The end and the beginning

My mind just can't jump into the next thing with this blog knowing that I've missed things from these last few months.  In an effort to combine some of this all into one, and come back to current reality, these next few posts are a bit jumbled.

In June, Max finished up the end of Kindergarten.  Then went through the shortest summer ever as a different school system has him starting up in August.  Looking back at these last day of school pictures seems like it was ages ago.  Moving can do that to you though!

Here's to the end - a fun day, a darling program, and a neighborhood of happy kids eating root beer floats as the afternoon finished up.

To the beginning.  Complete with a pep band in the morning, and a big hurrah for all the kids on the first day at school.  Biggest differences for Max between the two?  Well, this is his first stint with the full day schedule, and while we're still working out some kinks, I think he'll get the hang of it.

More than anything, it's just change.  A word that to some evokes stress or fear, others a surge of energy or excitement.  For me, I love that change offers perspective.  I recently had some conversations with people looking to make a step towards change in their lives.  It seems that they, like myself, spend a lot of energy thinking about the possible scenarios the change could cause or create.  Sometimes, those scenarios turn into a life of their own and become the fear of not wanting to ever actually allow the change to happen.  Other times, they seem like they continue to dwindle and think about it endlessly for the sake of staying in something that is comfortable.  Who knows if there is a right or wrong way to prepare for change.  All I know is that it'll never happen if you don't take the step.  Every time I've actually stepped into change, I've come out of it grateful and full of knowledge I otherwise would not have.  Watching others actually experience change has a similar effect.  Sometimes it just takes a little more time than originally thought.  Sometimes it's just dang scary AND uncomfortable to jump into the darkness a little.  That's where faith, prayer and the knowledge that you're making the change for the right reasons for you.  Those moments - when we are in the dark - those are building moments. 

Max has had those building moments every day.  Is it easy for him to jump into a new school?  Not at all.  The thing that has thrown him the most is the drop off and pick up and how it's so different from what he knew previously.  Add in that he doesn't know names or have the security of a buddy, and his mind was at full capacity after that first day.  Sure, it's tough seeing him in the dark a little, but I know that every day he's building confidence and character.  With each step, he's getting more familiar.  Getting him going in the morning is rough, and is going to take some time to adjust, but once he is there, he's good to go.

Already found another kid who likes to talk about eye balls as much as he does (for more info on that, just read this post), found another friend who loves ninjas, and has the girls wanting to sit by him at lunch (so says my neighbor).  Top highlights for him include the important stuff like recess, the fire drill, and the library trips.  He's loving spanish, where he came home from his first day excited to tell us that taco and burrito are actually spanish words.  So is salsa.  Go figure.  Insists on wearing his tennis shoes every day so he can be ready to run in freeze tag at any moment.  Been there 5 days and has memorized the building and not only knows where all of his classes are, but knows where the teachers eat lunch, where the gym teacher has his office, where the principal spends her time, and where they store the vacuums.  Curious?  You bet.  I hope he never stops asking.  Drinking some lemonade after school today, looking deep in thought, he turned to me and said, "you know mom, this school is different, but a lot is the same too.  I think I really like it.  I really want to go back tomorrow."

Mike texted me this cool quote one day:


"Unless you walk into the unknown, the odds of making a profound difference in your life are pretty low." - Tom Peters

Exactly.  Here's to it.  The end, the beginning, and all the change in between.