This year's return to school snuck up on me a bit (see what I mean). I was prepared. I had all the clothes and supplies bought. I had already marked down all the key dates on the calendar but somewhere in my preparation I failed to adjust for junior high. Junior high is some serious chizz. Before school had even started the big girl had spent nearly 15 hours at the school. Orchestra camp, cross country try-outs, orientation - I wasn't ready. I had basked in the comfort of elementary school for so long, I assumed I knew what was going to happen. WRONG.
Junior high is expensive - I dropped $150 before the first bell rang and that didn't include any of her supplies or clothes. It is confusing - they have a different schedule every day to maximize the time the teachers have with the students and make it as difficult as possible for incoming students to comfortably acclimate. And it operates on a student-led structure. They tell her things but don't tell me. I need to know. I'm OCD (love for structure gave that away, didn't it) and feel most at ease when I know what is going on. Leaving things in the hands of my responsible yet easily distracted student makes me nervous. And crazy.
But as life requires, we will adjust. In the meantime, she loves junior high. My reserved yet likable child has made a lot of new friends and has even earned the attention of one very cute new boy. He's not her betrothed but he's very nice. And thankfully, she's not eager to move beyond walking to orchestra with him...I hope...
And, well, can you blame him?...
My seventh grader. Oy.
