So the first week of school is almost at a close and boy have I ever had a lot of time to think. Change is part of life, it’s inevitable. What changes for each of us molds who we are and puts us along a path that is sometimes trecherous and unkind, challenging and rewarding. This week I have been on an emotional rollercoaster of feelings. I have tears flood onto my shoulders from both Sydney and her brother and I have done my fair share of crying both alone and on my husbands shoulder. I feel for the kids going into a new environment, a new school, new students, new classrooms, new everything. I have convinced them that this change is for the better and in a while everything won’t seem so scary. On Wednesday morning I explained how we’ve already been through the worst because the first day of anything is always the one that is the worst. One day at a time all that is new will begin to feel comfortable.

Sydney has taken her anxiety and put it along in her backpack. It erupts from her and overcomes her but with a combination of maturity and surroundings it has brought out a part of her that has made me so proud. Don’t misunderstand this week has been exceptionally difficult because there are so many things that are hard to explain to others that don’t know our background. Just in the schoolyard today another little boy in Sydney’s class was crying and the little girl in front of Sydney was asking what was wrong, “Why is he crying, I wonder what happened to him?”. I couldn’t help myself because this seemed like a great opportunity to explain things to her. I said, “You know sometimes boys and girls get overwhelmed by everything that is going on and they can become very sad or afraid. That’s why I’ve been coming into class with Sydney this week because I want to make sure she’s not so afraid. Her old school didn’t have so many people and it’s all very new.” She looked at me and shook her head in agreement. The line began to move and we continued into the school. This little girls locker is right beside Sydney’s so we got Sydney’s agenda out of her bag and the little girl turned to Sydney and said, “You know Sydney I have a little stuffed animal that I take to school with me every day. I don’t let anybody see it but I know it’s in the bottom of my bag if I feel a little sad or miss home.” “What a great idea” I replied and although Sydney did not verbally respond a little smile of understanding twigged on Sydney’s face. I suggested that perhaps Sydney and her should sit together and they did.  At lunchtime Sydney asked me if this little girl could come over for a playdate. What a step in the right direction.

The thing I have to continue to remember in order to quell my own anxiety is that the people in that building are there to help Sydney and despite the fact that it’s a big scary place; we’ve gone from a school of 250 to a school of 600 it’s there to help her be the best person she can be. Already in the last four days she’s completed 90% of all the work that has been asked of her, she’s come home with her agenda every night and asked us to sign it after completing her homework and she’s run out of school with her backpack bouncing on her back and a smile on her face and lunged into my arms. One step at a time and in her own time. I’m so lucky that so far that the school has been so understanding, has let me decide when to leave and is proud of her accomplishments. Praising every effort that she makes and making her feel that she is capable of doing anything she puts her mind too is what this first week has been all about. It works double fold because it reassures me that despite the fact that this change in our lives has not been easy it reaffirms that it’s all part of life and with the right attitude and support one can go as far as they dare to dream.

Let’s hope that the road forward continues just like this. In the meantime I have to say I’m really happy it’s Friday and can’t wait to sleep in!

How has your week gone so far? Any good experiences that you’d like to share!