Newbies at School

Yesterday was the first day back to school for Kenna and Trevor. Kenna was a bit nervous because it was her first day in high school. She reports that it was "boring". However, in seminary she made a name for herself. The teacher asked each of the kids to say what their pet peeves were. According to Kenna, most of the kids gave the usual expected answers. When it was her turn, she said, "I hate when people scratch themselves". This bought a burst of laughter from the entire class and for a split second Kenna wondered why this struck such a funny chord with everyone, then she realized how they were interpreting her comment and quickly defined what she meant. She said, "You know, like when they scratch their arms when they get a bug bite. I hate thinking about the dead skin under their fingernails". In true Kenna fashion she was laughing so hard when she was telling me this, she could hardly speak. Sometimes she can be just a bit dim about what comes out of her mouth. She really doesn't have a crass sense of humor, she just didn't think this comment through before she blurted it out. I love her and especially love her stories, even as I wonder what her teacher thinks of her. As he gets to know her, he will appreciate her zest for life and the depth of her spirit. She adds a definite zing to our family. And by the way, isn't that just an adorable, beautiful picture of her? I know.

Trevor, or as we like to call him, "Mr. Serious" had a bit of an adjustment to middle school. All summer long he has been so excited about starting middle school. It didn't quite pan out as he expected. He thought some of the teachers were a bit too strict and maybe a tad scary. All afternoon he was having anxiety about getting all his school supplies purchased and organized and getting his homework done. I didn't think too much about this, as it is typical Trevor behavior. However, when it was time to go to bed, he kept fiddling around with pencils, pens, papers, binders, etc. Finally, after reminding him several times how early he had to get up, I put my foot down and told him it was time for bed. Period. He was visibly upset so I went downstairs to tuck him in and spend a few minutes with him before he went to sleep, just to smooth over the evening. As I lay in bed with him and we were talking, I asked him what was really bothering him. After he had ticked off a few concerns of his, he got kind of quiet, then asked if he could tell me one more thing. He said they had an assembly first thing in the morning to welcome the kids to middle school and in that assembly, they told the kids that this year would affect the rest of their lives! Understandably, he was VERY distressed about this. I burst out laughing, which I shouldn't have done, and which he didn't appreciate, but of all the things! Trust Trevor to glom onto this one statement and stress about his 6th grade performance affecting the rest of his life. I explained why the (dumb Nazi) teachers did this and promised him that not even Ivy League universities or the military will be checking his 6th grade scores. He was a bit relieved, but I'm not sure I totally convinced him.

He also had to fill out those awful "Tell me about yourself" forms. One of the questions was, "Tell the most embarrassing thing you have ever done". That question is, in and of itself, embarrassing for Trevor. He couldn't think of an embarrassing moment because he spends a great deal of his life trying to avoid said experiences. Even if he did have an embarrassing moment, he's not about to relive it or discuss it with anyone. I think he ended up answering something like this, "To an 11/12 year-old-boy, life in general is embarrassing."Another question was "What is the funniest thing you have ever done?" Again, a very difficult question for Trevor, which stumped him all afternoon. Even though he laughs a lot, tells some pretty funny stories and jokes and generally enjoys life, he never finds himself in the middle of a "funniest" experience. That would be embarrassing! (That would also be Kenna, i.e., above story). He left that one blank. I kept reassuring him that he would do well in middle school and it was just a matter of adjustment. In a few days he will be fine. He misses the simplistic life of elementary school.