Change Can Be A Good Thing

….at least that’s what I’ve been telling my younger daughter Muscles (7).

The girls school has an odd set up as it runs across two different campuses. This year I elected to move muscles to the other campus, as her sister Flash (8) was making the compulsory move to the new campus for year 3 (along with all her class mates).

Muscles has had to leave all her friends behind at the old campus, and start at, essentially, a brand new school. Before school started she had been very anxious and emotional about the change.

I was feeling a little guilty about making her change campuses. But, by going to the new campus, she will be at the same school as her sister.  The girls are so close in age, it’s nice that they have the shared experience of attending the same school…and they always know that they have each other a few classrooms away, not a few suburbs away! This means that I will have to do ‘just’ two pick-ups and drop-offs (Buster is at a preschool in a different location) instead of three. The new campus is also much closer to home.

The first week was very difficult for muscles, she missed her friends and her old school. I have tried to comfort her by reminding her of all the positives.  I have told her that it’s a great chance to meet new friends. Making new friends and adapting to new situations is an important life-skill to learn. In the future she will need these skills when she changes jobs or moves house…..It is still hard for a 7-year old to understand though….and I know that I really didn’t like changing schools as a child.

During that first week, I was so thankful that Muscles had the friendship of the girls in her gymnastics team. After school, muscles was convinced she would never fit in. But, after spending time with the other girls in her close-knit  Gym team, she realized that she still had friends….and making new friends did not seem so desperate and onerous. Being part of the gym team really seemed to put things into perspective for her and it did wonders for her confidence!

This week I am thankful that Muscles has started really enjoying her new school. We arrived at school this morning and a group of girls ran to muscles, shouting her name to give her a hug. She returned home today proudly sporting a friendship bracelet. Muscles shyly reported to me tonight (with blushing)   that a little boy gave her the heart sign in assembly….and was it OK to have a new boyfriend?!

I am thankful that she has a lovely, enthusiastic and caring teacher whom muscles just adores! It seems to make such a tremendous difference when the child likes their teacher! And it really seems to have made the transition a little easier.

I am thankful that the closer location of the school campus means that we can ride our bikes to school in the morning instead of fighting with the traffic in the car. Although I think we make quite a site…. with the girls…school dresses tacked (unladylike) into their under clothes. Me, pulling buster along in a trailer as the school is a little to far (and up hill) for him to ride without help…..not to mention the dreaded ‘helmet hair’!!

A the parent teacher meeting this week, I was so thankful  that she reported that Muscles was fitting in well, happy, and trying her hardest to do well in class…

…and that’s really the most a mother could ask for!

Today I'm linking up with Kate Says Stuff for Thankful Thursday....pop over and enjoy reading what others are thankful for today!