first day smiles and trials

Are these not happy looking girls?

As most everyone knew, Cassidy was over-the-top excited about the start of school. She could not wait to launch herself through the doors of Osprey Woods and into Grade 3. Friends Leah and Sydney were with her and she was happy. She picked a simple shorts and t-shirt combo for the hot day, and with bandaids on knees, a new short haircut and her trusty backpack she was off with Papa.

Bryanna was less enthused. Heading off to Grade 6 in a new environment at the local middle school and already knowing that none of her closest friends were in her class took some of the shine off this first day. However, she was happy with her new shoulder bag and cool blouse, and she and I headed off to a new world (this mom with trepidation well hidden).

Little did we know how big the new world would be - NINE Grade 6 classes, formed from three junior public schools in the area. As we took our place in the designated area for Homeroom 6-H, Bryanna watched with a suddenly solemn gaze as she realized that there was not one girl from her junior school in the class. As the minutes ticked by, her smile completely disappeared and I was doing and saying every cheerful mom thing I could think of to lighten her mood. Her teacher was lovely and introduced herself to both of us - I knew she would help ease things if she could and I took a quiet moment to explain Bryanna's concerns.

As the classes filed into the school at the bell, I watched with my own sinking heart as my eldest walked away around a corner.

I worried all day.

A sudden power outage in our office building meant that I was able to leave work early and arrived at Cassidy's school as our daycare provider waited to do the daily pick-up. I asked where Bryanna was (who gets out earlier) and learned she had headed inside to see some of her much loved teachers. And so I learned second-hand that there were two girls Brya knew after all in her class (they had been lost that morning!) and that made her feel better. And her teacher IS nice. And she has a nice locker-mate.

Huge relief. We headed out to the Mandarin for dinner to celebrate first successes and that was a great end to the day.

All that said, Brya is not as enthusiastic about school as she has been the last seven years and her second day has not resulted in any exclamations of happiness. I am trusting, however, that her love of learning will make middle school more fun as she becomes familiar with this new world.

I need to get used to it too.