The first day of school has come and gone. It was one of the smoothest years of transition (so far!) I’ve experienced since my youngest son started school. This is the first year for the new alternative school, based in a “Holistic” education. On the first day there was a welcome assembly for parents and children to attend, as well as a before-school open house for parents to take the children to see their classes and say hello to the teachers. When the assembly was over, I went to say one final goodbye to my son, who is usually clingy. This was the first year, he said “I’m good mom, you can just go.”
There was a warmth and energy in the air that was unmistakable. And hearing from friends about their children’s first week, all had positive things to say all around. Whether the loved the yoga, their teacher, talking about the North Star, French, new friends, the lack of yelling – it was all good. So I breathed a huge sigh of relief!
I’ve been somewhat involved with various aspects of getting this school up and going over the spring and summer. And while it’s been great to see parents so involved, and more than that, for parents to be able to have a say in what is going into their child’s school, it has come with its challenges. Perhaps it is a case where too many cooks can spoil the stew! While it is great to apply all of our personal ideals to our children’s life, part of their growing up is slowly relinquishing the control we have over their lives. We have to hand our children over to the world of education at some point, unless we choose to home-school. We have to make the choice of what school best fits with our needs, wants and expectations for our children… and then let go. And most important, let them grow.
We are lucky to live in a time and place, where there is so much personal choice available, whether it is for food, religion, education. We are lucky to be able to have a voice. We are even luckier that our children have a voice too. It is difficult to imagine at times, when you read the newspaper or read books on different times or places, how different life could be.
It is a relief to me, to see my children settled and happy in their new school environment. I feel like I can step back and let them take over their experience now, and make it fit their needs, wants and expectations rather than my own. It is comforting to know I can have a say and be involved in their education. I feel extremely lucky to have my children under the wing of such enthusiastic and dedicated teachers. This is their time, and these years truly should be the best of their life, not mine, although I will always facilitate making these years so – from the sidelines. And watch, with rapture and joy.
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