The only good thing about endings is that with them come the dawn of new beginnings. A person can almost tolerate the pain of saying goodbye when you fill your mind with the excitement of something new and unknown.
The other day I walked out to get the mail and instead of the usual bills I discovered a letter from my daughter’s school. Toward the end of the year my daughter was tested to see if she would qualify for high ability classes. Throughout all of her years of school she has always achieved straight A’s. When she was in 4th grade she was tested for high ability and it was decided by educators in charge of such things that she remain where she was. At that point she cried because she didn’t get in! It was feared at the time that if she was moved up she might struggle, be overwhelmed, and then her self esteem would suffer.
This past year was an easy year for my daughter. The many times I ventured to the school to have lunch with her I discovered her to be extremely happy surrounded by her circle of friends. When it came time for her to be tested for the high ability classes for next year, her friends encouraged her to fail while I encouraged her to do her best. She wanted to stay where she was and wanted nothing more than to stay where it was safe surrounded by her friends, happy, and sliding through life without a care in the world.
I knew the envelope from the mailbox held the answer to her placement for the new school year and I knew instinctively that I had to open it before I went into the house. I tore it open and scanned through the letter that congratulated me and her for being placed into high ability for the coming school year. I braced myself to tell her. I knew she would not be happy. This letter confirmed that from here on out she would no longer be in an ordinary class with her friends, but moved to another section of the school and surrounded by other brainy kids she had yet to meet who excelled. I no longer was in a rush to get inside. I thought about my funny, zany girl and knew deep down that even being challenged mentally in high ability wouldn’t extinguish the comedic zany spark I always have seen in her. I knew I had to tell her, and I dreaded it.
I had good reason to dread being the bearer of this particular piece of news. At the announcement that she would leave M team to join the high ability S team of her intermediate school my daughter moaned “NO!” like a wounded animal and promptly broke into sobs. My heart broke for her but I knew what I had to do. I hugged her and helped her look on the bright side of this situation. Even though there was the stipulation that I could request she not be moved into high ability classes promising more work and the concept of leaving her group of friends, I presented the concept that perhaps this ending was meant to be.
Perhaps she should have been with the smart kids all along. I could see her fears ran deeper than leaving the friends she had found the year before. The bottom line was that she was afraid she would fail miserably and never be able to keep up. It was time for her to ride the lightning and step up to the plate. It was time for her to be challenged and have her mind opened to more new exciting things.
In another year the end of intermediate school will come and junior high will dawn on the horizon with even more promise for growth and opportunity. Absolutely nothing stays the same. Life is ever changing and keeps on playing out as it is meant to. I swallowed my own personal reservations about this new appointment and chose to encourage her. We chose to celebrate her successes and look forward to the future instead of dwelling on everything she would be leaving behind. With endings come the promise of a new beginning and with that comes excitement and hope for all the tomorrows to come until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.
Betty, she is actually looking forward to the opportunity at this point. That was not her first reaction. I am praying the same. I am sure she will rise to the challenge. It is a new beginning and an opportunity to meet new people and make more friends. Thanks for stopping by to read and for your comments!
I am sure that was a hard thing to do, but by encouraging her to strive will help her in the long run. It is a reason to celebrate together, she is doing so well. Some kids struggle and don't have someone in their life to support them as you do. Kudos to both of you.
Winnie, she is doing very well. Both of my kids were tested but of the two I expected my son to be accepted instead of my daughter. Just goes to show what I know because just the opposite happened. My son will be going into 1st grade and he needs to learn the basics before they add extra pressure like high ability classes on his shoulders. They are both hard workers and I am very proud of both of them. I am sure my daughter will rise to the challenge and do well. She loves to study and read, and loves math. She has a lot to offer the world. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!
How well you balanced both sides of this issue Kathy. I was in the "honor's" program at our school and it had its share of ups and downs. Please keep us in touch with how things go - best of luck to her and her new adventure!
Amy, I was also was in honors and enriched classes. I never thought of it as such a big deal at the time, but it sure seems that way when you become a parent. I couldn't be more proud of her. She likes school work so much that she is literally going through her old science and math books for something to do. LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!
Journey of Life, she will meet up with those friends in junior high or even high school since they will always be going the same place. I just hope she will do her best and remember to have fun. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!
