Middle School, Day 1

This was X's first day of middle school. I dropped her off at the school at 8, for the building opening at 8:03, and classes that started at 8:07. (What is it with those wierd times in school? It was that way when I taught, too. When do you have lunch? 11:43 am.) It was like her first day of kinder, except she definitely didn't want to be seen with her mother. I watched go up the breezeway--along side really BIG kids. She will likely be the youngest in her grade, and she's a little on the short side, anyway. I watched her until the door closed behind her.

Then I sat in the car and shed a few tears. Some of those tears were for memories of my own first day of junior high--my personal nightmare. Then I was anxious all day--was she enjoying her classes? Lost in a sea of students? Did she lose her backpack already? Were her new friends in her classes?

As it turns out, she had a good day. She likes all of her teachers, one in particular. Her friend is in one of her classes. She is not wild about math. She wrote on a survey that she is better with action than with writing. After D brought her home, she and I filled out a dozen forms with our names, address and pledges to follow the rules. Tomorrow, she wants to get to school early to meet her friend "at the brick wall."

She had two problems: pledging allegiance to the Texas flag and the prospect of dissecting a worm. For one, she'll just stand quietly. For the other, we'll see. Apparently I can get her out of the dissection. And I'll assume the same is true for the pledge.