So the school year started out with a bang. Ethan and Fox had a half day at the public school on the first day and all went well there. I dropped Ben off at Chatfield for his first day but when I picked him up afterward things did not go as anticipated. I could tell it was a rough day when I saw him pass through the hall as I arrived. Once we got out of the building and had a chance to talk he finally broke down. He HATED it. The open classroom was extremely distracting, the kids were pretty clicky, and he just didn't feel like he fit in. I felt horrible, he is not a kid who takes to change easily and I appreciate his giving an effort to try. I suppose I could have forced him to stay and try it longer but somewhere in my heart I knew that wasn't the investment to make at this time, much as I had hoped it would be a great experience for him. The next morning we made a trip to the middle school office and reenrolled him, he had a schedule and was in class by 2nd hour. I lost him in the crowd as the kids changed classes when he spotted one of his buddies. He even stayed after for cross-country practice and was MUCH happier when he came home at the end of the day. It certainly has made our life easier around here having eliminated a LOT of running around and I am enjoying having all the boys involved in the same sport for the fall.
Buyer pictures arrived, we got them delivered and the boys have deposited their checks. We spent the weekend before school started getting the pig pen and barn area deconstructed so we can begin getting a better layout in before winter. The boys also helped get the chicken pen and coop cleaned out and the chicks have been shifted over, still not sure how many hens and roosters we have.
Cross-country season had a good start, Fox had a tough run at the first meet in Cros-Lex but picked up his time at the second Brown City meet. Both Ben and Fox ran at Bad Axe this year as well as the Caro TVC. Our county meet was a bit of a disaster due to a change in the course and addition of an electronic timing system which did not meet expectations. This week Ethan will run the Marlette Open Race and the older boys will travel to Garber with the school team.
It's funny how you can have a plan and an expectation for how your life is going to be and suddenly things just change but you know it's all ok. I have been involved with helping a friend get her neice and grand nephew (who are currently homeless) into an apartment in town and get him enrolled in school. The young man has been staying with us and going to the elementary school until they get settled in the apartment. The mom lost her hearing due to a surgery not long ago and does not use sign language yet so communication is challenging plus she operates at a remedial level at best. I purchased a copy of The Joy of Signing for her and have been encouraging her to learn plus I've been learning and using the signs myself. I don't know why but I've been very compelled to help this young man get in a safe home situation and receive a good education. In addition to helping his mother learn how to be a good parent. I'm not saying or doing this out of judgement, fact is she had a pretty crappy upbringing and really just doesn't know or think about things the way "normal" people would. She does love her little boy though and I'm hoping that she will understand the importance of making sure he is cared for and educated if they are to stay together, otherwise the choices may be taken out of her control, which would have nothing to do with me.
You can't always get what you what.
But if you try sometimes, you just might find...
you get what you need.
