New Beginning
The first day of school is always a big deal around here, but this year it was extra exciting. For one thing, my baby started grade four today. Grade Four! As she informed me this morning, that's older than Arthur! Even bigger however, was the fact that she left the primaries behind at a new school.
No, not that one. The waiting list still stands, and frankly I think we're both reconciled to the fact that that particular ship sailed without Diva Girl--a pill made both more difficult and yet easier to swallow by the knowledge that Heather was on board. She's going to a different new school. One a little farther from home--she'll bus rather than walk now--and yet in our boundary area whereas her old school was not. I'm pretty sure that Buddygate didn't have anything to do with our loss of a boundary waiver--that decision was made months before I was chased across the schoolyard by a screaming ex-babysitter--but it, and the principal's response to the harassment Diva Girl endured as a result of the situation certainly played a role in my decision to simply enroll Diva Girl in the local Catholic school rather than pursue the matter with the school board.
It's a pretty big step, changing schools, and I agonized over my decision--especially about moving her from the public to the Catholic board--but in the end, I was confident that I made the right choice. Diva Girl, however, was less sure. After all, the devil you know and all that. But eventually she resigned herself to the prospect. There were some tears, to be sure, but not as many as I might have expected from my deeply emotional, resistant to change girl. And this morning she was up, bright eyed, bushy tailed, and eager to face this new day. Of course, her super trendy new outfit, spankin' Groovy Girls messenger bag, and deeply coveted new Sktechers might have had something to do with that, but I never claimed not to be a clever mama. It's hard enough going into a strange new world, without looking looking like the dork whose mom buys cast offs from 1997 off the sale rack when you do it, so Diva Girl was perhaps a wee bit more tricked out than she would usually be for the first day of school. But that little bit of psychology worked, because she couldn't wait to get ready for school.
Going to school, however, was a slightly different prospect. I mean, she was game enough, but not so secretly relieved when a snafu with our bus assignment lead to Grandpa driving us to school this morning. To be completely honest, I didn't much mind the mix up either; it let me ease my comfort level by seeing her safely settled in her new space without bruising her dignity by implying that she just wasn't quite ready for the whole school bus experience. This way I got to introduce her to the principal, who in turn introduced her to a whole group of Grade 4 girls and had a buddy all picked out for her long before the first bell rang. When I left, she was still silent and shy (a nearly unheard of state for the Diva Girl), but clearly starting to bask in her "new kid" cachet.
That glow lasted long beyond the final bell; when I picked her up, the reticent, unsure little girl had been replaced by a beaming ball of energy who simply could not stop talking about how much she loved her new school. The little knot of worry I've carried around since enrolling her in May finally popped then, and the tiny voice that has been whispering "are you sure this is such a good idea?" all summer is finally silent. I've never seen Sabrina so enthusiastic about a first day of school. Now, let's just hope that enthusiasm is still there when it's time to start the homework.
Comments
Yey way to go Diva girl sounds fantastic. Am sure the school bus will be a great adventure too!
Whoo Hoo, Diva Girl! She looks so adorable!
