Wednesday, September 5, 2018

How To Survive Middle School




"Uh oh," Natalie said as she put on her backpack to go to her very first day of sixth grade.

"What?" I asked.

"I got a hole." She pointed to her pants. "Are holes allowed in school?"

I thought back to the ridiculous dress code. One of the rules is no shorts. And we live in Texas, land of 100 degree temperatures. It makes no sense.

Still, I thought holes were allowed so long as they weren't ridiculous sized.

But again. It's a school that doesn't allow shorts.

"Maybe you should change," I suggested.

"Change?" Natalie repeated, horrified. "But these are my favorite pants."

I could see a Tween Mood Change starting, and it was much too early for that, so I said fine, wear the pants. Surely she wouldn't get in trouble for a hole on the first day of school.

"I have an idea," Natalie said and then darted into the bathroom.

I let out a breath. Whew. No Tween Mood Change. It's startling how fast she can go for pleasant to Veruca Salt these days.

Natalie returned and was like, "Ta da!"

I blinked. I was half asleep because I am not a morning person. "What?"

Natalie pointed to the hole. "I put a tissue in there. No hole!"



Now, it's been a few years since I've been in Middle School, but I swear that sort of thing could get you beat up.

But then again, maybe not. Maybe kids have mellowed since my day.

"Well. Okay." I checked the time. I didn't have time to worry about her being stuffed in a trash can because she had to catch the bus.


And by the way, I walked her to the bus stop on the first day, which is not how one survives Middle School, but you know, I had to make sure it was the right stop and that there weren't ruffians there.




I ended up leaving before the bus arrived, because I could see Natalie was a tad embarrassed. I shook her hand before I left because if I hugged her, she could have gotten mocked for that, plus the tissue in her pants.



I sent her a text a little bit later and she was like:




I mean, seriously? My kid does get distracted easily, but man, she takes it to a whole other level at times.

Anyway, I hoped she would survive her first day. She gets lost easily as well, in fact, we got lost the few times we were able to look around her Middle School, so I pictured her ending up in the dark corner of the school where the Eighth Graders were, and one Eighth Grader being like, "Oh, a sixth grader in our area..."

And stuffing her in a trash can.

Why did I keep picturing my child in a trash can?

When she came back home on the first day, she still looked clean, so I assumed there was no trash stuffing.

"Great news!" Natalie said walking up. "I only got lost twice today."

"And no one bothered you about the tissue?" I motioned to her pants.

She shook her head. "Nope! In fact, one girl started to cry because she got overwhelmed, so I took a tissue from my pants and gave it to her."

Okay. Whatever works.

"Also, you have to fill out a packet of paper before I get my locker. And I need checks."




Let me tell you, my hand felt like it was going to break off after filling out all the paperwork, plus I had to fill out her brother's too. Plus I did have to write out many checks for dance, art, and a yearbook. (Save if you buy early!)

"Gosh Natalie," I said. "If this check writing keeps up, we'll be having ramen all next week."

She laughed and I'm not sure why, because I was serious.

She said she had a good first day. No one was mean. A kind girl told her she was going the wrong way at one point.

"Also, and get this, some of my classes don't allow water bottles. What if I get parched?" Natalie said, outraged. "Middle School is a harsh new world."


Good news though! I filled out her paperwork and she got a locker, which she proceeded to decorate. Yup, that's a light up disco ball that spins.




Natalie says many people like her disco ball and says a lot of kids call her Disco Ball Girl.

I guess it's much better than Tissue Pants.




41 comments:

  1. I absolutely love that you shook her hand before you left!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This entire post was so entertaining! This is the second school I have read about that doesn't allow water bottles. A co-worker's son isn't allowed to carry one unless he has a doctor's note. That seems a wee bit ridiculous.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The middle school drama begins. Not having classes and lunch with all your best friends. Making new friends so it gets all better. Locker combinations and getting to class.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aaaw!It's so sweet how your relationship is so close and you shaking her hand assures her. No wonder her first day in middle school was great. Mind you, many kids would ditch the first day because of a favorite torn pant.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad she survived! Zachary has that same binder from Costco but his is red. Natalie's doing dance this year?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I felt like I was watching a Vlog instead of reading ablog, so well narrated. Hope Natalie survives each day of her middle school as well as today and I must say this...You have a very smart girl. Cool idea to stuff tissues in the hole of the pants. May be she gets it from you since you were also smart enough to shake her hands instead of hugging her at the bus stop. Nice read!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The disco ball is so cute. I can't remember if I walked my son to the bus stop on his first day of middle school. I could barely get a picture. Natalie is going to have such a great school year. She's such a great kid.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This was so well narrated and entertaining! Looking forward for your other posts.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This so reminds me of my middle school days. Going through it was such a mess. Glad you shared this. Time to look back and laugh about those memories.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is a very interesting post to read. Very well written. When I went to school my mom had to take us because we didn’t have a bus. I homeschool, so my kids will just have to “survive” me. Haha

