Ahh the first day of school.  It's such a strong end to the summer vacation.  Routines are made and adhered to more, lunches dominate the evening routine, and a never ending supply of Tupperware and water bottles fill my sink each afternoon.

I'm happy both kids were excited about school, it certainly made the transition easier.  E was off to grade 1 feeling big and determined to learn to read.  J was off to a brand new school for grade 4, out of primary and into elementary.  I will admit his face was slightly stricken when I left him in the gym lined up with his teacher and approximately 500 other kids...it was so chaotic I was a wreck when I left.

It left me no surprise then to get a call from his teacher that afternoon that he had had a miserable day. And so it begins.  An empathetic boy who has to really build trust to feel comfortable was completely let down by his teacher.  Threatening to send him home for the day and telling him it wasn't primary school anymore certainly didn't help.

I'm always so glad that I've made the relationship I have with my children.  Where we talk and talk and talk about everything and they get reasonings and answers from me not just demands.  I talked with J about everything that happened that day, about what could have gone better, what he needs to do, what he would like his teacher to do, and about how we were going to cope.  While he waits for me to have a meeting with his teacher, he has chosen to rise above her and be a considerate and hard working student which comes from his feeling empowered that he will be listened to.

The school years are tough, there are so many things to navigate from the Kindergarten doors until you walk out in grade 12 prepared, or so they say, to take on the world.