A New Start

Although we had a longer than normal summer this year, it still went by way too quickly for me.  All too soon amidst the packing chaos it was time to go back to school.  Both kids starting new schools this year, it was going to be a new start for all of us.  Chase started middle school, and is attending Dayton Intermediate school.

They had a back to school night before the first day of school to walk the halls, find your classes, and open your locker.  He tried and tried that locker combo with no luck.  We thought it was user error, but neither Matt or I could open it either.  A few days after school started they finally figured out they had given him the wrong locker combination.

He was excited to wake up early that first day of school and get to school to meet up with friends.

  

Since we had just closed on our new home the night before school started and hadn't moved yet, he rode the bus to school.  It was uncool for me to hang out at the bus stop with him so I casually drank my coffee in the driveway until he got on.  He told me later that day he thought it was weird that some of the kids who rode his bus had beards (they ride with the high school).  Made me laugh.

Sadi really was going to have a new start this year.  Just one day before school started they posted their class lists outside the school.  She found her name under her new teacher's list, Ms. Dutcher.

I think I was more nervous than her for her first day.  They had no back to school night, and we didn't know a single person's name on that list....teacher's or students! 

She started her 5th grade year at Dayton Elementary School, home to the Bobcats.  She was excited, I was a wreck.

We made her teacher a little first day of school treat.

Their school had a rule that no one was allowed into the school before the bell rang for kids to line up, and then parents were to leave campus.  I totally broke those rules.  There was no way I was leaving my baby on the playground full of strangers not knowing where her class was.  Her teacher was fine with me breaking the rules and getting that first day of school picture.

 I think had I not been so ridiculously busy that day I would have worried/stressed about her all day (Was she fitting in? Was she making friends? Was she feeling sad/mad about the move?).  I was so relieved when I went to pick her up and I saw her getting a hug from another student.  Best part of the day when she told me "I'm so proud of myself,  I made a friend today".  She has really been maturing, and surprising me with how she is handling this change.