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!

Transitions: Separation Anxiety

To have anxiety is to worry about what may happen. To separate is to divide or keep apart.  Put these two words together, and you have a problem! Okay parents and guardians, this one is for you.

Life Rewind 

Today is my birthday, and I am enjoying doing absolutely nothing! Okay I am writing this post, but that's beside the point! This morning just after 5:00 am, My hubby, second daughter, and I sent our first daughter off on a tennis and college tour trip to Chicago. My child has made it to the "Windy City" before me! I didn't get to take a sports trip by myself until I was in high school and on the track/cross country teams! Plus we were never gone for five days!!

As the family and I were watching the kids and coaches board bags, luggage, and themselves on the chartered bus, another parent took note of my calm demeanor. She said I seemed relaxed, like I have done this before. I have, for this is the third time I am seeing my daughter off on a five day trip to another state! This was the parent's first time sending her child off, who is just shy of a decade. My child had just turned a decade a few months before her first trip two years ago. Her tennis center was going to play in a tennis tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 

My baby on her first away trip!.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
Copyright July 2013.
All Rights reserved.

Now as the concerned parent and I were talking about the Chicago trip, I began to sense her concerns and her feelings of separation anxiety. Like this mom, I too had concerns when my first born took her first trip without the family. I kept telling myself that she would be fine, because we have family in South Florida. It also turned out that my husband was starting a job there, and would be able to check in on her. However, just the thought of my daughter traveling without us was messing with my head. Also I was upset about the timing, because we had just come back from our vacation in Miami. I, nor my youngest daughter got to see my eldest play.

The second year my daughter left me was last year, and again around my birthday!! Not cool planners of these tennis trips! I did voice my opinion on that last year, but I see my opinion doesn't count with these trips (which are planned about a year in advance-uh so is our family vacation!). Just like the first trip, the separation anxiety was there. The problem was the lack of information about what the itinerary would be for the kids. Also that parents were not encouraged to come on the trip. So even if you wanted to come watch your child play, you had to find your own way.

Basically you have to trust that the center has your child's best interest at heart. But when you are a parent who is giving his/her child permission to go on a long trip such as this for the first time, you want all the information possible. You have a right to know where, when, why, what, and how your child will be taken care when away. If you want to travel to see your child, then you have a right to go (even if you pay for your expenses). I have come to understand that this how the center operates, but this kind of operation doesn't put a parent's separation anxiety to rest. Especially in this day and time, the unknown can be dangerous. This is why my child has a phone now, which has kept my mind at ease so far. I can now communicate and see what she is doing via Face Time (ah technology!). 

Now Press Forward    

My baby bright/ early this morning.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
Copyright July 2015.
All Rights Reserved.

As I have been writing throughout today, my mind has been wondering about my daughter being away. She knows it was a privilege and honor (in which she worked hard for) to go on this trip. She plays well, but also had to do her school work (most of her summer packet) before getting the okay to go from my husband and I. Yet, I keep thinking about the conversation I had with the parent this morning. It turns out she has family in Chicago, and like me (with Florida), has been thinking about going to check in on her child. I explained that the children were going on an educational trip, and that they were not playing the traditional type of tennis tournament. What I learned from my child last year is they play against other kids from other tennis centers from across the country. Their main purpose for the trip is to get a feel for college life on campus. Last year, the kids went to Tennessee State and Fisk University. Giving the children (some who never get to travel outside of where they live) a head start in thinking about college (also hopes of getting a tennis scholarship) is a great idea. I think every child should have an opportunity to travel and learn about higher education.

I will say the tennis center does have the kids best interests at heart, and I see what they are trying to do. They will if anything give the children an opportunity to think and see beyond. The kids get to experience life as a college student, yet at younger ages while still getting their tennis on. My concern again goes back to parents like the mom this morning and myself from two years ago. There has to be a better way to put our minds at ease. There should be a first time parent orientation or a parent liaison, who can explain how these trips work. Parents should not just get the" trust us" routine. Even though we get information on where they are going to be, time to leave, and what to bring (blankets, pillows, money, etc.), it still feels like we the parents are out of the loop. It is almost like our presence will hinder what the tennis center wants to do. Parents like me will feel less anxiety when our questions are answered.

