Transitions: A Long Walk Outside The Hood

Life Rewind

Warrior Walkers!
©July 2017

My avid walker husband has managed to turn his used to be avid runner
wife into a weekend warrior walker! It doesn't matter when or where, for the hubby is bound to go walking. Throughout the years, I have accompanied my husband on long walks through and around our neighborhoods, but I have never really paid attention to the surroundings. I am used to the daily routine of hopping in the car and going about our daily business of school and work. One day I see an abandoned building on the corner lot of despair. Then the next month there's a fence around it with signs of renovations about to begin. There are a lot of transitions happening inside and outside of our neighborhood. It's one thing to see the changes from inside the car, but seeing the changes up close on foot is another eyeopening experience.

So when my husband asked me to take a walk with him outside of our current neighborhood last summer, I said okay. What I thought was just an ordinary walk to get fit and stay healthy, turned into a walk of discovery about the city we call home. We have been Washington, DC. residents for the past 15 and half years. For twelve years we lived in the NE quadrant section of the city by the infamous R.F.K Memorial Stadium where Washington's football, baseball, and soccer teams have played. Unfortunately, the stadium is a shell of itself. However, there are still events taking place there from time to time. It also happens to have an expansive parking lot, which is a great spot to teach a teen how to drive!

R.F.K Memorial Stadium Event
© September 2016

 What I liked most about the area when we lived in the neighborhood was the walking and running path. It is located on the outskirts of the stadium. There is also a playground located along the path, but closer to the residential homes. We would often take the kids down to the playground, roller skate, and taught them to ride bikes. The path around the stadium was also where my husband and I would often walk. Also I would attempt to channel my inner Flo Jo and run (not really, for my knees say otherwise!).

Trail next to Suitland Pkwy
© June 2018

For the past three and half years we have lived in the SE quadrant of the city. I guess the landmark I can give would be the infamous Suitland Parkway located just off the 295 highway, and one of the roadways to Prince Georges County Maryland (oh the morning and afternoon traffic headaches!). Another landmark that folks in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) would know is the historic Barry Farms. It is a Southeast neighborhood located east of the Anacostia River, and is about to undergo redevelopment and revitalization by the DC Housing Authority (stay tuned). Just like our former Northeast neighborhood, our Southeast neighborhood and surroundings are going through some transformations. It has been within this past year of taking walks with my husband that I have begun to appreciate the changes. I have begun to document our walks by taking photos of the sites we have passed while stopping to read some of the history markers that are located in various locations.

Now Press Forward

Now pressing forward to let us say two weeks ago, my husband and I managed to walk three days out of the fourth of July week (yes we walked on the 4th!). It was exhausting, but I pushed myself enough to tackle some hills. I had to channel my inner self from my cross country days in high school. Our walk normally starts with us walking down hill (Stanton Road) towards Suitland Parkway, crossing the parkway, and then walking through the neighborhood on the other side of Stanton Road. We then would walk through the streets of historic Anacostia to get to the Fredrick Douglass Memorial Bridge.

View of the Douglass Bridge
coming from Suitland Pkwy
© June 2018

Now family and friends who know me may remember that I had a phobia of driving or riding in a vehicle across bridges. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island to Brooklyn in New York is to blame. Back in the day we took family trips to Brooklyn to visit extended family, and the sight of the bridge literally was terrifying as a kid. Although the suspension bridge still freaks me out as an adult, I now appreciate its industrial beauty! My phobia may have subsided throughout the years, but walking across the Douglass Bridge tends to bring back the fear of falling into the river below. The bridge shakes when driven across, and walking across is no better. The Douglass bridge is a swing bridge that carries South Capitol Street across the Anacostia River, and one of a few bridges that connects Southeast to the rest of the city. Southeast is only accessible via a bridge. I have managed to channel my inner calm of silence when crossing by foot, which means my husband can't talk to me until we are completely across the bridge! Once we walk over the swing section of the bridge, I am in my "Thank you Jesus" mode! Check me out!

