Okay, peeps.
It. Is. Time.
For a massive update on my Chicklet and her transition to Middle School!
So, big picture perspective...
I was waiting to get a full nine weeks under our belt before I made any grand declarations, but now that we're a couple months in, I think it's safe for me to declare that:
I actually think Chicklet likes Middle School more than Elementary, even when there have been--and continue to be--some major highs and lows.
That said, I'll admit that this will be a tricky post to pull together, for a handful of reasons:
First, Chicklet is my child who doesn't appreciate overt praise, a phone camera in her face, or much rambling about her life, in general.
I try to honor these things as much as possible--even when it's so hard for this doting Mama--but I do believe in recording things for perspective (and future nostalgia), so I'll try to walk that fine line of sharing, but in a way that feels authentic to my girl.
And, second, can we all just start by admitting that it's probably just FACT that every child's transition to Middle School is fraught with highs and lows?? I know the same was true for my Chica--though, in very different ways from Chicklet. But I find it so fascinating to examine all the minutiae.
Thinking through it all, sharing my coalesced thoughts, and musing on our current stages and phases is so helpful for me as parent. So...with that said, let's dive in!
ELECTIVES:
I think Chicklet is really enjoying the freedom of burgeoning choice in Middle School. In Elementary, all the kids are shuffled to the same classes, the same activities, and you don't really have much (or, any!) choir in the matter.
But, now, in Middle School, she has the ability to choose her electives, and she is vibing and thriving with her three choices: Band, Dance & Theater Arts.
If I had to make a prediction for next year, I'd already go on record saying Band & Dance are here to stay, and that makes my heart so happy!
Chicklet has always been a child prone to dancing and moving around the household, so that's an obvious one--though, I gotta give myself some Mama kuddos for really steering her toward Dance as an official elective, because Chicklet was leaning against it, feeling like she might need a greater depth and breadth of prior dance experience.
Needless to say, I'm so glad I got her out of her head and on board with Dance! It's been a huge winner!
The director of the Dance program is young, fun, and in a span of three or four years, she's grown the program tremendously.
Chicklet has Dance as her final class period of the day, and it's a stinking JOY to have her come home, still high on all of her movement, ready to showcase the routine she's learning on any given day. She gives near-daily performances at dinnertime, and I love it!
It was also a joy to watch Chicklet perform with the Dance group as part of the Fall Festival a few weeks ago--pom-poms and all! Woohoo! I'm so impressed with her interest and her ability to put herself out there in front of a crowd.
Now...the less obvious winner has been Band!
And this one actually makes me so, stinking proud, because, about a month into the school year, my girl was coming home crying about the difficulty of Band and learning an instrument and how it just didn't jive with her brain, and I strongly encouraged her to stick it out (by explaining that she didn't have a choice and was past the transfer window, oye), and...wow!
Within a few weeks of that crisis, she really seemed to turn a corner, and, last night, we attended her first concert--a Demonstration Performance, as the kiddos are all still so new to this gig--and it was such a stinking joy to see our girl do her thing, right alongside all the other kiddos, and really seem to fit in amongst a diverse group of humans and their instruments!
Band is all new to us, with Chica being an Orchestra kid, and I'm just loving the plethora of electives we're seeing, up close and personal (even if our wall calendar would enjoy it if they synced up on some of these activities!).
In the interest of really making a big deal out of Chicklet's success, we tried to make last night a major focus, with a small gift and all, and it was lovely to see our girl thriving and smiling.
Plus, her little Beginning Band uniform...I die. It was really cute to go shopping for her closed-toe shoes!
Chicklet's final elective, Theater Arts, started off incredibly strong, but lost steam incredibly fast.
I think Chicklet was disappointed to discover firsthand that it's typically just 8th graders and some really fortunate 7th graders who snag a part in the Musical for the year--and the Play that will be performed in the Spring will be even more exclusive. Within the first month of school, Chicklet told me that she loved the inclusivity of Dance and Band because everybody gets to participate, and I loved that reasoning.
That said, it's been nice for her to have a chill elective with minimal requirements and some nice self-esteem boosting, but...I'm not sure that I'd predict for it to hang around as one of her selections next year.
ACADEMICS:
Okay. So. Beyond electives, let's talk about Academics!
Holy. Moly. My girl managed straight A's for the first nine weeks of school, and, color me shocked! Not that I ever (ever!) doubt her potential, I just know it's a major thing to go from one (or two or three) teachers in Elementary to about a thousand (or so it seems) in Middle School, with a lot more to track and organize.
