Tomorrow is the first day of school. Yes, the youngest will be starting middle school in approx 10 1/2 hours.  I allowed him the day to get his last bit of fun in before the official start of a new school year. He spent the day swimming eating Mc Donald’s and playing Halo.  The scout meeting was cut short to allow the boys time to prepare for the first day of school. We arrived home and started to gather his things that were needed for tomorrow. It felt like total chaos to say the least!!!! When did school get so complicated?  When I went to school we had paper and pencils and maybe a special folder with some kind of picture on it.  The rules have changed my friend, we have gotten all high tech! This is in the name of making things run better. Kids now have to carry large messenger bags stuffed with everything you will need for the day because there is no time to visit lockers. You now need a bus pass to get on the bus, without it your screwed.  Not to mention they add a different form for the parents to fill out before you can even walk through the door. What happened to pencil and paper and a lunch card that was all that was required to go learn.  I think I just got stressed out watching my youngest try to stuff everything he needed into one bag and almost resorting to tears at the fact it did not all fit. I could sense his frustration and concern and I admit, I just wanted to sit and cry for him.  The first day of school was suppose to be exciting not filled with anxiety. Youngest is a smart boy but according to some people,  he lacks necessary organizational skills.  At our 4th grade “meet the teacher night” a teacher spoke to us about how important it was for these kids to be organized. She stated that the ones that were not organized by 5th grade were possibly doomed. Most would become uninterested in school and ultimately drop out. My ears perked  up and I suddenly felt defensive, she just put the last nail in the school coffin for me. Yes to be honest I got defensive and quite honestly formed a nasty attitude toward the public school system. How dare a teacher say something like that!!  What a discouraging comment.  I thought all teachers were suppose to believe in the students they teach.  She may have well said, ” if you cant get organized by the 5th grade kid, give up and stop trying, you will drop out anyway”… GRRRRRR makes my ears red just thinking about it.

Organization and handwriting are both things his teachers and myself have worked on with him since the 4th grade. But according to that teacher he may not have  what it takes for this new age schooling.  I just want him to have a pleasant experience at school this year. I am going to believe that he will be just fine!

This leaves me feeling so nervous. I never felt this way with my two older kids, I just kissed them good bye and sent them to the bus stop and knew they would be ok. This younger one is a whole different story. I do not feel like a over protective hen, I am just trying to raise him in a whole different era. things have changed so much since the other two were his age. I did not worry about letting them walk to the store, or if they were organized enough to pass the 6th grade. The world is a different place and I am not sure I know how to adjust.