your own insides are churning!
DS starts school Monday. Brand new junior high; (grades 7-9; weird, huh?) knows one person in his grade and even has a class with him. W came back from a week-long YMCA camp last Friday completely transformed -- happy, confident, far more outgoing. He even cut his hair!!!! Somewhere around 4" are gone (tells you just how long it was) but it is still on the 'longish' side. I love that I can see his lovely green eyes, his freckled nose and that he is no longer 'hiding' behind his hair. I pray that this newfound confidence will carry him through what will most likely be an awkward week or so, until he makes friends.
Coming from a private high school, DD starts public school on Tuesday. She is entering her junior year and knows 1 person (sophomore) and a few acquaintances by sight -- two girls she met through a pottery class she took at the local rec center and a couple kids she met waiting in line for photo IDs on registration day. I truly believed that the private school she came from had quite a diversified student body -- until I went to registration day with C. We were both struck speechless. Oh P-- High School! Diversity is Thy Name. C, with her mostly wholesome and 'girl next door' appearance, was definitely in the minority.
Since we had to wait in line for nearly 1.5 hours, C and I had a good long time to observe and 'digest' it all -- which was a very good thing, as I think initially, we were both in a "OMG, what have we done?" state of shock. C says she is now looking forward to starting school and getting to know everyone -- particularly the more 'colorful' characters. It does seem that the kids were very accepting of all the other groups and ethnicities. I didn't notice much (if any) of the typical 'posturing' and 'looking down the nose' behavior so typical of teenagers. I pray that this is truly the case.
I have been pedaling my bike all over creation to help relieve the anxiety. I'll probably find myself pedaling into Wyoming next week!
Anyway ... good vibes would very much appreciated.
Julie

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Good vibes heading their way, and Calgon your way!
At least at ds's HS, kids bounce around all the time (year to year; he's doing swimming this year; last he did nothing - his buddy tried soccer and baseball (and didn't make either) last year and is doing football now) from one activity to the next, so there's always new friendships forming. I think that's kinda cool. I'm sure that with the attitude both your ds and dd have, they'll be all settled in in no time. It sounds like a great environment all around.
Sue
Hi Julie! We've missed you! I'm sure it is stressful for all involved, but I'm sure the kids will do great. It's great that W already knows a boy and even has a class with him. That should really help break the ice for him. And boys just seem to be very accepting of new kids. :) And with C being excited about school starting and meeting new friends, well, she will do great. I'm sure it's hardest on you, most of all. ;)
While you are pedaling all over everywhere, if you end up as far east as Texas, give me a hollar!! I don't bike, but I'll be glad to pick you up and give you a ride somewhere !! LOL
Good school vibes to everyone there. Take a break from unpacking and give us an update on how it goes as soon as you can.
Hi Julie!
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Now yer talkin' lol
Great feeling isn't it?
Great vibes and warm thoughts sent your way!
((((((((((Julie)))))))))))))
Prayers and positive thoughts for you and your kiddo's! My boys moved schools in 10 and 8 grade and I know how your feeling....I actually believe it is still a bit like when they were little, it's almost worse on mom. That first week might be a little tough, but it sounds like you've got two great kids and I'm sure they will do really well :)
Julie
Ramona Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!
Thanks everyone for the good thoughts and warm wishes. Tomorrow is the big day for my little boy (lol, he's huge now). I know things will be fine before long, it's the getting there that's tough. I think my *own* teenage insecurities are resurfacing!
Thanks for the offer to come pick me up, Mitzi. If I DO find myself pedalling into Texas (and that would only happen if I were sucking up a lot of Starbucks frappacino's en route) I'll definitely let out a hollar! We are *mostly* settled now. I sent both the kids off to the YMCA camp a couple of weeks ago and got TONS done. My 'puter is now in it's 3rd 'test' location and this might be it's final resting place -- I'm getting a pretty good signal and response time now!
Daddio, I *am* coming to love the cycling thing! (I've even lost a tiny bit of weight!) Ft. Collins could really be called 'Cycling City' because it is extremely bicycle friendly -- there are lots of well maintained and paved riding trails throughout the town -- and bicycles seemed to be used just as much for transportaiton as they are for sport or exercise. We've found a lovely trail that starts just a few miles from home and travels along the Cache Le Poudre River (so named by French settlers who stored their 'caches' of gun 'poudre' along the river during the winter) to Old Ft. Collins where we can fuel up on a smoothie or a frappaccuino for the ride home. I've got a little Diamondback comfort cruiser that I am completely enjoying, and think I might be buying a basket, or some sort of rack for it in the very near future. Have you ever tried riding a bicycle with shopping bags hanging from your handlebars? Mighty awkward!
