first day of eighth grade

Last Tuesday was SJ's and Bob's first day of school. Bob moved up to the high school, which has ninth through twelfth grades.  Normally, SJ would have stayed in the junior high for eighth grade, but our district was building a brand new middle school. That building will now be home to our sixth through eighth graders. Bob was a little jealous that SJ was getting to go to such a nice, new school (with air conditioning to boot!), but SJ will only be there for one year.


When my husband took him to orientation, he did have one fairly noticeable meltdown. He got very upset over the fact that he was assigned to Bus Group 2 instead of Bus Group 1. Why would this simple fact make SJ lose it in the middle of the orientation? Your guess is as good as ours. My husband was embarrassed that our 13 year old would burst into tears over a 5 minute wait between bus groups. When these situations happen, it is like a bomb goes off in SJ. They are not reasonable or rational and they are never fun. This is when his uniqueness (and not the positive uniqueness) becomes a flashing light in a dark hall.


My husband dropped SJ off at home and joined me at Bob's Spirit Night. He told me all about the tantrum and how frustrating it was. When I returned home with Bob, I told SJ that his behavior was unacceptable. I also told him that I would take his phone for a week the next time he had a meltdown like that. Hopefully, that is enough to keep his emotions in check.


Usually first days are tough for SJ. This year, we didn't have any of last year's anxieties over SJ going to school. He wouldn't be riding a bus for the first time, he wouldn't be using a locker for the first time and he wouldn't have to change clothes for gym for the first time. My husband said he seemed fairly relaxed that morning when he walked to the bus stop (this was the first year I missed it, since I have a full time job now).  I was a little concerned about the lunch situation, but that can be stressful for all kids.  And I was especially worried that he would tantrum again over being in Bus Group 2.


When he got home, my husband asked him how his day went. His only comment was that he was the only student in Study Skills (a guided study hall). I asked my husband if he mentioned the Bus Group or lunch. "No, he only was upset that he was the only kid in study skills and has it in the sixth grade wing," said my husband.   I got home an hour later. I questioned SJ about lunch. He was excited about who he was sitting with, so that was a bonus. Should I ask about bus group? Nah, I better just let it end on a good note.