One day at a time

The first day of school yesterday went very well. After getting both kids home, we sat down for a family after-school-snack; Hostess Ding Dongs (an extremely rare treat). The kids shared about the specifics of their day while my husband and I enjoyed visualizing and asking questions. Their experiences were very different from each other, but fun nonetheless.

My daughter's biggest news was that an unexpected fire alarm went off during the sixth grade lunch time. While my daughter was pretty much completed when they needed to exit the cafeteria, it still made for an interruption in the not-even-known-routine for students. She is hoping that today will run more smoothly so that she can understand what really is supposed to happen to be dismissed back to class.

The school district has Blue and Gold Days (the district's colors for all the Middle School, Junior High, and Senior High schools - and our mascot for all schools are the Bears. Yes, we are highly creative and original). On Blue days she attends band class, and on Gold days she attends gym. When she reaches Junior High and Senior High then the colored days will also represent which academic classes she will attend. Today is a Gold day, so she will receive her gym locker combo and uniform. After today, she should be set in routine for the year.

Yesterday, my son was honored with the job of being the new student contact for his classroom.  He has the same teacher as my daughter had for both her third and fourth grade, so the teacher was confident in choosing my son in this leadership role for the first day; as she knows our family. He didn't mind, but felt his first day was perhaps a bit longer having to have a group of newbies under his belt in what he consider to be a job that focused on being "responsible for their happiness." I have no doubt he handled it great, and he will get to flow with his regular pack of friends today much easier while including his new classmates.

Learning the ropes is exhausting for the family.  While my son is set at his school, he has an appreciation for the newbies that he is leading this week. Knowing that they have so many questions, but may be too shy to ask. Knowing that they might be hesitant to do something wrong, so they don't relax and just enjoy the great school.  My daughter is the newbie at her school. Worried about getting late to class. Worried that her locker will not open in time to gather material. Worried that she will not "get it".

We are all trying to grasp the newness with a healthy attitude and a smile. It always seems to work better. But I will admit that the adrenaline rush-crash makes me tired. Focusing on one day at a time.