Transitions: Middle School Blues...Stress?

Life Rewind

Stress? Who is stressed here? My teen has informed me that she is STRESSED!!This is the second time that I have heard her say that. Since my last post in September, I have been checking off the items on the To Do list for prospecting high school, and doing my best not to STRESS about it. So in my course to stay sane and not overwhelmed, I have manage to now have Anxiety! Preparing my teen for the next transition, has at times made me feel like I'm not up for this task. This is uncharted territory for me and my husband, for we both are products of the public school system. Whatever public school was in our neighborhood, was the school we attended. Yet in my case, my public school high school years was spent on a military base(s), in which I received a great education!

So rewinding back to my teen stating how STRESSED she is. The past few months has been a lot to deal with. She along with other classmates spent a few weekend hours (out of the 2 months) preparing for what we parents dubbed the Super Bowl of testing. The High School Placement Test is an entrance exam for eighth grade students wanting to attend a Catholic high school. This three hour entrance exam is like the SAT/ACT for 12th graders applying to colleges/universities. The "Blues Parents" (as I like to call us) came together to create a weekend study group for the teens. One fabulous set of parents stepped up to the plate by organizing the places and time for the study group sessions. They (the husband) even taught the study sessions and assigned homework. The teens took pretests and were taught strategies to use in the different parts of the test. Meanwhile we the "Blues Parents" were doing the very thing we shouldn't-STRESSING!

Now Press Forward

The High School Placement Test just came and went on November 30. 2016. The night before, the teen took more practice tests, and we made sure to send her to bed early. I placed my hand on her forehead (routine jester I adopted from my grandmother) and we prayed for God to continue to give her the knowledge, strength, peace, wisdom, and confidence to make it through the test. My fellow "Blues Parent" sent me an email she had received from a prospect school that was wishing our students well. The school offered encouragement, test day tips, willingness to answer questions, and prayers. The following prayer is a prayer for students before taking a test. It is offered from the Notre Dame prayer book for students called Day by Day: 

           "Lord, it seems as though our lives are one test after another, weighing us in somebody's balance. Save us from taking the coming test too seriously or too lightly, but grant that we may reflect the best of the word we've done and the best of the teaching we've received; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

I didn't realize until the next day. that I had received the same email from the school. Plus another prospect school on our list had also sent best wishes. So I thank my fellow "Blues Parent" for the forward, because I read it to my teen before she went to sleep. When asked how the test went, my teen stated, "It didn't go as bad as I thought!" Now we wait for the results, which we will receive in a couple of months. Now my focus for the next few weeks are high school applications and financial aid deadlines! Hence my Anxiety surfacing, but I am going to "breathe" and let God be in control! No STRESS and ANXIETY!! As usual, my Life Rewinds, but I continue to Now Press Forward.

For information on High School Placement Testing, check out the link www.studyguidezone.com/hspttest.htm

Kaisha
Blog copyright December 5, 2016
All Rights Reserved.

Transitions: Middle School Blues...From A Parent's Prespective

Life Rewind

I knew this time was coming, but I didn't think it would be here this soon. We've been preparing for this time since the day she was born. The teen that has me feeling some kind of way is in her final middle school year. It's the third week of school, and my husband and I have the "final middle school year blues." We are not alone, for there are many parents going through the same kind of blues. We need HELP!!!!!!!!! 
Back to school night brought all the fear and confusion to many parents! Although the school has provided parents with a transition team and guidelines, the process is still a Stressing experience! Not only are we preparing for the next Transition to High School, we still have to deal with the rest of the academic year. There are so many things you have to do in order to prepare your child for the next transition-High School. The list includes:

1.  Researching the schools that you and your child want to

   

   Prospecting High Schools.
   Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
   All Rights Reseved.

   apply to. You must look into the options of wanting to send your child to a private, charter, religious, and or public school. How are the academic and honors program? Does the school have an althetics program? What about extra curricular activities? What are the logistics?
2. TUITION!!! The cost of private schools alone is insane, for it is like applying to a college/university!
3. High School Placement Testing!! This is definitely a MUST DO for students applying to private schools (like Catholic Schools). If you are applying to a public high school, there maybe seperate testing that the student must take.
4. Open House for prospecting parents and students can also add to the Stress of it all! Schools tend to have their "Open House" visits starting in the fall into the winter months. This is difficult when you have so many choices, but you are trying to narrow down the list.
5. Applying to the schools of your/child's choice, and hoping that he or she gets accepted. The hope is getting into your "top choice" school.
6. Applying for Finanacial Aid and Scholarships is also a task and burden to bare. Again if you are taking the private school route, the cost for one year alone is like one semester of college.
7. Guiding your child with answering and writing the essay questions from the prospect school applications!
8. Don't forget your child doing a "Shadow Visit" of one or more schools that you are prospecting! Of course this means coordinating a day that your child can spend the day getting a feel for the atmosphere of a prospect school.
9. Being Aware of the Deadlines! Deadline! Deadlines! Deadlines!
10. Waiting! Now you wait to hear back from any prospect school, in hopes that the top choice has accepted your child(ren).