So I think an opportunity has presented itself again, in which at least a discussion can be had with the administration about putting parent separation anxiety at ease. I will say the mom from this morning did say that I helped put her mind at ease. I am glad I was able to ease her separation anxiety for even  a moment. Stay tuned for another installment of Life Rewinds, Now Press Forward.

Kaisha

Blog post Copyright July 6, 2015/July 7, 2015
All Rights Reserved.

Transitions: Look Who is Getting a Cellphone! Part One

From payphones to cellphones-my how times have changed. Life Rewind: As you know, I am the parent of a child who transitioned to middle school status. Now with that status comes the dreaded question, "when can I have a cellphone?" My answer: "I know where you are at all times, for I take you to school and practice after school." So of course this is not the answer my child wants to hear, but that was the answer she was getting! Plus she was not ready to handle such a big responsibility, 


 Now I grew up in the age of the big box cellphones (remember watching Miami Vice episodes and seeing those phones?!!) and pagers in the 80's. I didn't even get my first cellphone until the mid-90's when I was in my early twenties. If  I could make it without a cellphone, then my daughter should be able to make it without a cellphone. In my mind, this shouldn't be a problem for her. I know where she is all the time. Yet according to my daughter, she believes she should have one so she can communicate with her parents and for emergencies. Her case in point came when she had to answer a "persuasive question" that was part of her summer packet (last summer) for English. The question was, "why do you think it is important for you to have a cellphone, and how do you convince your parents?" Her answer was as follows:

"This summer I took a week long bus trip to Nashville, TN with my tennis camp coaches and teammates. I didn’t have my own cell phone to call home. I had to use one of my teammate’s cell phones to call my parents to tell them we had made it safely to Nashville. Sometimes I had to use one of my coaches’ cell phones to check-in with my parents, which was difficult. So that is why I need my own cell phone, so that I can stay in contact with my family. Also I can use the phone in case there is an emergency when I am away again."

Nice paragraph, and persuasive in her way, but she didn't get a cellphone. Most of her friends and students of various ages and grades have cellphones. So of course this adds to her reason of why she should have one. But I am not responsible for any of the other kids but my own. I know where she is, because either my husband or I transport her everywhere.

Yet, my daughter's point about being able to communicate with us in case of emergency is valid. There has been times when she needed to talk to us, but she had to use a friend's or coach's cellphone. Like the example she gave above, it was difficult when she was away in Tennessee. Although we were able to call her via the coaches' cellphones, time to talk was limited. The kids with cellphones were able to contact their parents when they needed, while my daughter had to ask permission (via friend's phone or coach). I then thought about how strange it may have been for a parent to see a foreign cellphone number (mine or husband's) on their monthly statement (that's only if the parent paid attention to who their child called).

Now Press Forward

So look who finally got a phone! Okay now don't think we just caved in! This event of my daughter finally getting a phone came after months and months of discussion (actually this journey started about a year or two ago!). Last month for Mother's Day, I finally told my family that I wanted to upgrade my ancient phone (this journey/transition will be part two!). The upgrade would be my gift. So on that day, my hubby and girls took me to the Sprint store. While being upgraded, my hubby decided he would upgrade his phone too. So in turn, our daughter was getting his IPhone 4 model. Now my hubby and I had already discussed this scenario with our daughter. So it was no surprise!

We didn't just hand over the phone, for I made sure to write-up a contract! There are rules and regulations, in which my daughter must follow! She knows it is an honor and privilege to have this cellphone, and that it can be taken away at any time (that statement was in bold print!). Signing the contract meant she read and understood the rules, regulations, and consequences. My hubby and I signed and dated the contract with her. We then made sure she had the proper settings, like being able to find her phone at any time. Also I downloaded appropriate games from the App Store, so that I know what she is playing. Plus she doesn't have a her own Apple ID, which is a concern. At age 13 she can get one herself, but I can create one for her as long as I use a credit card. But that's another story!  I personally programmed her contact list. Because I know her close friends and their parents, she was able to get their numbers (mom approved).

It' has been more than a month, and she still has her phone! The transition hasn't been all smooth, but it has been a learning experience for her and us. My husband and I check her phone every day to make sure there is nothing inappropriate on the phone. So far she is being responsible and we want to keep it that way (safety too). So this has been Part One of "Look Who is Getting a Cellphone! Stay tuned for Part Two of Life Rewinds, Now Press Forward.

