Back to School 2022

Isaac is starting fifth grade and Eloise is starting second grade this year—the same grade Isaac was in when we arrived. Eloise picked out a new cheetah shirt for her first day. Isaac of course has his classic green puffer. The sleeves on this one are getting a little short so we ordered him a larger size—his fourth iteration of this jacket! Since their school only has one class per grade, they’ll have mostly the same kids in their class as last year.

Orientation was fun too. Since they first started school here just a few weeks before Covid, I haven’t spent much time in the actual school building, and it was great to finally see the spaces where they spend so much time.

Eloise and I met the parents of a new international student that afternoon, so Eloise brought a beaded bracelet to give her on the first day of school. Eloise said she sat next to her at circle time and asked her if she felt shy. When the girl nodded, Eloise asked if she’d like to be friends and gave her the bracelet. She said the little girl looked at it and said, “I love butterflies!”

The weekend before school started, we’d talked about making sure to include new kids even as it’s exciting to see your old friends, and not to get possessive about new friends either but to take any times they felt left out or not sure who to play with as an opportunity to look around for who else might be feeling the same way. I’m never sure how these lovely but somewhat lofty ideas will actual translate into practice when there’s a huge mob of 10-yr-old boys demolishing the playground or whatever, so I was a little surprised and totally delighted to hear Eloise talk about her new friend after school the first day. Specifically, we discussed that in a few short months, THEY will be the new kids, and to treat new kids the way they hope to be treated in January.

Military schools seem great because everyone understands how it feels to move and be the new kid (or adult). Annoyingly, sometimes people react to this insecurity by trying to exert control over their friend groups. Understandable on the first grade playground; less adorable in adults. I’m thankful they have good friends at school, and I really hope they make good friends at their new school fast too!

How about you? Can you remember a time someone made you feel welcome? Tell me about it!