Andrew started high school today. New school. New teachers, New aide. New bus drivers. New schedule. New challenges. New fears. He definitely could use a new mother to help navigate all this.
His old mother (me!) is filled with emotion as we enter this next phase of life. Flooded with memories about how far he's come, awed with all that he's accomplished, and terrified by some of the obstacles that no doubt lie ahead.
But just as we tell our kids not to fear the unknown and to persevere in times of challenge, and just as we tell our kids to try their hardest and not let the tough times dampen their spirits -- so must we as mothers and fathers follow these instructions. To that end, here are some specific things to keep in mind along the way:
1) Focus on the positives -- Stay grounded in all that's working, and try not to get hung up on what might need fixing. New staff, new building, new processes. We need to allow time for a learning curve. People will get it (and him) if we give them time to learn.
2) Aide progress -- Look for small ways to help your child and/or his school. Since high school is all about independence, we're going to direct our energies to finding ways for Andrew to gain independence. His principal spoke about this yesterday, and Andrew is pumped! Enhancing school/home communication is another key focus area.
3) Don't sweat the small stuff -- Life is an adventure and school is a big part of it. Don't let the daily minutia of problems overtake the joy of daily successes. Look for things to celebrate.
4) Enjoy the ride !
We spent countless hours working with our local school district to identify the best high school environment and program for Andrew. Now that school is about to begin, we are reminding ourselves that this is a commitment -- to our son, to his teachers and other expert resources, and to our family. Andrew is clearly committed to achieving success in high school. We must all commit to helping him in whatever ways (big and small) that we can.
Bring it on!
3 comments:
As always insightful and energizing! You and your family are amazing. And Andrew - well - you know how I feel about him. He inspires me always!
What an exciting day for everyone! Here's to a terrific high school experience for Andrew. Great picture, too - he's sitting up so tall ... and I love the faithful background.
Bus just dropped him back off after a long day. He's tired, but happily watching the Yankees as I type. First day down...many more to go. Thanks for the encouragement! I love my son, too.
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