School

2007-01-30T18:48:00.000-05:00

Speaking of changes, did I mention we used to homeschool? I've never dropped my kids off for school, never cheerfully handed them their lunchboxes and waved them out the door, never cried with them as bullies stole their ice cream money, never dealt with the PTA. None of the above.

Until a few weeks ago. When my now youngest 8th grade daughter climbed out of the car, carrying her lunch money, her purse, and a backpack full of new notebooks and sharp pencils, and marched resolutely into her new jr high school. I have a picture I'll upload later, one I took through the bushes as she tried to discretely ignore her mom hiding in the shrubbery, begging her to smile and wave. Poor kiddo.

The time has passed, and we have her first report card. 3 A's, 1 B, 1 C, and 1 D. Math of course, brought us the ole D. Pretty great, considering the culture shock (from homeschooling in her jammies, with free restroom & kitchen access, and no other distractions except her sister and dogs, to being in classrooms with 25+ other kids, of all ethnicities and economic backgrounds, most of which have no respect for school, the teachers, or her). It looks like we're going to be facing an official diagnosis of a math LD, which we expected and are coping with. For the first time, we're dealing with people who have total control over our daughter's education, and they really don't care. She's a number to them, just another statistic. We're already having to request services, and weekly calls to the teachers are normal around here.

The good news is: She loves band. We found a brand new, store demo clarinet (value $600 plus tax approx) on ebay for $40 plus shipping. She amazes me with her passion for it. I never had her pegged for a band nerd. My brother Manny will be soooo disappointed. All I've heard from him is that she has potential (for coolness, I'm assuming). I always figured our older daughter as the nerd. I figured at least one of them had to get my lack of coolability. Who knew they'd both get it?

So our younger is having a decent time. Truth be known, she isn't overly happy. The teachers could care less, some don't even know her name. The kids are rough, and rude, and not what she's used to. She's made a few friends, however, even she recognizes that they aren't "true" friends. The church we've attended most has a great youth group- for senior high. None of the churches we've tried seem to have any jr high attendance. Plenty of sr high, plenty of preschool, but very few elementary or jr high.

So the older daughter started senior high this week. We kept her here until the high school finished 1 semester exams. Here's a shock- she skipped a grade. And!!! All honors classes. And!!! She made show choir. Pretty nice, huh. A great way to end high school. Her Honors English teacher has already talked to her about National Honor Society. She has a little clique of friends, and seems to be on a rocking good start. I'm not honestly surprised, but happy anyway.

So if we can just get our younger to find her niche too, then we'll have a great time. We've signed both girls up to go skiing with their youth group next month, and we're hoping to use it as a motivational tool to keep grades up, chores done, and attitudes sweet.

I think next time I'll post a little about the house, or maybe hubby's job, or the churches. I keep meaning to write family letters back home, but I think I'm going to end up just emailing this link instead.

So if anyone's reading this, love you all.

First Post Fears

2007-01-30T18:38:00.000-05:00

I hate posting the "first post". It seems as though all the background information is both irrelevant and essential, in the same intake of breath.

To summarize-my husband and I have 2 teenage daughters, and 4 highly emotional female dogs. We've recently moved from a major metropolitan city to a small country town with an enormous population totally 15,000. If you count the surrounding towns and areas. Oh, for Pete's sake, count the whole county!

We left a suburban subdivision, high in diversity and constant action, for a house in the downtown historic neighborhood of a teeny-weeny town. As much as I bemoaned the prevalence of Walgreens and Walmart and various asundry churches on every corner, I now weep for the memory of a Hancock's Fabrics, or a Danvers chicken basket.

Our previous home was close to family- a very large, loving family that we miss dearly. Gone are the days of "running over to Dad's" for a few hours at night to see my brother's little girl, or to see what entertaining mischief my brothers have drummed up, or to bug my Dad to go to dinner with us.

Gone are the days of surfing 4 Walmarts for the Amazing-Popsicles. (Sweet Freedom Raspberry Cheesecake, oh my!!). Gone are the days of mall wandering in boredom. Gone are the days of a quick run to Krispy Kreme for a hot dozen or so. Gone are the days of church with family, of birthday parties at the Pump-It-Up, of runs to the TCBY 5 minutes before close.

These times, they are a-changing. More to come later.

Where Am I? And Who Are All These Strange Faces?!

School

First Post Fears