The Second Day has to be Better.

 I'm not going to lie, yesterday was rough. Timmy's excitement for his first day at his new school quickly waned as his frustrations grew and the hours ticked by. We had worked over the weekend, preparing everything that he would need for school. He woke up early, enjoyed a big breakfast and readied himself for his new academic adventure.

Unfortunately, we were not able to log into the academic platform until yesterday morning. If we had been able to learn the programs I think a lot of our frustration could have been minimized. Instead, we were thrown into the deep end as we tried to manage the various computer tabs. By 11:30 he was in tears.

I spent his lunch break crying in the bathroom. 

After we took a break, walked Friend and regrouped, we were able to finish the afternoon strong. I had a conference with his teachers after class and was assured that he will learn the technology quickly. I was promised that he would adjust to the schedule and the flow within a week. 

I hope that she is correct because I don't want another day like yesterday. It was horrible! Second grade did not start strong, but hopefully it can only improve over yesterday.

 

School Day 1

 This is a big morning in our house. Timmy embarks on the academic adventure of second grade. This year he is enrolled in a hybrid Montessori program. Attending a combination of both in-person and virtual courses, I know that Timmy will thrive. 

While Timmy is excited about his new school, I am battling anxiety and nerves over his schedule. Although I am delighted with his new placement, the flow is unknown. I am not sure how much support he will need during his virtual days, and I am worried about being able to juggle yet another ball. I know that it will take a few weeks for us to gain our footing with our new schedule, at least that is what I keep reminding myself. 

Day one starts in a few hours.  Wish us luck!

Long Weekend

After numerous surgeries, my brother is recovering from a leg bypass. The doctors are optimistic that the bypass was successful. He remains in a lot of pain, but we are hopeful that he will recover. I'm comforted knowing that my mom was able to travel to be with him during this scary time.

With Scott already having a month in the classroom under his belt I have to keep reminding myself that we were still in the throws of summer. Labor Day weekend used to herald the beginning of a new school year. With the boys starting the school year earlier than ever, this year Labor Day feels out-of-place. 

Of course, I am happy for the four day weekend that Scott is able to enjoy. It will be nice having him home for a few days before we kick back into gear. Have a great holiday weekend!

Changing the Trajectory

One phone call can change the trajectory of your entire week.

Monday night we learned that my brother was in a hospital in Austin. Jae has been complaining about strong pains his leg for awhile. His complaints were dismissed and rationalized by his lifestyle. The pain intensified to such a degree that he was transported by ambulance to the hospital.  

After several days of no contact, my mom began to work the phones to locate him. A mother's intuition is rarely wrong! By the time Jae was located he had endured three surgeries for blood clots in his leg and was scheduled for more. My mom immediately began to pack her bags while my sister and I worked the internet to arrange her travel. 

This morning my mom is waking up in Austin and I am preparing to go to Pennsylvania to assume dog sitting responsibilities.  We are hoping to get more information when she is able to connect directly with his medical team.  Please hold my mom and my brother in your thoughts.

 

Adjusting

 I am proud of how well Robby has adjusted to the school schedule. He complains in the morning (I have yet to meet a teen who enjoys waking up) but he quickly gets to work. He has invested several hours working on his schedule and planning his semester projects. This is the first time that we haven't felt overwhelmed at the start of a semester. (I certainly hope this trend continues.)

While Robby has been busy working on his assignments, Timmy is enjoying his final week of summer. Unfortunately the weather was miserable for the past few days, forcing us to stay inside. Undeterred, he transformed his bottom bunk into a fort, complete with a small refrigerator and a disco ball. He has been happy to initiate everybody into his new club. 

We had our first heavy rain since we waterproofed the chimney. Scott and I were both anxious throughout the storm, staring at the typical leaky spots. To our relief the ceiling remained dry. We remain cautiously optimistic that we fixed the problem. More storms are forecast throughout today, so I guess we will have an definitive answer.  Fingers crossed!

School Days

 Today Robby's summer vacation officially comes to an end. It is hard to believe that my little Koopa is going to be a Junior in high school. When did that happen? In my eyes he remains my sweet little boy.

The memory of hiding in the bushes to spy on the first day of kindergarten is so vivid it feels like it was yesterday. Now he is entering the home stretch of his high school education and eyeing potential careers. Yikes! Thankfully Robby remains just as sweet as he was so many years ago, although it is harder to wrap my arms around him now. 

Robby returns to studying this week, but Timmy has another week of vacation. He begins his new hybrid Montessori school next week. I'm anxious and excited about his new learning adventure. With a combination of virtual and in-person classes, I know that he is going to thrive. Hopefully I won't end up in the bushes this time.

Summer Wrap Up

 Happy Friday!

This is the last workday of the boys' summer vacation. On Monday I will revert from the summer to the school year schedule. I am fully prepared for a shock to our system as we all readjust to the new demands. I know that it will take a few weeks for us to find our flow and that I need to just keep trudging along until the load lightens. 

This summer was unique because of the amount of traveling involved. Robby and Scott's trip through Europe certainly monopolized most of the energy and activities through the beginning of June as they prepared for their adventure. After they returned we went to Florida and then to the Poconos. Memories were made in the past few months that we will all cherish for life.

Even though I know that resuming our school schedule will be taxing, I think both boys are eager (although they will never admit to it) to return to a more structured day. While they have both enjoyed the "no clock needed" summer attitude, returning to school will certainly provide more continuity through the day. 

This weekend will be dedicated to preparing the boys for their classes. I need to make sure that the printer is operational and that their spaces are ready to go for Monday morning. But first, today I am going to see my prosthetist for an adjustment. I am hoping to start the new school year adventure in complete comfort.

Wish me luck!