Back to a New School, with Parenting Jitters

Big starts 1st grade this month at a new school. He already knows a few of the kids, but he’s nervous, and so am I. I started first grade as a new student, too. I entered the room (mid-year) knowing no one. I remember my dad holding me as the teacher came over to greet me. And the next week, I sat in the front row with 10 new friends vying for my attention. Most of the class befriended me right away. Being new in school in first grade is cool. You’re exciting.

So why can’t I, as his parent, realize that he’ll be fine? Why am I so nervous? I recognize that its a good school. I know he’ll handle the academics. I suppose I just feel so many emotions of this big move from his private Pteschool & Kindergarten where we all felt so safe and coddled to a big building that is so unfamiliar. I feel nervous. I feel scared. Will they like me, as a parent? Will I be thought of as pushy? Smart? Helpful? Annoying?

I’ve written a lot in the past about teaching and PTOing and parenting. I’ve always written from the perspective of someone who’s been there, done that. But this is a totally new perspective. I’ve never walked Big to the busstop where he’ll ride with the 5th graders (will there be bullies?) I’ve never provided him with lunch money and asked him to make the right choices in his meals. I’ve never sent him into an unfamiliar hallway with an unfamiliar teacher and unfamiliar rules. What if I don’t like his classmates? What if I don’t like their moms? What if they don’t like me? What if I don’t have an opportunity to be involved in his school the way I am in the Preschool and Kindergarten? (hmph. Some may say that would be a good thing.)

Wait, really? I’m having the back to school jitters, as a parent? I’m feeling butterflies like I’ve never felt before. I didn’t get this way before Kindergarten. I felt so safe because we’d been there before.

And I know how scared he is. He’s talked about it with me, albeit briefly. He fully expects to have his best friend, who was also in his Kindergarten and preschool classes in his classroom. He’s worried he won’t. He’s worried about the building he doesn’t know and the friends he hasn’t met and the teacher he doesn’t have a name or a face for.

I have to be confident, for him. I have to hug him and tell him its fine to be nervous, that everything will be great. I have to show him how to be strong on his first day of school. I have to do this for him.

But in the meantime, for you, I’m sharing that I’m just as terrified. Maybe more.

This post is in response to the Y! Mother Board‘s August topic, Back to School. Read tips and suggestions about Back to School season at Yahoo! Shine. And make sure you enter the Fill the Backpack contest this week on Just Precious, as well as the other Fill the Backpack member’s sites to win one of 16 backpacks overpacked with $300 worth of prizes. Are you a teacher? A parent? An Administrator? Enter for an opportunity to win $500 towards your dream classroom.

© 2010, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

About Julie Meyers Pron

Julie Meyers Pron has written 815 post in this blog.

mom of 3 and wife, Julie is a former elementary school teacher and a Public Relations manager. She is the owner/editor of Just Precious, founding partner of Just Centsible, and a team member of Splash Creative Media. Julie is a PTOer, volunteer, elementary educator and that's just the beginning of the list!

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Tagged as: classroom, education, Fill the Backpack, First grade, Preschool education, school, Student, Teacher