Now Press Forward

So I am sure that I left something off the list. But like I said, "we have the final middle school blues!" My only outlet has been talking with other "Blues Parents," and of course venting (I mean writing) through my blog! Transitions! In order to stay sane and not feel more overwhelmed, I have been doing what's on the above list. I have been researching prospect schools, scheduling shadow visits and open houses. Thank goodness the list of prospect schools isn't long. The dilema at the moment is which school system should we choose? Will it be Private or Public school? How would "the teen" adjust to a public school setting after attending Catholic school for nine years? Should she go to a Coed school? How would she adjust to an all girls school? An all girls school happens to be on her list of prospect schools, which is a great thing!

As this school year progresses, my middle school blues will subside. But what will take its place is the anxiety and anticpation of which high school accepts "the teen." Then it will be my uncontrollable crying at seeing "the teen" graduate the 8th grade! Lord help me! Then I /we will have to Transition to the high school life (again!). Of course there is the next transition after that...College! Okay my feeling some kind of way teen...Now We Press Forward.

Kaisha

Blog Copyright September 29, 2016

All Rights Reserved.

Transitions: No Longer a Tween, but a Teen at 13!!

 I can't believe we are finally here. Where did the time go? How are we going to manage this transition?

Life Rewind

The time 2:07 am. Approximately seven hours after the birth of your cousin. I think the two of you had that planned out in the womb! The date February 10, 2003, and it it was the week of the NBA All Star game. You came before the doctor had time to drug me up! I was literally about to get the needle, but you had other plans (natural child birth!)! Beautiful. This is the word I choose to describe you. From the moment you came into my world, we have been on a journey!

You didn't come with any instructions (who does?!!), and my job was to figure it out as a brand new parent. The hardest obstacle was distinguishing your cries (sleepy, hungry, need changing, etc.), and you didn't make it easy (that was your job!). Because you loved to keep us up (more so me!) during the night and day, we hatched out a plan. We would keep you up in the early evening so that you would (and we) sleep through the night. It turns out you just didn't like to go to bed, because you still don't like to go to sleep to this day!!!

I've watched you crawl, pull yourself up in the crib/play yard, take your first steps, and say your first words. I remember at times feeling overwhelmed, because I wasn't sure I was doing the right things by you. I was terrified when I had to go back to work and leave you at daycare for the first time. I was disappointed when I couldn't produce any more milk to breastfeed. Then you were off to pre-kindergarten to start your early education. I can say your education started earlier, because you were in the womb when I was finishing studies for my degree. You even attended a few classes with me as a toddler (and older). I wrote down my feelings in "The Thoughts Corner" of our Francis Family Newsletter about your first day of kindergarten. I was anxious and nervous that September day. I am sure you don't remember, but you might! You used to say you remembered events at five years of age!

I've watched you find your passion for the game of tennis at the tender age of 3 1/2 (can't forget the 1/2). You became a protective big sister at age four. Although baby sister gets on your nerves some times (I can relate to being a big sister-hee! hee!), you love her dearly. My nickname for you is "Ebonista," because of your love of fashion! Your daddy would say you get your style from him. Well......okay we can give him some credit, but you love to design because of me!! You caught the acting bug in the fifth grade after being chosen to play the lead role of Alice (Alice in Wonderland). You have a love for music and dance. You sing and dance every day (at our expense!), and of course I take credit for that! I love your creative side, for you remind me of myself! What am I/we going to do?

Now Press Forward

So you have me feeling some kind of way today. It could be because you requested I bake cupcakes for your classmates (a yearly tradition!) last night! This feeling is different, because now you have transitioned into a young teen. 13 is the number. TEENAGER!! I want to run, but I realize daddy and I won't get far, You and your sister (especially your sister) would find us! So we must face the fact that we are stuck with you and your sister too! It seems like it was just yesterday you were our little tween. Okay it was yesterday! You are now a seventh grader stuck in the middle for the next few months. Come this time next year, we will be finalizing where you will be going to high school in the fall of 2017. My where has the time gone? 

I thank God for giving us you my first light. Like I said we are on a journey. A journey that has so far transitioned you from infant to teen. Wow, life has been Amazing thus far! Like I said earlier, you have me feeling some kind of way. I am going to be feeling that some kind away for the next six years of "teendom." No actually I going to be feeling that some kind of way for the rest of my life. Daddy, little sister, and I love you, and we will be here through this transition and beyond. Happy Birthday my "No Longer a Tween, but a Teen at 13!"


Kaisha (Mommy)

Blog post copyright February 11, 2016
All Rights Reserved.
All photos provided by Kaisha S. Goring
Photos may not be reproduced, copied, or published elsewhere without written permission. All Rights Reserved.

Age 5.

Silliness!

In the third grade as Oprah!

Sisterly love!

Cutie!

Sisters for life!

Really?!!

My mini me in my island dress!