pssa testing=stress, stress, stress

Last Wednesday, the students had to double up on their testing sessions.  They had the reading session in the morning and the math session after lunch.  SJ was stressed about this double session all morning.  My husband had left for Atlanta that morning, so I was handling his temperment on my own. 

SJ was crying all the way to school that day.  I reminded him that he could have a treat if he made it through the testing.  Even that reassurance didn't seem to console SJ.  I went to talk to Mrs. Valentine that morning.  She said they were starting with the reading and then they were going to have an extra long recess period.  She said they would then go to lunch and continue with the math testing afterwards.  They would then have their regular afternoon recess. 

When I got back to the office, I explained all of this to SJ.  I will say it did calm him down to know they were going to get to go outside twice that day.  I reminded him to try his best and to not let this ruin his day. 

At the end of the day, I asked Mrs. Valentine how he did.  She said he did very well considering the double testing.  I thanked her for letting me know.  Bob had soccer that evening, so I had to take SJ with us. 

SJ doesn't like going to soccer practice.  He finds it boring.  I told him we would do something fun while Bob was on the soccer field.  We dropped Bob off at his field and SJ and I drove over to the tennis courts. 

SJ brought his rackets and his scooter.  We spent about 20 minutes attempting to play tennis.  It was a lot of me and SJ running to get overshot balls.  SJ told me rhat he was bored of chasing balls.  I reminded him that if he didn't hit the balls so hard he wouldn't have to chase him.  I suggested that he do use his scooter for a little while.  He did seem to have fun riding his scooter. 

When he got bored with the scooter, we packed up our stuff and drove back to the soccer fields where we waited for Bob to finish up. 

After practice, we went home and did all of our nightly activities: homework, snack and baths.  I put the boys to bed around 9:30.  I could hear SJ crying in his room.  I went up to see what was bothering him.  He said he was nervous about the next day's test.  I told him that he has been doing great and he only had one more day.  I gave him a hug and hoped that I eased his stress.  Oh, I wish my husband hadn't been away!