Kaisha (author)

Blog post copyright June 25, 2015
All Rights Reserved.

Transitions: Pressing Forward in Grief

Sorrow. Sadness. These are words that describe grief. Life rewind: grief came for one of the most important people in my life-my husband. It was December 18, 2014, which was a cold but sunny day. After dropping our girls off at school, we decided to do some last minute Christmas shopping for them. After a few hours, we headed home. As usual one of us would check the the house phone to see if we missed any calls. We did. As I finished putting away some items, I heard a screech like I have never heard before... then a Crash. I quickly followed the sounds into the living room where I found my husband rocking back and forth in a chair with his hands pounding the top of his head. The phone was the crash I heard, and it was lying on the floor. I picked it up to hear the voice (my sister-in-law) on the line say my mother-in-law has just gone home to be with the Lord. The transition was sudden.

The news was hard to take, because just six weeks before (the night before I started a new job) my husband's aunt had made her transition onto the Lord. It was sudden. She was Ms. Geraldine Wallace, and my mother-in-law's wonderful sister. These two women were beautiful, caring, accepting, and loving mothers. I thank God for having them in my life. I will always cherish the time spent with my mother-in-law and aunt. I have taken this transition process to heart, because my husband, girls, and I were unable to spend time with them last year in the summer. Summer is the time we look forward to every year, because we love going to Miami (husband's hometown).

 I have felt regret, because we were not able to travel there last summer. Although the occasion was a home going service for his aunt, I am glad my husband was able to see his mom. They were close and had a special bond. Mrs. Goring was truly a Blessing to us all.

Press Forward: it has taken me the last five months to write my thoughts down. I actually had started this post back in January, but was unable to write. However, I did manage to write a tribute poem while on an Amtrak train with my family. We left on Christmas day. I don't know how the words came, but they did. I was able to finish "The Mrs. Gloria"while on the 20 plus hour ride to Miami. I only shared the poem with one other family member, but the grief was too overwhelming. So in my notebook it stayed.

The poem stayed in my notebook until last week. This month of May is when we celebrate Mother's Day, but in my mind..it is Mother's Day every day. So in honor of my mother-in-law, I decided to share my tribute with my husband and in-laws. After getting the okay from my sister-in-law, I decided to share with family and friends on my other blog site www.thejoniecefile.com. My husband and his siblings each have a copy, and I hope my words have brought some comfort and peace. 

As time goes on, I hope the sorrow and sadness lessen. Yet the memory of my mother-in-law will grow in the hearts of those she touched...her Blessings. Everyone grieves for a lost one in his or her way. I don't know if the healing process gets better over time like the saying goes. All I know is getting through grief is a transition, in which you must press forward.

Kaisha

Blog post Copyright May 14, 2015
All Rights Reserved.

Transitions: Part Two

In my last post, my eldest daughter was in the doom and gloom stage of the summer because of the summer packets she had to complete. I was also feeling the doom and gloom, because I had to help! Now don't get me wrong, for as a parent this is what I do. It is my job as well as my daughter's to make sure her school work gets done. But I must say we couldn't even enjoy the last two weeks before school started, because we were so "overwhelmed." Tennis camp was over, and now she had to really get on the grind. I was glad she was able to take a trip with her teammates and coaches earlier in the summer for a week. Ironically it had to do with school, but it was a college tour where she learned about being a college student. She even stayed in the dorms. It is never to late to get started early!

Life Rewinds

So we are now about a month into the school year, and the chaos is starting to simmer down. Sort of. The transition to middle school status for my daughter has not been easy. So it got me thinking about when I started middle school oh some years ago! The first thing that scared me was I had no clue about the middle school (or middle school in general). I went to Rippon Middle School in Dale City, Virginia. It was located a distance from our house, and you had to take the bus. If I missed the bus, then I was short. I was a latched key kid, so you know how that goes! As a matter of fact, I missed the bus on my first day of 6th grade, because I didn't know to catch the bus down the hill on the next street (not on my street where the bus drops you off in the afternoon)! So I walked back home scared of how I was going to explain missing the bus to my parents!

