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My son is in middle school... and my brain is melting

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Ethan started middle school today and I was a wreck! I didn't cry when I sent him off to kindergarten... or the next year when I sent him off to Kindergarten AGAIN. Or the next five years of grade school. But I was a ball of nerves all day today! I forgot to fix my hair before work (but realized it in time to go back home and take care of the weird bed head kink in the back.) Somewhere in all of the madness, I started my period. Then I left my purse at work at the end of the day, but wasn't completely sure that I hadn't left it on the roof of the car, so a half hour into my ride home, I went all the way back to find it under my desk. It's just a mercy that My normal clumsiness didn't merge with my absent mindedness (which I wish I could say was an anomaly) or this would be a totally different conversation!

Anyway, Ethan had a great day and thinks that juggling seven classes in a huge public school (coming from a TINY private school) and a heavy backpack will be totally doable. He showed up to the wrong class once and made it through the snickers and "ooooohs" from the other kids as he got up and found his correct class. Overall it was a success. But we are only at day 1. He may survive this, but will I?

Goodness, how I love this boy! He looked like a little pointy eared elf when he was born, and that is all I could see on this first day of sixth grade!

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24 replies

Latest reply was from jenanded

pil

Veteran

Ethan sounds like a great kid! That alone should help you survive
And so handsome - are those new shoes? They're sharp.

carter

Veteran

He will be absolutely fine! You will just barely survive and only realize in hindsight that everything was always ok;-).

My son starts 12th grade tomorrow. Totally depressed and thrilled and depressed again at the same time!

Parenting...

donnat

Veteran

Awwh... i too have left my purse at work and drove tbe 40 minutes back.... The boy is growing up. Middle school, I think those are the hardest years. He is going to do great. He had the confidence to get through the wrong class thing. Just keep talking with him about everything. He already looks like almost man. Its going to be good.

Thistle

Veteran

Makes me realize the roller coaster of parenting is only just beginning for me. It can't be any other way, not when you love someone else so much.

As I sign off to go fuss at DD1 to get back in bed

deb

Veteran

Hang in there mom. I wish I could say it gets better but I would be lying. My son starts graduate school next month and I still get the nervous twitch.

Deborah

Veteran

Oh Sarah, I am right there with you! The Australian equivalent to Middle School is Secondary School and our school year starts in February. We have been agonising over Seth staying at the school he is at, it goes from "grade school" right up to what we call "Year 12", or if we should move him. We have decided to move him, like you, from a small private (christian) school to a very large public school which has the most amazing resources and educational opportunties. We have had to manage his desire to change schools, then his reluctance etc. He is now on board and we are taking him to visit the school this week before we make the final decision and submit his enrollment papers. And even tho it's 6 months away, I am already struck by the fact that my little boy is growing up and once again I have to let go that bit more *sigh*. You are a lovely mum and Ethan (and Elly) are blessed because of your wonderful love and care for them. Ethan sounds like a beautiful boy with a beautiful heart and spirit and I have no doubt he is going to do great in middle school.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Thanks for all of the encouragement and wisdoms ladies! I knew you guys would understand! Thistle and Deb, it is so interesting to hear that the opposite ends of the spectrum of children's ages aren't really that far apart after all!

Deborah - I feel your pain... this was such a hard decision. Ethan went from 9 children in the school to thousands! And it was the same thing - this school has incredible opportunities - too good to pass up! They have Marine Biology, Robotics, Medical Courses, Architecture and Interior Design, just to name a few. Even after one day I can tell that he is energized and inspired by the possibilities and activity. He has struggled so much through school so far, and hearing him talk about reading out loud and not being the one to struggle the most made me want to cry. He was so proud of being able to read in front of the class clearly and "fluently" (his word). I am trying not to get my hopes up too much, as one day is not a clear picture, but he is encouraged, so for the moment, so am I.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Oh, and Pil - good eye! These are one of three new pair of shoes for Ethan. He would love you for noticing. The boy takes his shoes every bit as seriously as we do on the form... Possibly more!

Deborah

Veteran

Sarah it sounds fantastic. Seth has struggled to be challenged at his current school and the diversity and also their quite innovative teaching methods will (we think) be very stimulating for Seth and bring out the best in him, sounds like your situation is going to be very similar for Ethan Will be upholding him in our prayers as he settles in.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Thank you Deborah! I will be praying for Seth too! He sounds like Ethan's cousin. She was in the same previous school (where Ethan struggled) and wasn't challenged at all, and is now at his same new school being challenged completely while Ethan is able to not be pushed quite as hard and feel more confident. Sometimes these bigger, more innovative schools end up having something for everyone! I hope it works out perfectly for Seth!

catgirl

Veteran

My kiddo is starting 6th as well but here it's the last year of grade school. There will be tears! Hugs to you and your not-that-little (but still little) man.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Awwww, good luck to your little guy too, Una!

Update: I just re-read his schedule and apparently they have him in 7th grade. That is where he should be age-wise, but he is supposed to be in 6th. Is it wrong that I'm tempted to let it go and see how he does? Just when I thought things were going so smoothly...

abc

Veteran

Hugs to you as an amazing momma and to Ethan for being himself. Xoxo

Janet

(website)

Veteran

The years will start zipping by even faster. I swear it feels like just yesterday that I first noticed Max's (my oldest stepson) voice changing. He was almost 9 and his brother 6 when first I met their dad. They are 27 and 24 now. Yikes!

Glory

Veteran

I know it is so hard but hang in there Mom!
xo

Anonymous

I remember those days well! My DD graduates college (3 1/2 yrs) this December. I know I will always worry about her well being but am so proud of the woman she has become. I cannot wait to see where the next chapter of her life takes her.

Beth Ann

Veteran

What marvelous pics! I hear you on the squeeze in your heart when they walk out the door. My two, DD in 9th and DS in 8th, are going to school after 3 years of home school. The high school has 3,000 students and the Junior High 1,000. Yikes! And we've moved to a new state, so the kids know no one. They are doing amazingly, but it is still a cataclysmic change.

And it doesn't surprise me one bit that they have him in the wrong grade........... did your son notice?

catseye

Veteran

That backpack looks really heavy.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Thanks everyone! We did sort out the grade thing and they had him listed as grade 7 but taking grade 6 classes. We also found out that he is in an advanced class that he shouldn't be. So there's a little more chaos to get thhrough before we settle in...

Summer

Veteran

No wonder your head was all over the place, Sarah. I think it's quite scary seeing children start to grow up, knowing that you can no longer be there all the time easing their way.
Your son looks a lovely lad, and I'm sure he's already finding his way in his new school, and making new friends.
I hope your nerves have settled a little now that the first day is over with.

Susie

Veteran

Oh, Sarah, my daughters are 27 and 25 now and this post makes me nostalgic for those middle school years, even though they weren't easy ones, for any of us! They went from a nice small elementary school where they knew everyone to the big bad middle school! But it sounds like your dear boy is handling it well so far and he is certainly looking adorable!

And yes you will survive too

Aziraphale

Veteran

Chin up! Your boy will be fine. My girl is going into grade seven this year, so started middle school last year. I was a bit of an adjustment for her but everything turned out. It's more emotional for the mums, because we're the ones watching them grow up -- and it's bittersweet.

He is adorable, by the way.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I am loathe to quote a facebook post but will anyway.

Days last forever but years fly by.

So simple and yet so true. It sounds like Ethan will settle in nicely and only mom will have trouble.

jenanded

Veteran

Xxxxx you will enjoy this time as you see all the exciting things opening up for him x