In the past two weeks, my second grader has said:

A) I can’t go to school. I have a stomachache. I’m going to throw up.
B) Can you pick me up at lunchtime?
C) I’m not going to school except on holidays.
D) I’m not going to school in the winter… And the fall.
E) All of the above

Unfortunately, as you might have guessed, the correct answer is all of the above.

It almost makes me reconsider the thought of homeschooling which I had considered before we had kids. If I were only a completely different person with an infinite amount of patience and energy and amazing organizational skills. Too bad I’m not that person!

Yes, my little girl has always had a bit of an issue with transitions. This year is a big one for her, as she moved schools and started going on the regular school bus for the first time. For the past three years she has been in a special education program with lots of extra support which helped her with her anxiety and her adjustment. This year she “graduated” to the general education class, which meant that she was able to move into our regular neighborhood school. But even at the young age of seven, moving to a new school (and a big one at that with over 700 students from K-5!) without knowing anyone is a difficult step. As one of the moms at the bus stop reminded me, even a lot of adults tend to have anxiety with the first day at a new job or moving to a new city, or going anywhere where they don’t know another person.

Thankfully, her second grade teacher has been very understanding. She let HJ come in for an individual appointment to put her supplies away and see the classroom, before the rush of students coming at a later time. She met her at the bus to walk her to class for the first time, and introduced her to a classmate who could sit with her. She is also letting HJ have a snack during her resource time with the special education teacher, since HJ has not been eating well during the regular lunch period. 20 minutes in a loud and crowded cafeteria is not a very conducive environment to eating well, I suppose.

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I do know that HJ likes school, and once she gets there, seems to be doing fine. It’s mostly before and after school where we see most of her stress come out.

September is just not an easy time of year.

Not only is it the beginning of school, but HJ is also starting soccer for the first time. She kept protesting, saying that she doesn’t know how to play, but I wanted her to give it a try since it would give her an opportunity to be part of a team and get to know other girls in the neighborhood. We made it to the first practice, but didn’t get her on the field. At least her teammates were friendly and the coach said that he would do her best to make her feel comfortable. I’m ok if she’s not scoring goals and becoming a soccer star –I’d just like her to have a positive experience overall. I have to admit it was a little sad to see her sitting on the edge of the field in her butterfly dress and playing with a lanyard when all the other girls were running around on the field. But I’m hoping she just needs a little time.

As for other activities, she has decided to “quit” violin and “quit” swimming, both of which we had just started this summer. I’m also waiting to see if this is what she really wants to do or whether it’s all just a part of feeling generally overwhelmed. I’m not the type of mom, I hope, who over-schedules the kids into activities that they don’t want to do. But with HJ it’s a little more complicated. Sometimes she needs that extra push to try something new, and once she gets comfortable, finds that she is having more fun than she expected.

Last year, we didn’t enroll her in any extracurricular activities and just focused on her therapies. This year, she’s continuing her therapies (speech and occupational therapy), but I also just want her to have the chance to try some new things and gain the confidence and social skills that will hopefully come along with them.

How have your little ones been adjusting to the beginning of the school year? Do you have any tips on what works to get your kids into a routine and schedule? I’d love to hear about it!