First Day Jitters are for Parents Too

I don’t know your name yet, but “thank you” to the child who was kind to my child on his first day of school. My son had already missed the first week due to illness, so he had a bit more first day jitters than usual. First day jitters are for parents too. If your child is on an IEP, those first day jitters are amplified.

All the kids were standing in line waiting to go into their classroom. Amazingly, a little boy walked up and started talking to to my son as if they had been friends for years.  Watching the two of them chit-chat put my mind at ease as my son walk in to his first day of middle school.  I mean, it couldn’t have gotten anymore perfect than that. I was finally able to take that much needed sigh of relief.

Honestly, first day jitters are just as much of a thing for parents as they are for kids, and this was middle school. I remember those years as being some of the hardest years of adolescence.  Let’s just say that I have been dreading this day for some time now.  We had our share of struggles in elementary school.  To be fair, so much so that the thought of holding him back a year did cross my mind.  I just wasn’t sure that he was ready both academically or emotionally.

He spent the previous year in a special day class designed for kids with learning differences.  Thankfully, the class was small with only 12 kids offering ample amounts of support and guidance.  It was a class where I knew he would be safe. He would be protected. Finally, he would have the support and accommodations he needed.  You can understand why the thought of sending him to a large middle school felt like I was sending him to the wolves.  To be fair, both the educators and staff assured me that he was ready for the transition to middle school. Deep down I knew he needed to go.  “Knowing” something doesn’t make it any easier. I still worry.

In short, here we are on his first day. First day jitters in full effect. I’m back home, All the normal questions and worries are running through my head. For instance, did he make it to his classes? Has everyone read his IEP? In addition, is he getting the proper accommodations? Is he doing ok?  Above all, there is one thing I am not worrying about today. I am not worried that he doesn’t have anyone to talk to. I’m not worried because of that one kind child who made my son feel welcomed.

Honestly, I don’t know if you two will become great friends. Maybe you will just be acquaintances. But, thank you for being so kind to my son. Thank you for making his and my first day a little easier.

Finally, if you want to read more about school and IEP life check out my post on Why we Don’t do Summer School.