My Big Girl is Going To Middle School

Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Monday was middle school orientation for Emma and the rest of the 5th graders. She was excited. She has spent the past 2 months being extremely nervous about the middle school. Fear of the unknown you could say.

I was glad for her to be able to use orientation as a chance to put some of her fears to rest.

And later that evening there was a meeting for the parents of incoming students. It was my turn to put some of my fears to rest.

The middle school principal dove right in. He warned us that it would be quite a transitional period for most of the incoming students. Middle school is very different from elementary school. Big changes. More independence. More choices. More opportunities to make decisions. More homework. More conflict.

My head was spinning.

It was all too much for me. How will my Emma ever acclimate?

This image of Emma as a little fish being eaten up by a much bigger fish has taken permanent residence in my mind. I can't shake the mental image.

But she's excited. Of course, she has no idea how overwhelming it will be. Or maybe it won't. Maybe I just see it that way.

Because for me, it's overwhelming. For me it's a roller coaster of emotions. One minute I'm happy for her. The next minute I'm frightened for her. Will she know where to go? Will she know what to do? Will she find her way from one classroom to the next? (Again, I have a mental image of her cowering in the corner of the bathroom stall).

Her life is shifting, and I know she's ready for the change.

The question is am I? In 75 days, I'll let you know the answer to that question.

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