First Day of Middle School

Dan had trouble sleeping Sunday night and wanted us to take him into school yesterday morning. He was very nervous about middle school even though it's attached to the magnet school he's been at since preschool. There was a mob of parents in the lobby having bagels and muffins and chatting, so we weren't the only parents dropping off. We met a nice lady who directed us to the cafeteria where the students were having breakfast. I was allowed (by Daniel) to walk him down and he went in without a backward look.

I'm pulling him out of aftercare (which is in the neighborhood school he'd be going to if he weren't in the magnet school) because Dan didn't enjoy it much this summer (this after having adored the science camp at his magnet school.) He doesn't like the way the bigger kids pick on the others, or the attitudes of the "teachers". The head teacher had the nerve to ask Dan if he understood English when he was a little slow getting off the computer one day when I was there to pick him up. (This from the partly deaf, speech impaired teacher who apparently hadn't even considered the possibility that he'd responded and she might not have heard him?)

Any way, I'm working on someone to pick him up at the magnet school, and bring him to my store (two towns away.) For sure it'll be cheaper than the aftercare. Unfortunately the teachers aren't allowed to give kids rides, but I'm looking for a Mom's taxi kind of thing.

In the meantime, I picked him up from school yesterday afternoon and he just about talked my ears off. He was happy and excited, read me his ENTIRE schedule, told me all his teacher's names, told me who he hung out with. He's also excited about the afterschool activities he can get involved with - we'll learn about those soon. I'm so pleased and excited and proud of him - yay Dan!!

Ack! My Baby!

My little one started middle school today.

He had trouble sleeping last night. He goes to a small magnet school in Bridgeport and we tried to reassure him that he's going to know a lot of the teachers and most of the students. Even though the middle school is in a separate wing of the school, he's been going there since preschool, and so have most of the others.

He wanted us to drive him in, and walk him to (but not into) the cafeteria where the kids were gathering and having breakfast. I hadn't anticipated any problems on my part, but there they were - small butterflies like the ones I felt when he started pre-school and first grade.

When time came to go, he walked into the cafeteria without a backwards glance.

On Shyness

Are we born shy or do we learn it?

At some point I must have been fearless. Mom tells the store of my stage debut as Snow White. Having taken a bite of the poisoned apple, I was laying across several small chairs (which were standing in for dwarvish beds,) when I happened to fall off. Eyes still closed, I climbed back into my "bed," dignity intact.

But by the time I'd reached 4th or 5th grade, I was shy. I was also introverted, gaining energy by time spent on my own, uncomfortable in crowds, preferring a good book to any outdoor activity. Who's to say which is chicken and which egg, but at the time I also became the target of bullies. After that sort of thing, it's difficult to trust. Any overture of friendship may be a trap, a set up for a joke where you are the punchline.

I'm less wary now, more open to forming new friendships, but still prefer solitude or small groups to crowds. I knew this would be something I'd need to deal with in my new adventure, but hoped that being the hostess as it were would increase my comfort level. But there's still a part of me that feels the outsider, who doesn't want to intrude on a group having fun. How silly it is to still have these fears at 45. When does the fearless older woman appear who isn't intimidated by anything, who speaks her mind and enjoys herself - damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead?

Well, she did go to graduate school and take voice and ballroom dancing lessons, and leave her former career behind to dive into unfamiliar waters. Maybe she's here already and I just haven't noticed yet?

Bluefish Fun

The three of us love to go to Bluefish games at Bridgeport's Harbor Yard. There's food, prizes, between inning entertainment, and of course, baseball. I usually bring a book to read because the fun part for me is being with my guys.

Scientific Summer

Daniel went to a science camp this summer. They studied rocketry with folks from the Discovery Museum and marine science with folks from the Maritime Center. He had a great time exploring wetlands and performing experiments. For the science fair, he and his buddy Peter compared the absorbency of various brands of paper towels. Don't you wishlearning was always this fun!

The Creative Studio is Full!

We have a full house tonight, enjoying yummy snacks and scrapping!