Thanks again, everyone,
Hi Julie,
I'll meet you half way to Wyoming. I passed panic weeks ago and now have surrended to resignation. My dds --13 and 15 almost--are starting a new school. We are moving to a house where my room is one third the size, the kids and dog have no back yard and the kids can't walk the highways. We are coming from a charming seaside village where even five year olds roam freely! The kids at our school all come from one little area. In this next school it is made of 60 towns--and diversity rules. My girls will be in the minority (being Christian) and I went through a panic period because I had heard from the realtor that her son was dismissed from the crowd becuz. he was Christian. The Asian population is significant too. Most of our new town is Asian--the signs on the stores are in Korean. I stopped talking about it becuz. people would think I was prejudiced. I was just scared. I'm also afraid of the move because I don't know a living soul there and either do my kids. It'll be a great commute for my dh tho who deserves a break and my oldest dd wanted a change for high school. There is no public school to speak of as most people are without kids--singles and couples and babies. Space is too scarce for families. I need surgery--overdue--and will need help for myself. Plus I have no way to drive the kids to and from school. Here my best friend drives them and I've done so many moms favors over the year, I have rides and all kinds of support whenever I want it. So, I was getting panic attacks. I met one mother at the headmaster's reception and when she saw I was overweight and not in designer digs, sort of wished me a happy transition--which was code for don't call me in my multimillion dollar home. But I've now turned it over to God. I tell myself it's not engraved in stone. I am also concerned that my 15 yr old who has always had a tutor will find it too challe nging and I have guilt I didn't let my 13 yr old finish 8th grade graduate from the school she had gone to since she was 3. She insisted she didn't mind but still...I think she was being a good sport for her Dad and sister.
Having said all this--I'm optimistic and am only telling you all those fears becuz. I could tell my friends wouldn't want to hear it anymore...So, I shelfed them--the expressed fears, not the friends.. Also, I thought if I get panicked so will my kids. So, I advertised for someone to help me--the woman is a gem. I volunteered for the sunshine committee and two other committees. I am fighting my let's go home again instincts. We always gave a big open Halloween open house for our neighbors. Now, I will resist coming home--an hour away--and hope people will gather in my tiny living room and drink our cider. Wow--I guess Koreans, Indiuans, etc celebrate Halloween--I didn't even think of that. I don't think there's a Christian c urch in the town.
Anyway, I make this move Tuesday--haven't finished packing yet. We're doing another--our third--goodbye party with friends today!!! My daughter has to go to derm on Tuesday in NYC the day we move. I think I'll take her by moving van. LOL
She is thrilled about the move--but is still sick from camp (bad infection) and concerned we're moving in night before she startss field hockey at the new school the next morning. They break for lunch and I was praying all these kids who have known each other for eleven years will ask her to join them despite her zits and some extra poundage she worked hard on at weight loss camp to lose.
But I feel God is watching out for us. I met one nice woman who is going to help me and a wonderful realtor. I'm going to wear a smile on my chubby face and let it be my unbrella! I woke up with panic for weeks--I don't want it any more. But your post made me feel like I have company. Thank you so much for sharing your true feelings! I'll let you know how we make out or if we make it there at this point. LOL Please let us know how you do. You seem so personable, I think you'll sail through. Best of Luck! A Mom on the Move
Julie--
Glad you're back!
From all your posts about C, she seems very mature and I'm sure she'll do fine in her new school. And it sounds like W's camp experience was a good confidence booster for him. But I know how it feels...I worry, too, about DS17 going off to college.
I got my bike out again just a couple of weeks ago. It's also a Diamondback, but it's actually DS's, and I'd much prefer a cruiser. I don't like being bent over on long rides, and even with a padded cover, I feel like my sit bones are bruised after riding an hour. Biking feels good, though; in hot weather it sure beats walking or jogging!
It's good to know you're settled in your new home and enjoying it. We still have not sold ours, but I did schedule the move to VA for early October. Lowering the price 8% and upping the buyer-broker's commission to 4% did NOTHING! Not one call after doing those things. The other three homes for sale in our neighborhood haven't sold either, but there was a flurry of activity in the community in mid-July. I guess we'll be stuck with an extra house here in depressed MI until next year.
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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM
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