I can’t help it. I’m one of those moms. You know the ones
that are excited for school to begin?
That’s me.
I’m not excited because it means that gives me a break from
them. Heck, if I could I’d be in their classrooms everyday making sure they are
paying attention, their shoes are tied and they carry the three in the math
problem.
Ok, not really, but sometimes I wish I could be.
What I’m looking forward to is their own excitement of
returning to class. I know children SAY they don’t want to go back but (secretly)
they kind of do.
The friends they don’t get to hang out with over the summer
will be there. The fall activities such as sports, drama and marching band are
things they enjoyed and look forward to. It gets them back to being creative,
talkative and interested in something again besides their phones which, and I know
you’d agree with me here, is something we all wish they would spend less time
with.
My stepdaughter checked Infinite Campus (our school portal)
for her new classes every day for about three weeks wondering when it would be
updated so she could see what her schedule would be. It’s new and exciting for her because she
is starting seventh grade and that means it will be her first year with more
than one teacher. She called me yesterday to tell me all about her classes and
which friends were in which class with her.
My son loved his schedule because he found out his science class
was his first class of the day and it is his absolute favorite. His teacher,
Mr. Rodrigue, he says, is the best and makes it so much fun for him to learn.
What mom wouldn’t get excited about hearing those words?
He also noticed he would be in Advanced Algebra and that, he
stated, was the hardest math class there was. He was happy about it but looked a little worried.
I told him he should take it as a compliment that his math teacher last year had
enough confidence in him that he thought he could handle it. He should be
proud. He was fine after hearing that.
My stepson, a junior this year, actually said his schedule
was “cool”. I’d call that winning!
I’m excited for them. I will take pics on their first day of
school (again) because that’s what moms do. We get to take two pictures a year:
the first and last day and post them for all the world to see. All the rest are candids (don’t tell the kids!). It won’t
be much longer until that stops happening. Begrudgingly, they smile for the
camera then turn and walk into the building where they will be spending so much
time. While they’re there, you’ll wonder and worry if they’re learning, paying
attention, doing their work and passing it in on time. You check the Infinite
Campus each day to make sure they aren’t behind on their assignments or if they
tell you they have no homework you ask them about the assignment it says is due tomorrow. So there really is homework? Well, what do you know!
I’m that parent.
I’m the one that will fuss about heavy backpacks, picture day and lunch money. I’ll
sometimes hover around the table while they’re working to be there just in case
they ask for help. I’ll make sure they have a way to transport their projects
they work so hard on to make sure they don’t get ruined before their presentation.
I’m excited!
I’m worried, too.
I will ask them who they sat with at lunch to make sure they
aren’t lonely. I’ll ask what they learned that day to see if anything sparked
their interest or if they’re having trouble in a subject. I’ll ask how they did
on their test last week and, if they didn’t do very well, ask them what they
think they can do or what they need to do better. Or if they did do well, I
will congratulate them and tell them to keep it up!
I’m here for them.
They haven’t gone through many things in their young lives
yet but, between myself and my husband, we have seen it all before. What is,
might be or could happen to them is not unique as teenagers have been, well,
teenagers for a million years. But they THINK
it is only happening to them and has never been experienced by anyone ever. Hopefully,
they feel comfortable enough to tell us about the things that bother them or
the situations they might be in and we can give them a little guidance along
the way.
Being a teenager is not easy.
Neither is being a parent.
Whatever you can do to keep the lines of communications open
between you and them, the teachers, the guidance counselors, the friends…keep
them open.
Be excited. Be worried. Be there.
Keep being the mom. 