Monday, September 1, 2008

School starts tomorow...

Tonight Rose #1 finally started sobbing - she is nervous about starting school. I was wondering why she didn't seem more nervous. I remember being nervous myself before each school year started, but I think Rose #1 has more reason than the normal new school year jitters to be afraid. She has to climb onto that school bus tomorrow, face a bunch of kids she doesn't know, and she has a different body than everyone else. I almost can't type it out, I almost can't even think of it. What if the kids are mean to her? I am not that worried about her classmates - they will all be under the watchful eye of Mrs. Swenson - but I am worried about the bus. Kids can be so horrid.

What is the right thing to say to her? I thought about saying that if she wants to wear long sleeves and hide her hand, for the first day, or for the first week or first month, that's OK. I thought about saying that no one will notice and everything will be fine. I thought about saying that anyone who teases her has a small heart and isn't worth the dirt on her shoe.

In the end, I settled on: "You are perfect exactly the way you are. We love you more than anything. There is nothing wrong with you. You are going to do a great job in first grade."

I hope that was right. I am making this stuff up as I go along.

1 comment:

Jill said...

I think saying that is the best thing for her. I am surprised she wasn't more nervous before then, but I think she is a tough girl and will make friends and love school just like at her old school. Tell her that Jill loves her and to remember that we all love her for just who she is. Give the girls a kiss for me, I miss them so much.