Today is my kid’s first day of middle school. Sixth grade. Crazy. Every year, I mark the first day of school with some musings. (If you want, you can read about the other six first days of school here, here, here, here, here, and here.) Nothing big, just what’s going through my mind as my kid starts a new year. This year, though, I have no idea what to think.
My kid was more nervous than usual. It’s a new school with new kids and much bigger than their last school. Plus, they were the biggest in the school last year, but the smallest this year. I’m sure they’ll be fine, though. A few days or a week and everything will be old hat.
I’m not feeling much of anything. Well, that’s not exactly true. I guess it would be more accurate to say I’m not feeling anything very strongly. I’m concerned about Covid still, even though the CDC and the school system keep acting like there’s nothing there. And I’m concerned about monkeypox. But compared to the last two years, those are mild concerns. I’m also concerned about the teacher shortage and how it will impact the kids. But I compare it to the last two years again and ask myself if it can be any worse.
Maybe I’m just jaded by the past two years. I’m not excited or nervous or any of that. I feel like we’ve seen it all. How about some other parents? What are you feeling about the new school year?