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely narrative...parents support and positive nudges certainly help a child a long way..kids can then find their own way and place..
    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  12. The teen years and the tween years are definitely full of potholes to try to avoid. All we can do is be aware of our kiddos and what they consider OK. It looks like your little girl is most definitely well-adjusted and she seems very happy. I think it is funny that she almost missed the bus because she was on the phone LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  13. These are great tips. My kids are starting elementary school this year, but these tips will come in handy for a few years from now.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh my what a cute story! Love her locker and I hear ya on writing check after check the first few days of school

    ReplyDelete
  15. One of my sons started middle school this year too. He was very nervous about that first day too but now he likes it much better than elementary school. Especially gym class as he gets to run.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your daughter has such a great locker! I'm sometimes surprised how laidback some students are ... and their bond with their cell phones is so strong! Middle school is always fun! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. The tissues in the pants is too funny! My middle school didn’t allow clothing with holes.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Her locker is too cute! It seems like middle school comes so fast! Mine just started Kinder but it feels like I am going to blink and she will be grown.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is such a great guide. I have one in Gr. 3 and this will really help. Thank you, bookmarked.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Middle school is such a drastic change from elementary. I remember when my oldest started. I love how easily she made the transition though.

    ReplyDelete
  21. So happy that Natalie survived! I remember middle school. It wasn't as bad as high school - but had it's own up and downs. These survival tips will just do for when I have my own kids :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your daughter sounds like a pretty good kid. She is not only creative but has a great sense of humor.

    ReplyDelete
  23. So cute. You still say I love you on your messages. My family isn't that expressive so I only get to say I love you on their birthday. Though I'm changing that with my nephew. I try to say I love you to him before he goes to bed so he gets used to being expressive. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Middle school is a difficult transition for some kids. Your daughter seems like she should been just fine.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh middle school!!! haha. Love your writing and this story. Cheers to school days and ALL THE PAPERWORK!

    ReplyDelete
  26. LOL! I love her creativity with the tissue! SO exciting that she's in middle school. it goes so fast, doesn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  27. lovely story... now we know how to survive.. hahahahah~~ put tissue then no more hole d? hahahhaha

    ReplyDelete
  28. awww! My oldest girl started grade 7 this week and has worn different pants with "holes" in them everyday, I didn't even think how that may be an issue, whoops! Also, I'm so over all the money/checks involved. Sheesh. - jeanine

    ReplyDelete
  29. Natallie's first day in Middle School was quite eventful. I can visualize the hole stuffed with tissue becoming quite the rage.The disco ball gives the locker such a bright look.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Such a cute read! My son just started JK and has uniforms so thankfully I don't have to worry about the dress code! I am sure it's very different from when I was in school.

    ReplyDelete
  31. HAH! I love that she gave someone a tissue out of her pants. Disco Ball Girl is a great name, though! Tissue Pants is better than Tissue Bra! I remember stuffing my bra with shoulder pads!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Very cute story to read! Love that holes in her pants, and love the idea of putting tissue on it!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'm so glad she had a great first day and how she could help out a fellow student thanks to the tissue :D Love the disco ball in her locker!

    ReplyDelete
  34. LOL! I'm laughing so hard. So many flashbacks to when my girls started Middle School. So much tween drama. Plus, so many paper work, it's insane. It never ends.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Glad she ok! Loved reading your post! Her locker is so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  36. This is a great read! Your daughter has some sass and lots of class! I love the disco ball in the locker. Hated middle achool

    ReplyDelete
  37. What a wonderful post! This was an adorable story, it took my daughters a few days to get used to the Middle School Flow but they loved it! Thanks for sharing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. So funny! 😂 Oh my what an adventurous spirit! Lovely story, it'll be a few more years before my son reaches your daughter's age

    ReplyDelete
  39. Her locker is so fun. I remember when i started middle high school. Such an adventure but so much fun too! She'll do great!

    ReplyDelete
  40. So cute that she put in a tissue to cover the holes. An adventure school day, she will be getting better and better. Great job girl!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I always enjoy your post with Natalie's story! I always feel like want to grab some bowl of popcorn coz its Natalie's story telling again!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for the comment!

Share This

 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...