Other things that scared me about transitioning to the sixth grade was adjusting to changing classes and lockers!! Okay lockers scared me, because I didn't know how to use the combination lock! My locker was so clean when we had locker checks! I used to carry my books or leave them in my homeroom desk (sometimes an empty desk)! What was going through my eleven year-old mind?!! I was not prepared, and being a shy/quiet child didn't help. I was scared to ask for help. Do you see the reoccurring theme?

Now Press Forward

In order to get my new sixth grader to have a better transition than I did, I had to give her the facts.

• She had to know: Her parents are here to support her, and that she can come to us for anything.
• She had to know: Her mama was "scared" on her first day/weeks of the sixth grade!
• She had to know: How to maneuver her way through the halls of school to get to classes on time. It was chaotic the first week, because no one was there to guide the new students. Now this was upsetting to me, because my child is new to this school. Yes, she did two day visits, but she was visiting with the fifth grade class where you only have one teacher! She did not know about homeroom, and that she would have to change classes for other subjects. Plus who hands you a schedule of classes and dismisses you out in the halls of chaos to find your way?
• She had to know: She could not leave her personal things in the classroom or desk, because she has a locker now! *Twilight moment for me now!
• She had to know: More was going to be expected of her now, because she is in middle school. Even though the school starts from Pre-k3 and 4 and goes to the eighth grade, her elementary days were over. Middle school has their own floor on the third level.
• She had to know: She has to be even more responsible for her personal items, books, assignments, schedule, homework, grades, and paying attention to all the classes/subjects.
• She had to know: She is going to learn (the hard way) how to be organized! 

How do you get organized with all the subjects and classes you now have to take? That is a question we had to tackle head-on, because like I said before-chaos!! So in order to keep some sanity, I had my daughter label all her folders and compositions books. It looked a little something like this:

Seven subject folders.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
All Rights Reserved.

Labeled composition books and folders.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
All Rights Reserved.

Now once everything was labeled, she placed the matching (labeled) composition book inside the corresponding folder. I can't say this is definitely working, because I have found other subjects mixed up in some of her folders (ex: music worksheet inside social studies folder)! Still working on it!

One item I had to take care of was the combination lock for her locker. Thank goodness she is better at opening a combination lock than I was at her age! To help her locker stay organized, I purchased on clearance for $4.38 (was $14.99 at my favorite Red Boxed store) a stackable locker shelf. She wanted to be able to separate her morning class books, folders, and notebooks from her afternoon classes! She is learning! Since I don't think you can take photos of the school lockers (you know school property!), the third photo shows how the shelf will look inside her locker. The pieces just snapped together inside the locker, and there you have it -organization! I also got her a magnetic pencil/pen holder and a magnetic wire basket to hang inside her locker. Both were one clearance for under $1 each. Parents you know this is the best time to buy more back to school items-when they're on CLEARANCE!!!

Just four parts to shelf!
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring

Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
All Rights Reserved.

Magnetic pencil/pen holder and wire
basket.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring

Locker shelf put together.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring

ALWAYS CHECK THE
CLEARANCE AISLE!!
ESPECIALLY A FEW WEEKS
AFTER SCHOOL STARTS!!












Now those of you parents, guardians, and caregivers who are old school like me may remember those infamous Trapper Keeper binders! You know the 3 ring binder with the Velcro snap in front that drove our parents and teachers crazy with that snapping sound! I decided to get one for my daughter, but I had to bring it 2014 style! So I bought a more update version  (also on clearance!). It has a type of water proof material with a handle and shoulder strap! As you can see, the binder holds her scheduler, pocket dictionary, calculator, loose leaf paper, folder tabs, has pockets in front and back to hold paperwork, and she can keep her little bag of supplies in there too.

Outside of binder.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring

Inside of binder.
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring

Now these are a few things I have done to help my daughter with this new transition to middle school. Lord knows I am doing my best to keep her and myself sane through this process. Like I said before, it has not been an easy process. Plus she is not the only child I have going through a transition. There is my daughter in first grade who has her own issues. Thank goodness it is not as hectic as her big sister's situation!! Then again I will see this situation again once she gets to the 6th grade! Lord help me now!



