As a sentimental twin mommy, that simple word “rising” has soothed my nostalgic soul all summer. Incomprehensibly, the day after Labor Day, our two will be matriculating into middle school. MIDDLE SCHOOL. Thankfully, for now, these precious, waning days of summer, they’re still rising sixth-graders.
Seems like only yesterday we were scouring the aisles of Walmart and Target, collecting crayons, handwriting practice paper with dotted central lines, Clorox wipes, and Germ-X by the gallon. Prized finds like a My Little Pony lunch box or a pocket folder with Doc Hudson from Cars would buoy our collective enthusiasm for the school year ahead.
This year, protractors, calculators and Spanish-English dictionaries found their way onto our supply list. Folders and lunchboxes of course are still needed, but the featured designs our two selected are far more “mature.” (Thankfully, not Miley Cyrus-mature, but less-“kiddie” to be certain.) Mandated binders with 3” rings indicate a predictably intensified workload.
Reminiscing and maternal mushiness aside, it is a time of revitalized excitement… new experiences and academic adventures await. Here are a few we’re looking forward to—or at the very least—getting ready for:
RIDING THE BUS
Plenty of little scholars master mass transit early in their educational career. Not us. Proximity to our elementary school allowed walking—on the rare occasion when got up early enough to do so. More often than not, Mom’s car-service (okay, you caught me, van-service) provided drop-off at our grade school’s front door.
Previously, our two had voiced a bit of bus envy; now’s their long-awaited chance to partake in those wheels that go “round and round.” The tweens on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down….
PLENTY OF PERIODS
(not the feminine hygiene product-requiring kind, although surely those will be on the rise in these next few years as well…)
Fourth and fifth grades included some cursory “class rotation,” but not the orchestrated extravaganza that will ensure that each student gets equal time in their accelerated subject pursuits. Go on, ring dem bells.
LEARNING THE LOCKERS
Cubbies go bye-bye. Time for secure storage of substantial scholarly tomes. Some sage wisdom we were grateful to receive (and implement): Get a combination lock and have your middle-schooler-to-be master it before the first day. Easing that between classes chaos with a bit of lock confidence—especially on that potentially stressful first day of school—might help them stand a little straighter, and maybe make some new friends when they help others conquer their combination anxiety.
LOSING LUNCHBOX LOVENOTES
As parents, we have made the decision our children will not have/do not need cell phones. (We’re actually optimistic their middle school won’t allow them anyway…) Texting our support to our scholars mid-day is not an option. My tyrannical stranglehold on superfluous tech is matched only by my desire to lavish love upon my little darlings when they’re “away.” Heretofore, a napkin note or positivity-laced Post-it frequently (okay, daily) found its way into each child’s lunchbox. With kindness, the request to halt the Hallmark moments has been made.
Face it, Mommy (or do we need to transition to “Mom?”). Your babies are growing up.
Hug ‘em hard in the morning and let them go….but only after getting that annual first day picture with backpacks on.
