Hello Again

Dear Addie,

…and just like that summer has started drifting away as we transition into fall. Seems funny saying that around here seeing it is still sweltering hot outside, but the calendar doesn’t lie, and with fall comes school and this week it was our annual meet the teacher at our beloved Oakview Elementary.

With no virtual schoolers this year – yay! (Or at least yet) we were blessed with a little trickling of our OTOD heading back to school with big sister Clara starting high school in city number 1 of what will become our morning and afternoon North Carolina tour. Oye, this is definitely going to be an interesting year for the drop off and pick up shuffle. Talk about having to be on your “A-game” there is virtually no room for error this year! But I digress… on the day of your meet the teacher we had dropped off Clara, then Gabe across town for a morning activity, and then headed off to your school. Only when we pulled in the parking lot did I realize I had legit prepared you zero percent for today’s activities, and past years would tell us that I had just primed you for a meltdown. Talk about a big oops on mama’s part! Ugh. Whelp, can’t change the past now (or ever really) so it was full speed ahead to see your teachers.

Let’s do this!

So, after playing what seemed like a giant game of reverse "Operation" parking, we found a spot, grabbed your giant bag of supplies and masked up. I opened your door and you just sat there. Not in an angry or upset way, but just silent and still – your way of saying nope, let’s not. At this point I had already scored a parking spot in parking chaos so I was determined to make this happen. Reasoning hasn’t always been our strong suit in difficult or unwilling situations, but your demeanor the last few weeks has been calm so I figured I’d give it a shot. Insert me trying my best to explain we we’re not going to stay all day, but were just there to say “hello again!” Surely a much better scene than the one a few weeks ago of me losing it over a chocolate shake in a parking lot. Ah yes, we all have our moments baby girl. Well, I’m happy to report that today’s moment was much better than that of the chocolate shake and luck was on my side as you slowly emerged from the car. Actually, if there’s a word for slower than slow that was about the pace of your exit. But hey we were moving in the right direction, key word “moving” so yay!

Ok you’re out of the car and no meltdown yet – this is going well.

This was the point I realized our bag of school supplies was so big it took both my hands to carry it, if you decided to make a break for it the forecast would suddenly include a pop-up storm of raining pull-ups and markers everywhere. Certainly, taking any bystanders by surprise, but we were in it to win it now, so let’s see what happens…

Sticking true to your guns on your pace for the day, you seemed to be doing what Clara and Gabe jokingly refer to as the “sting ray shuffle” all the way down the hallway. That’s when you shuffle your feet on the sand in the ocean so you don’t step on any sea creatures. Not exactly the quickest movement, but you added some extra spice to your shuffle today slowing it down as if you were shuffling against a currant. Pretty sure I saw a snail pass us…

Ok so we are in the building – yes!

Now here’s the neat thing about being in the special education program that you’re in, there’s one classroom for grades K-2 and another adjoining room for grades 3-5. With an abundance of incoming kids your 2nd grade year, you moved into the 3-5 room a year earlier, making this your 4th year in this classroom with your teacher. Familiarity that I think saves us on what can be a stressful moment of change for some. Same classroom, same teacher. At the end of last year, I was always shocked when they would let you walk in unaccompanied to get to your classroom. I should clarify, someone was close by, but you were given the independence to find your room. Being a worry wart – watching this always made the “what if’s” in my head run rapid, but then again you go to school to learn and sometimes that’s more than just core academics. So, if your teachers trusted you to make it to the classroom, I was going to do the same, so I followed you in a sting ray shuffle all the way to your classroom.

We made it with all school supplies still packed in the bag like a high scoring Tetris game! Score!

As we entered the classroom we were immediately greeted by friendly, familiar faces. We said our “hellos” as promised and they immediately began commenting about how much you have grown in only a few short months. It’s very noticeably Ad. Good job eating your veggies 😉. Your teacher then showed you to your new desk, where you sat down and buried your head in your hands, resting your body on your lap as if you were trying to hide. Again, no melting down or anger, just an overwhelming sense of a “Not today” vibe. We chatted a bit, they showed you your new activity cubie, where you predictably picked the wooden blocks, taking them back to your table to play with.

A little more talking and it was time to clean up and head out to pick up Gabe, but not before running into our old friend and school mascot “Owlexander” Whoooo at one point in time (see what I did there?!) would’ve terrified you, but today you grabbed a wing and smiled (or at least I’d like to think you were smiling under your mask) for a picture.

Not gonna lie, there was a little more pep in your step leaving, but you did ‘Owl”some Ad! I have a feeling this is going to be an amazing year!

Great Job Ad!

Love,

Mom