My Tall One (who is now truly living up to that moniker, towering above most of the 5th graders and sharing my shoes) will go to middle school next year.
Only it’s not that easy.
She has "choices and opportunities" — magnet schools and leadership academies and such.
Nevermind that she’s eleven.
Working on essay applications.
Makes you almost yearn for the good old days when we just stepped blindly into our next school like good little sheep into a paddock.
Except not really, of course.
Because an interesting thing happens when we have choices about schools or jobs or relationships — we assess them.
A decision becomes a process rather than a event.
And afterwards, we know something more about who we are, what we like and what we want.
Which, I’ve got to admit, is better than just ending up somewhere.
Nothing against sheep.
So here I am, getting to know my girl ever better as she gets to know herself.
I hope she likes what she’s seeing as much as I do…
Best of luck with the process. Middle school is an interesting time for the kids, and how nice that your daughter has the opportunity to choose a school that will help her blossom.
Thank you, Lorraine, and yes, I think we’re in a good and lucky place…
Happy assessing, Liz!
I confess we’re sheep. We just go to the next school. But it’s our choice, because if we were unsatisfied, we’d consider other options. So maybe we’re slightly-thinking sheep?
Honey, you are MORE than slightly thinking. Believe me, we are sheep too in that EVERYONE’S applying to other schools. It’s daunting and wonderful at the same time, y’know?
Tanita Says 🙂
Wow, essays and such already! My fifth graders were so serious about these things — examining themselves and trying to find where they fit in the world. Good luck to your Tall One as she launches into middle grade!
Re: Tanita Says 🙂
Thank you, Tanita. Yes. It’s big…
We just went through that last year (when my son was in 5th grade). We put oodles and gobs of thought into it and had to choose between three schools, none of which were perfect choices. His first semester in middle school was a little tough, partly because middle school is a huge change from elementary school and partly because he was sick and missed some school. He’s happy there now, thank goodness.
I think the hard part is that when you choose something, you have a sense of responsibility for how well it turns out. If there’s no choice, it’s not your fault.
But, when you are assessing how well you chose, you don’t know how well the other choices would have turned out either — if we had sent him to a different school, it still wouldn’t have been elementary school and he still would have gotten sick. You just can’t worry about the road not taken.
Anyway, I have utter confidence that your daughter will do well!
T.A.
Thanks so much for the perspective — it helps!