I can do this!
© June 2018

                  

               I made it across!
          © June 2018

Douglass Bridge from
South Capitol Street
© July 2018

A long walk outside the hood means just that. On average, my husband and I walk approximately six miles round trip. Our long walks tend to last about two and half to three hours, because we tend to stop to take in the view. To be frankly honest, our long walks give us that much needed couple time away from our offspring! Shh...don't tell the kids! We have found walking outside of our neighborhood is very intriguing with an insight to DC history. At times we have accidentally stumbled upon unknown sites. One little unknown site we discovered on July 7th was the Field House, which was hosting a viewing of the World Cup. It's like an outside bar area located just in back (depending on which street you are on) of the new DC United Soccer Stadium. The stadium had it's grand opening last weekend (July 14th). When we had discovered the Field House, the event guide at the gate stated the site had only been open for about a month. Residents from the neighborhood (Southwest quadrant of the city), military personnel from nearby Ft. Lesley J. McNair Army Post (I used to work on the post!), and other folks heard about it through word of mouth. 

Inside the Field House
located outside Audi Field.
© July 2018

 The Field House
perimeter fence with Ft. McNair
in the background. © July 2018

I am sure the Field House was packed during the World Cup final. Shout out to France for winning the World Cup! I liked how the countries that had played in the World Cup Series were represented by their flags posted along the perimeter fence.  The Field House is free to get in with ID check, and very family and pet friendly. At the time of our visit, there was just one LED video screen, bars to buy beer and soft drinks, and two food trucks (more to come).  There was also a game area for the kids to play. The field and soccer stadium is located directly across from the Nationals Park (baseball stadium), which makes it one of the prime locations to hangout for social gatherings and sporting events. This Southwest area is known as Buzzard Point. The     hubby and I plan to bring the kids by the Field House soon. They were curious as to why we had stamps on our hands when we got back to the house! For more information on the Field House, check out the website www.fieldhousedc.com. 

I hope to document more sites from our long walks, for this experience has given me a reason to keep writing. I hope to share a little more of the many transitions that are taking place throughout the city for which I live. I have enjoyed seeing and experiencing the Nation's Capital outside my hood on foot. I've seen a lot of changes thus far, and there is more to come. Stay tuned.

Kaisha


Photos courtesy of Kaisha S. Goring
Blog post copyright © July 23, 2018
All Rights Reserved.

                                                                                                                         

Transitions: Middle School Blues...The Roadrunner, The Mustang, and The Lion (Part Two)

"Maybe the decision has been made for you." G. Goring

Life Rewind

I heard the statement above came from a very wise sister. It was true, for the decision had already been made for us. A "Higher Power" had intervened, which finally put my mind at ease. When I last posted, we as a family had eliminated one school from the list. It was a hard choice, because logistically it was the best location to the house! But the main factor for not accepting the offer to enroll in the school was financial. I will reiterate by saying, " Thank Goodness financial aid and scholarships are available." All of the questions I asked in my last post are what we along with other parents are dealing with. These questions we will be revisited four years from now. Not to mention there is a sibling not too far behind.

So yes, the teen was offered a full scholarship to one school for her upcoming freshmen year this fall! She was also offered partial financial aid to attend the other school remaining! Although she was not offered a scholarship or financial aid from the eliminated school, she was recognized as an Honorable Mention Visual Arts Student. She fell into the upper echelon of the 2017 applicants who had applied for this scholarship, and that is a wonderful honor! The question was do we take the full scholarship or the partial financial aid leaving us to make up the difference? The answer seems obvious right? Yeah we thought so too, but we had some pondering sleepless nights!

The Lord really does work in mysterious ways! The remaining  two schools came down to the order of choice the teen had. One school was first choice on her list. It had the academic courses and sports activities she wanted. The other school also had the academic courses, but did not have the one sport she plays-tennis! Would she be okay with not playing on a high school tennis team? One school we had toured during Open House in the fall of 2016, the other school we didn't attend due to scheduling. One school the teen did a shadow visit for earlier in the school year, the other she didn't. So this is about the time the "Higher Power" of the Lord intervened.

The teen's third choice happened to be the school we didn't tour, didn't shadow visit, and didn't have a tennis team. The school also happened to have a later deadline for parents to accept and enroll their children. We didn't know about the later deadline, because we hadn't received the acceptance packet yet. So in the final third week to decide on the other two choice schools, my husband and I visited the third choice school. We managed to get a last minute shadow visit for the teen, and found out the school did have a tennis team once upon a time! We would just have to see if it was possible to have a team again. In terms of logistics, the distance of the school is closer to her current school. This means she won't be far from her little sister! This school also happens to be the school, in which she can attend with the full scholarship she was offered. Also based on the teen's standardized testing scores and grades, she was recommended to be placed in honor courses as a designated Augustine Scholar! Thank you Jesus for being our "Higher Power!" To Him I give all the Glory and Praise!!