So what is your Life Rewind? How are you handling the chaos of school? Has it simmered down? Feel free to leave a comment, and tune in next time to Life Rewinds Now Press Forward.

Blog post copyright October 9, 2014

Author: Kaisha S. Goring

Photos by Kaisha S. Goring

All Rights Reserved.

Transitions: Part One

Fall
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
All Rights Reserved.

Winter (Blizzard '10)
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
All Rights Reserved.

Like fall to winter, winter to spring, spring to summer, and summer to fall, we all transition like the seasons. To transition, means to change from one condition, form, or place to another. Somethings are easy to transition to, while other things are going to take some time. Take for instance, it is back to school season for just about everyone. Whether your child is going to daycare for the first time, pre-school, kindergarten, middle school, high school, college (which also pertains to adults going back to school), you and your child(ren) are transitioning. No matter what stage of the transition you are in, the question is: how do you handle it?

Life Rewind

Spring
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
All Rights Reserved.

I finally came to the realization that I was in a transition earlier this year when we got the news that my girl's school would close its doors in June. This was in February at the height of winter. So my husband and I had to make a mad dash to find the next school for our girls (along with other parents). But before I could do that, I would spend time in the parking lot (after taking the kids in of course!) of the soon to be old school having mad discussions with other parents about our situation! We all had to vent about what we as parents were going to do next, because our lives were about to rewind. We would have to start the process all over again with calling, interviewing, and scheduling school visits with new schools. For the next few months, we would ask each other: "where is your child going?" The challenge for each parent was how we were going to help our kids transition to a new setting, a new group of friends, a new school. Like my eldest daughter, many of her classmates had started at the school together from pre-k3-k4 to kindergarten. She had six years, in which she had formed special friendships and relationships with teachers and administration. My youngest had one year to form her new kindergarten relationships after transitioning from her "old school" as she likes to say. Now they had to say good-bye to the old and prepare for the new. Transitions.

Summer (Great Falls-Maryland)
Photo by Kaisha S. Goring
All Rights Reserved.

Good-bye and Hello

So spring came with graduations (kindergarten for my youngest), hugs, kisses, promises to keep in touch and schedule play dates, and the doors to the old school closed. Summer camp and vacation time is here!!! Oh Yeah!! Rewind! Yeah school is out, but don't think you will not be doing any school work this summer. It is time for mama's school, because tennis camp starts in two weeks! Awwww........ Okay it wasn't all doom and gloom for my babies (they will tell you it was), for we did other activities. See my Great Falls-Maryland side photo?!!!  Anyway doom and gloom did show up after we received the summer packets from the new school. My new six grader got most of the gloom when she saw the following: 

3 book reports from the Reader's Workshop, which includes a work cite page, a cover page, a summary page, and a reflection/recommendation page.

10 prompt essays from the Writer's Workshop (no specification on how long each should be).

1 music essay on the Folklife Festival

1 research paper on Discovering Ancient Africa, which includes a poster of your choice of either the Ghana, Mali or Songhai Empires, 2 sentences on religion, society, government, art, importance of the Trans-Saharan trade routes, then 5 sentences or more of at least one object explaining what it was used for and why it was important, then answer the 3 refection questions at the bottom of the paper that must be attached to your poster.

1 religion paper on the Christian Denomination and History, which is the last page of the packet labeled for the 7th grade.

1 religion packet

1 math packet

1 science packet

1 music packet

1 Spanish packet

1 Reading Challenge Contest log

The rest of her summer was doomed. Was this the sixth grade or was this an entrance requirement for high school/college? My new first grader got a mixed packet of math, writing, spelling, reading, and one Spanish packet. Yeah?!! So mama had to put aside her little assignments, in which I thought was helping the girls transition. I (aka mama) was going back to school for the rest of the summer with my first and sixth graders, because all that work listed above had to be turned in on the first day of the new school. My life has just been rewinded back to the first and sixth grade, and now I must figure out how to press forward.

So What is Your Life Rewind?

Do you ever feel like your life is rewinding? How do you press forward? How are you dealing with your children's back to school transitions? Feel free to comment. Tune in next time on Life Rewinds, Now Press Forward.

Blog post by Kaisha S. Goring

Copyright September 20, 2014

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