We are off to Middle School. 1500 kids in this school, 40 buses getting them there and back. Football teams, wrestling teams, cheerleaders. Lockers. Security guards in the hall. Its enormous. The band teacher declared that all us parents were officially "band parents" by virtue of having a child in his band class. We have to purchase PE uniforms because they dress down in gym now. Which means locker rooms.

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

Older Son is ready to move on. The 6th graders that were there all seem as anxious and excited as he is. Mom is not quite as ready.

I went with Older Son's day (my ex-husband), my current husband, and my son. I was worried about that, until I saw the haggard looking mom wearing the baggie Hooters sweat pants and the wrinkled Budweiser shirt (no joke... not sure quite what impression she was going for).

Speaking of clothes, I took Older Son school shopping this afternoon where I was reminded in store after store how uncool I was. Older Son didn't say a thing, but my reluctance to buy anything with skulls on it really just tagged me as uncool. I'm officially middle-aged and mom-like now. We did end up compromising on a few items, so he's not going to be a total geek -- but we passed on the skulls with the Virgin Mary shirts and items such as that.

In any case, we start on Tuesday. The first few weeks will be hectic while he learns his schedule and all the other new logistics -- like how to find his bus among the 40 at the end of the day within 8 minutes, and how to figure out the lunch room, and does he know how to work the locker, etc.

We wrote a lot of strategies into his IEP in anticipation for this, but now we sit back and wait and let the system work.

Its going to be a rough month. I'm going to need a lot of wine. :)

ugh - my 6th grader is nervous and he in the same Catholic school that he has been in for years and I'll be teaching down the hall - I can't image what you have coming up to keep him running on an even keel. Good luck and keep us posted!

Wow. I think I need a glass of wine just reading that.

Um...the Dragon got an owie today?

Gosh and we're just staring down first grade. Good luck Kat.
Also you aren't a hip parent if your kids aren't dressed from head to toe in flaming skulls.

My English grandmother (imagine the Monty Python 'Penguin on the Telly' Sketch and you have my Nana) of all people sent the boys shirts with skulls on them, twice.

GirlWho has a thing for skulls. She has informed me that she wants her room decorated in "hot pink, red, and black, and with lots of scary things." We let her have the skull t-shirts as long as they aren't gory. Her fave has skulls with pink bows.
We're staring down first grade. I can't imagine middle school. Oy.

My oldest just started 4th grade at a new school and things seem to be going smoothly, except that is one-on-one aide wasn't there the first two days and when I went to pick him up and asked how his first day was, the teacher looked completely worn out and told me all about their "fun" day. Even though he is only in 4th, I'm already freaking about what will happen when it comes time for middle school. The middle schools here are so big and I just can't imagine how he will survive. They don't even have any smaller charter schools. I know I'm going to be a mess when it comes time.