All aboard!

The crazy train to high school is officially rolling into town. In less than a week, I will have two highschoolers on my hands!

On Tuesday, I picked Savannah up from Marching Band Camp, to register her for school. (I've found it seems less complicated for the high school grades. However, if you need to walk a new student around a huge building, or need to see the guidance counselor, you'll be wishing you were dead). She'll be a Junior this year, and that just kind of freaks my brain out a little bit. Yesterday, I registered Jack. We made a morning out of it. We dropped Savannah off at camp, drove a block down to the local Kroger to buy him shoes for gym class, and then stopped off for breakfast (iced coffee for both!) before heading back to the school for 8:30am registration.

It actually went pretty well, despite my needing a pen to fill out some form for Freshman "Make Friends" day. (Okay, I don't recall what it's called. I doubt my kid will be there with any intent to make new friends. It's something to do with creating bonds, talking about personal goals, and doing God knows what in the middle of nowhere for the day). Someone I volunteer with for a local organization was there at the PTO desk, hoping for new sign-ups. I've never once been on the PTO/PTA, and really have no desire to be. (It's a personal thing, mostly relating to being anxious and socially awkward). But we had to turn in this sign-up sheet/permission slip for the Freshman thing, so of course I said hello. I'm certain to have mentioned to this lady on at least a couple of occasions that Jack has Autism. He also has that "I'm not ready for school", and "registration day sucks ass" look. So, when she asked him for a hand shake, he didn't give her anything solid to hold onto. I doubt he even looked her in the eye! She kept saying "Harder! Harder!" (which he probably hated- he's never met her before), but it was over quickly. I think she may have then realized that he's the one I'd mentioned had ASD, because she did apologize. She's just super friendly. He's just super quiet. It is what it is.

The picture thing was the usual. Jack does not pose well. He's not into getting his picture taken, and THANK GOD he at least washed his hair before we left. (He has a wild mop of hair, that I call a 'fro. Our family is mixed-race, so I like to say he gets it from my African grandfather. However, he just has a very thick, curly head of hair. The longer it is, the more it grows out and up.. not flat, like most people's). He didn't really smile, although he said he thought he did. He also corrected the guy who handed him his ID, for not calling him by his preferred nickname. This always makes me cringe. Only family and the school call him by the "correct" name. It's just how it is. His official name is on all legal documents, so anyone who looks at it (doctor's office, etc) will call him that. He always corrects them, without failure. I told him on the way out the door "That guy will never see you again, unless he hands you your ID card next year. He won't remember you, and he'll get your name wrong. It's not a big deal. You don't need to call him out on it. (It is what it is).

From now until Wednesday - or at least until Tuesday night - I am not allowed to mention school. If I need to, it had better be of utmost importance, or my neck is on the line. Can I talk about how I put paper into his new zip-up binder? Nope. Can I mention him getting more lined paper if and when he'll need it? Nope. I have to limit any and all discussion/mention of school-related matters. I guess I can get down with that. I mean, I'm not exactly looking forward to it myself. As I've said before, when you are at least somewhat expecting issues, phone calls home, texts, etc.. you don't exactly look forward to those things. Summer may not be a negativity-free season, but at least you don't have to worry about other people telling you what your kid is or is not doing.

The kids will be back in the same school for the first time in over 5 years. They'll also be on the bus together. What the hell could possibly go wrong? Imagine it, if you will.. two people needing to get in showers, breakfasts, etc.. and then both be out the door by 6:40. Savannah is typically the one whose late-ish every morning, and Jack always takes his showers at night. But neither are typically in the greatest of moods at this time of day, and they'll be clashing at some point. Somebody will say something wrong. Someone will take something the wrong way. The poor bus driver will be wondering WTF is going on with his known rider, and a new rider he's never seen before. It shall indeed be interesting, to say the very least.