Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Elementary School And so another year begins...

Today was the first day of school for DS6. We agreed to a plan to radically accelerate to 4th grade at the end of last year and I have spent the entire summer second guessing this. Finally decided to let it happen and see what happens....

Started out the morning with a full blown tantrum. Crying, holding his stomach, telling me over and over that he was sick. After giving him sometime to settle down, I got him up, dressed and to the breakfast table. During breakfast he asked me to feel his head twice and quoted the school rules regarding sending sick children to class. He almost had me, I admit.

Got him in the car and to the school and suddenly I had a different kid. He was running down the hall, hugging all of his last year teachers who were all on hand for the first day. He was excited when he got to class and hugged his new teacher.

Fast forward to the end of the day. I spoke to his teacher this afternoon regarding the first day. She said "Other than the fact that he's short and his voice is a lot higher pitch, he acted like every other kid in my class".

So what do I make of all the hysteria this morning? He's never been anxious about stuff like this. Do you think he felt my anxiety that has definitely escalated in the last few days?

Wonder what tomorrow will be like?

To me, sounds like totally *normal* first day jitters.


Do hope the jitters are lessened today, and will fade away completely in a few days - the arrangement at school sounds like a good one!

My ds is pretty adept at picking up from DH and I whether we're enthusiastic about something or not, so that's a possibility, too, but in general I think most kids are a bit nervous the first day back at school, just about every single year. (Well, I was.)

that's how *I* felt the first day of school for DS5! i'd chalk it up to 1st day jitters and just see what happens next.

I got a little wound up before I started 7th grade/junior high. Leaving elementary school was more of a stress that even I realized until the first day of 7th was about a week away. We were moving to a new building where the high school was, and it was all pretty intimidating from the outside. It didn't take me long to adapt once school started, though.

Looking even further back, I was kind of stressed out about starting kindergarten too. I didn't know what to expect --- I envisioned it being like a courtroom, with the teacher sitting where the judge would sit. I got over the stress almost immediately when I got to school.

I don't know about DS9, who's starting middle school/6th on Sept. 8. So far he isn't showing signs of stress, but then again, it's early yet. If it helps, thanks for making me aware to look for it. DD4 (soon 5) will start 1st soon, but she's familiar with the school and spent a day there once, and so I think she's completely okay with the idea.

Val

LOL- Before beginning school, I always imagined it like a courtroom too! Where did we get that? I guess I always thought teachers would be an authoritative figure looming over the classroom.

How did things turn out?
I think we've called it 'Rampant Emotionalism' here before, but when Gifties get wound up emotionally, they get 'really really' wound up.

As for picking up your feelings - sure mine does, and I pick up his - suprize!

I do hope he had another wonderful day today!
Grinity

Mr W will get wound up, too. If it were not for his screaming fits from time to time when he does not get his way, he'd be the perfect kid. His intensity is off the charts.

Its the cross we all bear....

I think you're right about the authority figure thing.

I remember being pleasantly surprised when I walked into the classroom and there was no raised judge's seat for the teacher. In fact, everybody was playing! Phew!

Val