Second Day is Always Harder

The girls' second day at school was good, but as Margaret said last night, "Mom, I like sixth grade, but I don't want to go." She is still getting her schedule down, getting the idea of changing classes down and meeting new people. She looked so cute walking up to me at the end of her day. Her looks and carriage have changed almost overnight -- so mature and confident even though that little girl is still lurking inside. I hope she can manage the challenges of middle school without incident.

Patricia had a good day -- the second day of school and they already went on a field trip. Fourth grade social studies is the study of New York state, and we're fortunate to be located in a hugely historical region of the state. Much of the country's destiny was determined in the Champlain Valley, with the War of 1812 being fought here in Lake Champlain. The Battle of Plattsburgh was the pivotal battle of the War of 1812 against the English, and Plattsburgh hosts a Battle of Plattsburgh commemoration every September. Right now in the harbor is a replica of a tall ship and the kids walked downtown to see it and play some period games. That was fun, but Jack saw his middle daughter walking around the playground at recess time looking forlorn and friendless. Our house, as many of you know, butts up against the Oak Street School playground so we can look out at any given moment and see what's going on in our daughter's school (her classroom windows face our backyard). Jack was painting the back of the house yesterday and saw her walking around. She waved, but he said she looked lost out there. I asked later what was going on and she said she doesn't have anyone to play with. It's a far cry from St. Peter's, where she only had 10 other kids in her class and they made do with who they had. The kids in her class, by and large, have been with one another in the city schools since kindergarten so she has to break the clique in order to fit in. I ache for her, but she's a strong kid and I hope she musters up the fortitude to make her own friendships there. Otherwise, I'm going to have to storm in and throw my momma lion weight around (only kidding ... kinda)

Jack is now off on Fridays and Saturdays (as opposed to his 20-year-old schedule of having Sundays and Mondays off) and is going to take the girls up to the lake for the night after they get out of school. We're going to be taking his parents to the airport tomorrow in Burlington. They're heading to England for a three-week sojourn of the British Isles. It's supposed to be a nice day, and they're getting fewer and father between so Jack wants to go to the lake as often as he can.

It was also the day after Brigid's shots, and although she was not herself the first day, she was cranky as well on the second and the site of one of the shots was red and angry. Poor Jenny ... when I got home from work she had to have Brigid in the playpen because she just didn't know what else to do with her (Brigid was crying pretty much non-stop). The boob helped but she was still not herself throughout the day and night. She finally surrendered to a nap about 5 p.m. but that lasted all of 45 minutes and then she drifted on and off at night until finally falling into a fitful sleep after midnight. She fights sleep like no child I've ever had. She'll sit there, bobbling around like a Weeblo but she will refuse to go to sleep. I'm hoping this is just a fad and that she will finally discover how wonderful a good night's sleep can be. I remember those... But considering how fast this phase of her little life goes by, I don't want to be looking back at this in five years saying ohh, how I miss those days....So for now, I endure and just look at it as additional opportunities to look at and be with my baby.