My girls' school have this academic division on both Math and Language since Fourth Grade. Both didn't make to the Math, when they were in 4th grade just because. But, they leaped forward ever since fifth grade and they are always in the advance classes.
I guess my point is ... It will happen and It will. Even if it doesn't, there are many other things that can compliment her desire, such as find her something at home to challenge her. And there are plenty of website out there that gear toward to challenge kids in both language and Math.
Journey of Life, at this point my daughter has fully embraced her new appointment to high ability classes and is looking forward to it. She realizes now that she will make new friends there, and the girls that she ran with last year will always be her friends in some capacity she just won't see them as often. She will be challenged plenty at school, I have little doubt. The challenge for me will be encouraging her to have fun and be a kid while at home. I am pretty good at the fun category. LOL Thank you for stopping in again and for your comments!
Sandra, usually the first reaction to a challenge is the best. I tend to be little Kathy sunshine without even trying. That wasn't always the case. I used to be more like Eeyore. This just happened to be going on in my life and fit. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥
Shail, thank you!! She is very excited and using her summer vacation to work through her math book and read her science book cover to cover!! Unfortunately, I think she may be a little like me in that sense! LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments~! ♥
Congratulations to your daughter! What an amazing achievement and opportunity for her although I completely understand her dread. I wasn't in those advanced classes but I had a few friends who were and it didn't change our friendship at all. We still sat together at lunch and passed notes in the hall and are still best friends to this day.
JoJo, with this new appointment she will be having her classes in a completely different area of the school and be on a entirely different schedule than her old friends for lunch and recess. I am afraid she won't be able to mingle with them at all. Still, her friendships from last year may still survive. I am so proud of her and I know she will make more friends and do well. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!
I hope your girl does everything she is capable of, whilst still retaining the friendships she has formed in her earlier years. It's tough, but it is possible, and I am sure you have told her that.
Kathy, I don't know if I ever told you, but I teach intellectually gifted kids. The kids in my gifted program are--shy, goofy, arrogant, modest, over achievers, under achievers, funny, serious--ie., they are just like ordinary kids with the exception that they learn quicker, so we are able to cover more information and study it at a deeper level. The group discussions that come out of a gifted classroom are fascinating, and your daughter will have a great time while learning at her level. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about giftedness or accelerated programs. I've been working with these kids for 26 years.
Joyce, thank you for your kind words and for stopping by to read and comment. I may have to take you up on that since it appears as if you are an expert in this subject! ♥
How exciting for her! Also scary, I know, but she will have a whole new respect for learning and as Joyce said, the conversations she will be part of will be amazing. You did exactly the right thing and I know you know that, but she's a lucky little girl. Great take on this one. ♥
Jo, her biggest concerns are not finding any friends among the smart kids and not being to keep up with the work. I understand her fears. I worry, but...as I pointed out to her if she didn't belong in this group the powers that be would not have put her there. She needs to do her best, be herself,have fun, and make the most of the opportunity given her. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!!
I knew the envelope from the mailbox held the answer to her placement for the new school year and I knew instinctively that I had to open it before I went into the house. I tore it open and scanned through the letter that congratulated me and her for being placed into high ability for the coming school year. I braced myself to tell her. I knew she would not be happy. This letter confirmed that from here on out she would no longer be in an ordinary class with her friends, but moved to another section of the school and surrounded by other brainy kids she had yet to meet who excelled. I no longer was in a rush to get inside. I thought about my funny, zany girl and knew deep down that even being challenged mentally in high ability wouldn’t extinguish the comedic zany spark I always have seen in her. I knew I had to tell her, and I dreaded it.
This really is exciting and I pray that the outcome will be great. Best wishes to all of you! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBetty, she is actually looking forward to the opportunity at this point. That was not her first reaction. I am praying the same. I am sure she will rise to the challenge. It is a new beginning and an opportunity to meet new people and make more friends. Thanks for stopping by to read and for your comments!
DeleteI am sure that was a hard thing to do, but by encouraging her to strive will help her in the long run. It is a reason to celebrate together, she is doing so well. Some kids struggle and don't have someone in their life to support them as you do. Kudos to both of you.
ReplyDeleteWinnie, she is doing very well. Both of my kids were tested but of the two I expected my son to be accepted instead of my daughter. Just goes to show what I know because just the opposite happened. My son will be going into 1st grade and he needs to learn the basics before they add extra pressure like high ability classes on his shoulders. They are both hard workers and I am very proud of both of them. I am sure my daughter will rise to the challenge and do well. She loves to study and read, and loves math. She has a lot to offer the world. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!
