I am having major mom guilt and just emotional in general I think. My fifth grader is a happy go-lucky kid, was happy to see her friends and got dropped off at a friend's house to go to school together today. My 7th grade son is the complete opposite. Has never liked school after Kindergarten, is sort of a floater socially, so does not have that excited to see everyone feeling, no core group of friends, etc. Of course, that makes me worry about him socially. He is also at a new school (7th and 8th grade Junior High). He knows a TON of kids through town sports, his former school, etc., but it still feels "new". The icing was that he got braces last week and his face is totally broken out. He was mopey all last week thinking about school starting, was unable to sleep last night because he was anxious and in general was just not feeling it this morning. Our entire morning routine is changing this year because of timing of my start time, end time, etc. He was supposed to leave the house at 7:30 and ride his bike to school. Heat index is 100 today and my husband asked if I could drive him instead due to the heat. The only problem with that is that meant I had to drop him off really early. So I left my 12 year-old in an empty parking lot at 7:08 am this morning. Not a soul around I felt like I was about to cry as I pulled away and saw him alone with his back pack in the rear view mirror. I know it all sounds ridiculous, but it just felt like a really crummy way to have your first day at a new school. I am just praying that he comes home and at least says it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. The whole schedule thing is frustrating because I don;t have to be at work until 8:00 am, but it is one of those situations where I either have to leave super early and then I get here at 7:35, or if I leave any later than 7:20 I am late due to traffic patterns. If I miss that magic window I am screwed. It is fine for them to get to school on their own for now, but I am in New England so once it gets super cold it will be harder. Anyway, just feeling sad for my kid, and needed to vent I guess.
I am having major mom guilt and just emotional in general I think. My fifth grader is a happy go-lucky kid, was happy to see her friends and got dropped off at a friend's house to go to school together today. My 7th grade son is the complete opposite. Has never liked school after Kindergarten, is sort of a floater socially, so does not have that excited to see everyone feeling, no core group of friends, etc. Of course, that makes me worry about him socially. He is also at a new school (7th and 8th grade Junior High). He knows a TON of kids through town sports, his former school, etc., but it still feels "new". The icing was that he got braces last week and his face is totally broken out. He was mopey all last week thinking about school starting, was unable to sleep last night because he was anxious and in general was just not feeling it this morning. Our entire morning routine is changing this year because of timing of my start time, end time, etc. He was supposed to leave the house at 7:30 and ride his bike to school. Heat index is 100 today and my husband asked if I could drive him instead due to the heat. The only problem with that is that meant I had to drop him off really early. So I left my 12 year-old in an empty parking lot at 7:08 am this morning. Not a soul around I felt like I was about to cry as I pulled away and saw him alone with his back pack in the rear view mirror. I know it all sounds ridiculous, but it just felt like a really crummy way to have your first day at a new school. I am just praying that he comes home and at least says it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. The whole schedule thing is frustrating because I don;t have to be at work until 8:00 am, but it is one of those situations where I either have to leave super early and then I get here at 7:35, or if I leave any later than 7:20 I am late due to traffic patterns. If I miss that magic window I am screwed. It is fine for them to get to school on their own for now, but I am in New England so once it gets super cold it will be harder. Anyway, just feeling sad for my kid, and needed to vent I guess.
I'm so sorry you are in such a bind but I feel sorry for your children,you are putting them in harms way,leaving one alone at that hour when soon it will be cold and dark,and your husband had to ask you to drive him to school.Might be old fashioned but children before things and if it means giving up financial gain from your career so be it, must try to discuss with employer asap,and stop leaving this child out alone,it is what is out there that is harmful.
I realize they no longer put missing children on milk cartons anymore but the reality is that the world is full of pit falls.
I worked nights for many years so we could be sure their was always one parent at home.Even if the bus picks kids up you still have to make sure that they are on that bus.
Look up Etan Patz ,he was walking alone to school in the morning for a couple of blocks in a busy city full of people,never been found.
Please do yourself a favor and your children,find a different job. Good luck,sorry if I sound dramatic
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
I'm so sorry you are in such a bind but I feel sorry for your children,you are putting them in harms way,leaving one alone at that hour when soon it will be cold and dark,and your husband had to ask you to drive him to school.Might be old fashioned but children before things and if it means giving up financial gain from your career so be it, must try to discuss with employer asap,and stop leaving this child out alone,it is what is out there that is harmful.
I realize they no longer put missing children on milk cartons anymore but the reality is that the world is full of pit falls.
I worked nights for many years so we could be sure their was always one parent at home.Even if the bus picks kids up you still have to make sure that they are on that bus.
Look up Etan Patz ,he was walking alone to school in the morning for a couple of blocks in a busy city full of people,never been found.
Please do yourself a favor and your children,find a different job. Good luck,sorry if I sound dramatic
I hope he has a good week of school! If he's having issues making friends, why not join clubs? Maybe he can find some friends with same likes. That's what I did as a student and suggest to kids in my school who feel lonely.
He did make a Travel Basketball league that starts next Tuesday and so far, seems happy at school so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for the club suggestion - I will make sure he looks into options at school :)
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
He did make a Travel Basketball league that starts next Tuesday and so far, seems happy at school so I am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for the club suggestion - I will make sure he looks into options at school :)
That's good to hear! I hope he has a great school year!
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
I'm just confused on how we got to helping your kid adjust to a new school to telling you to get a new job.
Just sayin'. I have two kiddos, one is 10 and the other is 7. In my kid's school district, the older kids are allowed to take little siblings to the bus and vise versa. So sadly this year the school daycare is expensive so we decided to let them be independent and go by themselves to the bus. So far, pretty good. The kids go to the bus stop after I leave, they walk to our neighbor's house in our street, they go inside, wait 10 mins and then walk to the bus with the neighbor's kids. And it's the same when they come home, they get off the neighbor's stop, walk to our home and go inside, locking the door. A few mins later, my mother gets home.
I did this at 10, they are doing a fantastic job at 10 and 7. Plus the school has this card scanner so they always let me know when they come on the bus off and on the bus.
Sure family comes first, but my money is what helps my family survive, so yeah... I ain't getting a new job.
He was mopey all last week thinking about school starting, was unable to sleep last night because he was anxious and in general was just not feeling it this morning. Our entire morning routine is changing this year because of timing of my start time, end time, etc. He was supposed to leave the house at 7:30 and ride his bike to school. Heat index is 100 today and my husband asked if I could drive him instead due to the heat. The only problem with that is that meant I had to drop him off really early. So I left my 12 year-old in an empty parking lot at 7:08 am this morning. Not a soul around 
I felt like I was about to cry as I pulled away and saw him alone with his back pack in the rear view mirror. I know it all sounds ridiculous, but it just felt like a really crummy way to have your first day at a new school. I am just praying that he comes home and at least says it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. The whole schedule thing is frustrating because I don;t have to be at work until 8:00 am, but it is one of those situations where I either have to leave super early and then I get here at 7:35, or if I leave any later than 7:20 I am late due to traffic patterns. If I miss that magic window I am screwed. It is fine for them to get to school on their own for now, but I am in New England so once it gets super cold it will be harder. Anyway, just feeling sad for my kid, and needed to vent I guess.
nmr79
218 Posts
Glad it went okay!
I totally hear you. It's hard to feel like you're missing out on events in your child's life while you're busy supervising other peoples' kids.