Adjusting

So many people told me to take all of the time off from school that we wanted to in elementary school, because once middle school hit it's a whole new ball game.  And I'm starting to see that they were right! 

Leah's plate is very full right now.  She's on the early morning yearbook committee, is writing a 20,000 word novel in one month, has a literacy extended learning program that is taking her through The Wanderings of Odysseus, plays clarinet in the band, sings soprano in choir at school and at church (where she is in the children's choir with Adam as well as in the adult choir), as well as weekly trips to Des Moines for orchestra, private violin lessons on Fridays, the occasional early morning piano lesson squeezed in here and there, babysitting jobs, and church activities, which are going to multiply significantly when she turns 12.  And that is all ON TOP of her regularly scheduled school work, which includes weekly tests and homework in math, Spanish, science, and ancient civilization.  

I don't mind one bit that her art class was rescheduled to January, or that she didn't make the state honor choir (only one student from her school did, out of 120 that auditioned).  She's got more than enough to keep her busy right now. 

We have had more than a few conversations about HOW her plate got so full and HOW she is going to deal with it.  There isn't much that can come off the plate (although she wouldn't mind dropping PE and math class, I'm sure) and I have been so impressed with how well she's been handling the load.  It has been a huge leap from elementary school to middle school, and she has done a great job of keeping track of her assignments, tests, and all the stuff (they aren't allowed to carry backpacks around school, so she has a trapper keeper type binder to hold all of her paperwork, plus a Chromebook to haul around and transfer in and out of her backpack at the beginning and end of each day.  And don't forget that must-be-worn-at-all-times lanyard with school ID!

On the days that don't go so well, we talk about how great it is to fail in middle school.  The life lessons of managing your time and belongings has to be learned at some point, and it's reassuring to know that mistakes made now don't have long-lasting impact on her grades or transcript.  And we try carefully to make sure that the reactions we have to the fails don't have a long-lasting impact on her heart or confidence.

But it's been a big adjustment!

One of the hardest parts for me is knowing that we can't drop everything and play once school is over.  There is homework to be done and tests to be studied for- sometimes taking an hour or more.  Last week Leah was sick, and there were definitely some nerves when she realized that she was missing assignments and tests at school.  

I don't think I ever worried about those things in sixth grade (and we know that Daddy-who-hid-his-report-cards didn't either!). 

But she's doing a great job- learning about the most important things and learning to stay focused.  It's been a huge jump from elementary school, but she's doing a great job, and mostly loving it!

First middle school choir concert!