Most notably, I've been so stinking pleased with how her dyslexia accommodations have transitioned into Middle School. Her specific Case Manager was in touch with me on Day 1, and makes it a regular point to check in with Chicklet every couple of weeks. Having that resource, and knowing I can reach out with any questions or concerns, has been major.
In particular, I'm thrilled (thrilled) with how her math accommodations have been arranged, this year. Considering the fact that Chicklet's dyslexia impacts math most of all in these years, it was a priority for me to make sure she was placed in a class that could work with her specific needs.
She has only eleven (yes, eleven, in a public school!) kids her her math class period, and two teachers. Wild! When I arrived on Parent Teacher Night, I was astounded, and oh so pleased. Having such a small class size and very hands-on help has minimized the math stress in a major way--and math is hands-down the biggest academic trigger for my girl. So, to have math trauma lessened in any way is HUGE.
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: I have been nothing but pleased with the way our public school district continues to support the many and varied learning needs within our specific household.
So many of our friends and neighbors are quick to default to private school, and I know that might be the right choice for their situation and/or child, but too often, I don't feel they give public school a chance.
I'm never ever focused on Chicklet--or any of my kids--being perfect in all classes at all times, but to know they have the proper support systems in place and the best chance at performing to their highest level of ability--that's literally all a parent can ask for.
SCHEDULE:
Okay, this one has been really fun to watch: it's been cute to see the girlies synced back up in the same school--sometimes, coming and going at the same time (though, that's a rarity, because they're both so busy with separate activities that often require an early school arrival or late departure).
I worried that Chica would have grown too accustomed to her quiet mornings and be a little disgruntled with a sibling in her space, again. But, she welcomed Chicklet into the fold again, with her signature sister kindness, and it's been lovely to watch the two of them getting ready or racing to beat the clock, or exiting the bus, together.
This pic was on Sunday (so, not a school day), but it's cute to see them each primping and occasionally running behind when we're trying to get out the door.
And, don't even get me started about the reading! Oh, the reading! The best thing about our household--but, also, the thing that runs us consistently late!
If Chica and Chicklet are on the same morning schedule, I often return home from dropping Little Man at school, and find both girls snuggling on the couch reading instead of getting ready. And it's so hard to get mad at it! Ha.
Beyond all of that, it's been really nice to let Chicklet relax her bedtime just a tiny bit, since she gets to sleep a tad bit later for Middle School. It's tough to know the right amount of leeway to give, but I think we're managing pretty well. I hope!
SOCIAL LIFE:
Okay, this is the one area that takes so much more time and care and consideration to navigate.
I'll keep it brief, but just know that this is the tip of the iceberg on this subject, but the most of what I feel Chicklet would be comfortable with me sharing.
And that's to say that I think Chicklet is still struggling a bit to find her crew. Her people. The peeps who share her vibe and interests.
But, I also think this is a very common challenge among tweens/teens entering Middle School.
Chicklet had the unfortunate luck of a few close friends moving away in the past year. A couple others were zoned for the other Middle School (our Elementary is split-zoned, which is so heartbreaking come Middle School), or left for private school. And a few others didn't manage to snag any class periods to sync up with Chicklet.
So I would say that's been the biggest challenge my girl has faced, and we're still very much trying to work our way through it.
Sometimes it's hard to know how best to support your children when they're old enough to be independent, but still young enough to need a bit of assistance with making new connections or communicating and/or getting together outside of school, and to that, I'll just say that...it won't happen overnight.
The hubby and I are trying to do our best to listen for key names that continue to pop up when Chicklet shares about her day, to meet any parents we can at various events, and to just pray and support her in any of the ways we know how, as she gathers her group and figures out who her crowd will be in Middle School.
It's a work in progress.
But...aren't we all?
I've been so grateful for the kindness of some of Chica's friends. As the 8th graders in the school, now, a handful of them have been really sweet when they see Chicklet in the hall or at events, and it makes my heart happy to know that she has some familiar faces, even if they're in different grades.
This was even one of Chica's friends helping Chicklet with homework, this weekend, when she was at our house:
I love this example of teen girls who are kind and make it a point to say hello to Chicklet, and I hope it will be the gift that keeps on giving.
So...in summary:
There are SO many things about this life transition for Chicklet that have been positive (Amen, Hallelujah!), and there are still SO many things I pray about, all day long.
At the end of the day, growing up is hard, Middle School is hard, and being a tween (especially in today's day and age) is hard, but...my girl is still the most amazing soul and unique brain of anybody I know, and I have faith that she's launched the start of another really challenging but rewarding phase in her young life.
So...here's to taking one day, one semester, one challenge at a time.
And to cheering on all of Chicklet's victories along the way!
Okay...more soon, peeps!
Over and out