The teen and little sister
representing! Photo by
K.S. Goring

Now Press Forward

The decision really had been made for us, and we just needed to accept that the Lord knew exactly where the teen needs to be this fall. My wise sister confirmed it for us. It has been a long middle school journey that concludes in a month. But a new chapter in this journey will begin this fall. We thank all three school administrations for recognizing and accepting our teen to attend their high schools.

The Roadrunner (known for Speed), the Mustang (known for Power), and the Lion (known to be Fierce) represent unique qualities. The teen has these unique qualities and more. She is known for her speed, power, and her fierceness! I can see why these schools were her choices. However, she can only attend one high school. This fall she will be FIERCE, and represent the school of the LION!

Kaisha
Blog post Copyright ©May 3, 2017
All Rights Reserved.

Transitions: Middle School Blues...The Roadrunner, The Mustang, and The Lion (Part One)

Life Rewind

 The day is February 17, 2017, and at approximately 3:00 pm the words (Photo to the right) and "Welcome to the Class of 2021" came through our phones via an email alert. It was the news we had been waiting to see since December 2016.  These past few months have felt like when I was a teen waiting to hear back from colleges/universities that I had applied to back in the day. When I last wrote, the family was stressed (some more than others-ME) about high school placement testing, filling out high school applications, essay questions, teacher recommendations, and financial aid forms. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines! The anticipation became intense when we kept receiving emails from the schools stating that decision time was fast approaching!

Now as I have explained before, this whole applying to high school (a Catholic school) is all new to my husband and myself. Both of us have a public school educational background from primary, middle, and high school. The public schools in the bounds of our neighborhood (for me the military base) are where we attended. We chose the private school route for the children, because the neighborhood school (nine years ago when the teen was in kindergarten) in our old Northeast neighborhood was closing. Family friends told us about the Catholic school their children were in and recommended the school to us. After touring the school at an open house and the now teen doing a shadow visit, we made the decision to send her there. Our youngest was able to attend one year of kindergarten, until the school closed three years ago.

The Roadrunner, the Mustang, and the Lion are the mascots that represent each of the Catholic high schools the teen applied to. Given the competition among area Catholic high schools, we were limited to just applying to three schools which were ranked (in a sense) by first, second, and third choice. As a just in case, we applied to a prestigious public high school that she could attend by lottery because of out of bounds restrictions (not a neighborhood school in our Southeast area). So on  acceptance day February 17, 2017, the Roadrunner, the Mustang, and the Lion all wanted the teen to come join their school as part of the class of 2021!

Exciting!! The teen's current school had just dismissed classes at about 3:30 pm. As soon as she got in the car, we told her the great news! The teen could barely keep her composure sitting in the car reading all three emails! She didn't even give it time to sink in. Before we knew it, she was running down the sidewalk back to her friends gathered in front the school spilling the beans!! Hugs, smiles, high fives, and words of congratulations from her friends and teachers were in order. So we let her enjoy the moment.

So with that flashback, I must...

Now Press Forward

The moment would not last long, because what lurked around the corner was again deadlines, deadlines, deadlines!! By the following week, we received the acceptance packets from two of the schools with information about the registration and financial process. The deadline to accept and register for either school was fast approaching. Three weeks was all we had to decide which school the teen would attend in the fall. The decision was easy to make-right? She was accepted to all three, but only one school could reign supreme! Decision made-Right? Wrong. The decision only became harder when the reality of how are we going to pay the tuition kicked in.

We have always understood the challenge of being financially responsible for our children's education. The teen has been attending private school for nine years and the youngest for four years. Challenging may not be the right word at this moment, but it is right at this moment for some of us "Blues" parents. Whether your child attends a public, private,or charter school, the issue always comes down to M-O-N-E-Y! Then there is the thought of paying for college. If you have multiple children, then the cost for education is even greater.

Thank goodness financial aid and scholarships are available. What happens when you are awarded a scholarship or a substantial financial aid amount to cover part of the tuition? Are you financially capable to make up the difference? What happens if you don't receive a financial award or scholarship for your child(ren)? There is also the scenario of receiving aid for one school, but not the other. What if the school that you really wanted to send your child to, is the one that you didn't receive the financial aid for? These are questions some parents are dealing with at this moment as registration for freshman classes fill up at various schools.

So what is the right answer, and what did we decide? I can say at this point one of the schools has been eliminated. Whether it was the Roadrunner, the Mustang, or the Lion you will have to stay tuned for part two.

Kaisha

Blog post Copyright March 31, 2017
All Rights Reserved.

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!

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

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