DeleteHow well you balanced both sides of this issue Kathy. I was in the "honor's" program at our school and it had its share of ups and downs. Please keep us in touch with how things go - best of luck to her and her new adventure!
ReplyDeleteAmy, I was also was in honors and enriched classes. I never thought of it as such a big deal at the time, but it sure seems that way when you become a parent. I couldn't be more proud of her. She likes school work so much that she is literally going through her old science and math books for something to do. LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!
DeleteNice thing about academic ... there will be another chance. Always!
ReplyDeleteJourney of Life, she will meet up with those friends in junior high or even high school since they will always be going the same place. I just hope she will do her best and remember to have fun. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!
DeleteMy girls' school have this academic division on both Math and Language since Fourth Grade. Both didn't make to the Math, when they were in 4th grade just because. But, they leaped forward ever since fifth grade and they are always in the advance classes.
DeleteI guess my point is ... It will happen and It will. Even if it doesn't, there are many other things that can compliment her desire, such as find her something at home to challenge her. And there are plenty of website out there that gear toward to challenge kids in both language and Math.
At the end, like you said, have fun is a MUST :-)
Journey of Life, at this point my daughter has fully embraced her new appointment to high ability classes and is looking forward to it. She realizes now that she will make new friends there, and the girls that she ran with last year will always be her friends in some capacity she just won't see them as often. She will be challenged plenty at school, I have little doubt. The challenge for me will be encouraging her to have fun and be a kid while at home. I am pretty good at the fun category. LOL Thank you for stopping in again and for your comments!
DeleteNice positive positive spin on endings. I couldn't think of one! My response to this ending prompt is far more depressing.
ReplyDeleteSandra, usually the first reaction to a challenge is the best. I tend to be little Kathy sunshine without even trying. That wasn't always the case. I used to be more like Eeyore. This just happened to be going on in my life and fit. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥
DeleteThat's wonderful Here is wishing for a wonderful new beginning for you all and especially your daughter.
ReplyDeleteShail, thank you!! She is very excited and using her summer vacation to work through her math book and read her science book cover to cover!! Unfortunately, I think she may be a little like me in that sense! LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments~! ♥
DeleteCongratulations to your daughter! What an amazing achievement and opportunity for her although I completely understand her dread. I wasn't in those advanced classes but I had a few friends who were and it didn't change our friendship at all. We still sat together at lunch and passed notes in the hall and are still best friends to this day.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, with this new appointment she will be having her classes in a completely different area of the school and be on a entirely different schedule than her old friends for lunch and recess. I am afraid she won't be able to mingle with them at all. Still, her friendships from last year may still survive. I am so proud of her and I know she will make more friends and do well. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!
DeleteI hope your girl does everything she is capable of, whilst still retaining the friendships she has formed in her earlier years. It's tough, but it is possible, and I am sure you have told her that.
ReplyDeleteMojo Writin, I hope so too!! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments. ♥
DeleteKathy, I don't know if I ever told you, but I teach intellectually gifted kids. The kids in my gifted program are--shy, goofy, arrogant, modest, over achievers, under achievers, funny, serious--ie., they are just like ordinary kids with the exception that they learn quicker, so we are able to cover more information and study it at a deeper level. The group discussions that come out of a gifted classroom are fascinating, and your daughter will have a great time while learning at her level. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about giftedness or accelerated programs. I've been working with these kids for 26 years.
ReplyDeletejlanskyATcomcastDOTcom
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
Joyce, thank you for your kind words and for stopping by to read and comment. I may have to take you up on that since it appears as if you are an expert in this subject! ♥
DeleteHow exciting for her! Also scary, I know, but she will have a whole new respect for learning and as Joyce said, the conversations she will be part of will be amazing. You did exactly the right thing and I know you know that, but she's a lucky little girl.
ReplyDeleteGreat take on this one. ♥
Jo, her biggest concerns are not finding any friends among the smart kids and not being to keep up with the work. I understand her fears. I worry, but...as I pointed out to her if she didn't belong in this group the powers that be would not have put her there. She needs to do her best, be herself,have fun, and make the most of the opportunity given her. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!!
Delete