Back to School

[Daisy]

It's that week when we see children heading back through the school gates in smart new, oversized uniforms, carrying colourful new lunch boxes etc.

Our GS2 goes back today - starting his first year of GCSEs. The GDs don't go back until Thursday, and our GS1 starts college next week.

My lovely niece and God-daughter starts her teaching career this week as well. She's teaching English in a secondary school. She's a very talented writer (teenage literature) but unfortunately it's not easy to make a living out of writing, but I'm sure she'll be a great teacher and will enjoy the buzz of the teenage classroom.

[Gemini]

Oh I hate the end of the school holidays! I did as a parent and I do as grandma. The end of those long unstructured days!

No change here apart from little GS2 starting his one morning a week at preschool next Monday.
GD and GS1 go back into years 5 and 2 today.

I hope all starters and returners have a good time, and good luck to your niece, Daisy

[Gemini]

I hope everyone has settled into new schools or back to school.

DD is a little worried about GS1. A boy who joined his class part way during last school year, seems very possessive with GS. Wants GS to play only with him, only the games he says, and shouts at GS if he wants to go off to do anything else. This term the boy's mum is a dinner lady which is making it worse (In GS's eyes anyway) Despite his tenency to bolshiness at home, GS is extremely law abiding, likes to follow rules at school and is afraid of being in trouble.
DD1, 2 and I had a long online chat about it all on Friday night. GD had a similar problem last year, with possessive groups of girls wanting to claim her. She was very anxious, trying to please everyone, but eventually told them she was free agent , liked them all, but would play with who she chose, not who she was told to!
GS is younger and a different personality. DD is going to talk to the head about it.

[Daisy]

Gem - I have enormous sympathy over this. Our GD1 has been through much the same scenario. Right from Day 1 in Reception (she's now Year 5) one girl has attached herself to GD, claiming her as 'best friend', but has at time been dictatorial to the point of bullying, not letting her make other friendships and at times being physically aggressive to GD1. GD1 had no coping mechanism for this and it's been an issue every year. GD is now better able to stand up for herself, to a degree, but this girl has restricted her making other friendships, and in particular her very sweet friendship with a little boy who is temperamentally much more like GD1.

GD's parents have had various discussions with the teachers over the years, and they have done things like moving the girls onto different tables, which has helped a bit.

Anyway, at the end of last year they said yet again they'd like the girls to be separated, and it seems they were mixing the classes up a bit anyway. GD1 is now in a different class from this best friend. GD1 was a little bit anxious in case the friend ostracised her from other children in her 'old' class, but she was overjoyed that the little boy is being moved into GD's new class as well.

On the first morning, the sister of a friend of GD2's greeted her with great excitement as they were going to be together, and GD seems very happy to be making new friends. Fingers crossed this all works smoothly - she will still be able to see this other girl at break and lunch, but we're hoping that the physical separation during lessons will gently ease them into other friendships.

GD1 needed a lot of support from her parents to help her to stand up to the friend, and she had to learn it was ok to say 'no' to things she didn't want or like. So I guess it's all part and parcel of learning about friendship - just as your GD1 has had to do. We can't help being worried and wanting to protect them, but GS1 is not only sensitive, he's a very bright little boy and I'm sure he will gradually learn how to cope with his friend's possessiveness.

[Gemini]

Thanks Daisy.
He has very supportive parents who will pursue this and fight his corner, thank goodness.
They plan to move next year (the end of the Tuesday night dark drives home in winter for me!) so at least this particular scenario can't follow him up the school.
Every day is a day too much for a child in this situation however so it needs sorting out.

[Sunshine]

My GD had her first day at uni today. She had a lovely day and has met some lovely interesting people. She went off yesterday, drove herself to Berkshire and settled herself in. She was adamant that she wanted to do it on her own and she did. She has grown into such an independent young lady. Most of her studies will be done from home, but she has to be at uni this first week to get the course up and off the ground. Fingers crossed she will love the course and the whole experience.

[Daisy]

Sun shine - well done to your lovely GD. She's so independent isn't she! I'm sure she'll love every single minute.

My GS1 has started college today and he's just texted his mum to say a lesson had finished early and he doesn't know what he's supposed to do next. It's such a huge change for him, from a school with a roll of 50 to an FE college. I know he's going to be anxious, so I hope he can cope with the anxiety and somebody takes him under their wing.

[Gemini]

It sounds as though your GD is very sorted Sunsine
I'm sure she will do well 😊

I hope your GS soon adjusts to the changes Daisy.

[Sunshine]

GD has thoroughly enjoyed her first week at Uni. It wasn’t uneventful though.
She was bitten on the ankle by a horse fly. It was extremely painful, red and swollen. When she noticed a vein going bright red from the bite, was tracking up her leg, she decided to take herself off to A&E. By the time she was seen at casualty her foot had doubled in size. They prescribed high dose antibiotics for the infection. Within a couple of days her foot had settled down, although it is still a bit tender. She has taken it in her stride (excuse the pun). I am so proud of her. She is still only 17. She shouldn’t really even be at uni yet, but she was accelerated a year at primary school, so all her studies have come a year early.

[Nanto2girls]

So pleased your GD had the sense to get herself to hospital.
Good to hear that she has enjoyed her first week at uni.

[Gemini]

Those horse fly bites are nasty.
Im glad GD had a good week.

[Daisy]

Sunshine - I do hope GD's foot is ok - those horse flies are vicious biters - but well done to her for getting it treated promptly.

It's not the sort of memory you want to have of your first week at Uni. She's a very mature and sensible young lady - you certainly wouldn't think she's only 17.

[Sunshine]

Thankyou all. She has taken it in a very matter of fact way. She is very much a glass full girl. Actually, she is a glass overflowing girl. She loves life and takes any hiccups in her stride.

[Plantaholic]

That does sound a nasty bite, good for her taking herself off to hospital.

[Nana]

GS1 finds learning/recording extremely challenging. He especially has trouble writing. He has a classroom assistant asigned to him to give him any special help that's needed. In the second week, on his way to school, he broke down crying saying he didn't want to go to school. After much gentle talking his mummy found out that he was upset because he'd tried so hard to write a particular piece of work but felt destroyed.

It turns out that the TA had said what disgusting scrawl it was & had rubbed it all out. He is 8 & being continually monitored by his teacher. His mummy had 'word's with the SNA & headmistress. She later spoke with his teacher. He now has a different TA thank goodness. Although still frustrated he is much happier. How do these people get these jobs?

GS2 is in his 2nd yr & the teacher was left with a very unhappy class of children on their first day. Parents/adults were not allowed in class but had to wave goodbye at the door. The result was many disgruntled adults & children. After an initial upset my GS just calls her Miss Bossy Pants.

Fingers crossed they settle as the yr goes on. GS3 & GD are at different Nurseries & after a shaky start are enjoying their new surroundings. Phew. It's not easy being little.x