Damon, Damon, Damon

Quite honestly, I'm growing weary of whining about my son and his difficulty adjusting to life after the move (and I'm sure everyone else is tired of hearing it, too)... but I can't just leave ya hanging, so here's the latest and greatest on that front.

I had my meeting with Mrs. Evans, and she surprised me. She was very nice... she seemed very "in tune" with the 21 (!!) first graders in her class... and it seems she's already noticed things about Damon that I thought I'd have to point out to her (I had little faith, really).

I was glad that I went in and talked with her... because Damon's version of events at school is not 100% accurate, and I didn't figure it was. Talking with Mrs. Evans put my mind at ease... a lot. I think she is helping him as much as she can with the adjustment, and she agreed that he's not a happy camper these days, that obviously the move has been rough on him, but he WILL come around eventually.

She also told me that Damon is a genius. Okay, maybe she didn't say THAT exactly, lol... but she did say that he's one of the best readers in her class. Apparently their school adopted a new Reading program this year, and it's much more advanced than it has been in previous years and lots of kids are having trouble "catching up." But, Damon is a super-duper reader. And his Math skills aren't too shabby either. So that's one less thing to worry about.

Now if his emotions would just catch up to his brain, we'd be gettin' somewhere!

I put Damon on the bus this morning, despite his protests... which included lots of tears, lots of sobbing, and lots of begging and pleading: "Please, Mom, just take me HOME! I don't wanna go, I don't wanna, I don't wanna..." The bus drove away, and Damon's little tear-streaked face was plastered to the window, and he was begging me with his eyes to rescue him. I put on my best happy face and smiled and waved, like I was totally oblivious to his feelings (even though I felt like someone had just thrown my heart under that moving bus!)

Then, I walked away from the bus stop and had my own emotional meltdown and battle with myself... How could I have done that to my baby? How could I have shoved him onto the bus, despite his begging and crying... and those EYES?? But, at the same time, how could I not?

I know that he has to deal with this... he has to just be upset and go to school every day, regardless. He has to grow up a little bit and adjust. And, for maybe the first time in his life, I can't "save" him.

Someone hold me.