A New School Year

Today is day 14 of this school year, so we almost have three weeks under our belt.

We expected it would be a rather smooth transition. After all, this is the beginning of Kimmie's fourth year of high school, her fourth year with the same teacher and her third year with the same signing aide. Many of her classmates are probably the same.

Of course, she did have a new bus driver and bus aide to break in.

However, there was one little difference this year. Kimmie's sister, for the first time ever, leaves for school before Kimmie.

For some reason, seeing her sister leave each morning really upset Kimmie. Bethany tried sneaking out of the house, but Kimmie would look around and know that Bethany was "all gone" and still be upset. Kimmie would be "mad, mad, mad" getting on her bus. At school, she would remember, and fuss because Bethany was "all gone, school."

Kimmie is very attached to her sister, but we really weren't sure why she was so upset.

Did she not realize that Bethany went to school?
Was she worried that Bethany would not be home when she arrived home?
Did she think that Bethany was at home all day waiting for her bus to return?
Was she worried no one would be home when her bus returned?

We really don't know, but for the first 10 days of school she cried and was mad every morning when she climbed on her bus. She would bring it up at school and would fuss.

But, on Day 11, she was happy when she climbed on her bus, and she had a great day at school. She has been happy ever since and has had good days at school. Whew!

We only have a 4-day streak going, and it could snap at any moment, but we'll take it for now. The bus driver and bus aide seem to have relaxed this week, and they seem to be smiling more.

Kimmie's sister wonders, "What will Kimmie do when I go off to college?"

--Mom

"Not Mommy"

Kimmie is very attached to Mommy. She will sometimes say she is Grandpa's girl, or Daddy's girl -- but she loves Mommy and usually wants to be near her.

A little sign language: the sign for 'mommy' is an open flat hand, touch thumb to chin. The sign for 'not' a closed hand, thumb out, touch the thumb under the chin. Kimmie's shorthand sign combines these two into a single gesture; the "not Mommy" sign.

If Mom leaves in the evening or on the weekend, Kimmie is usually playing somewhere. She will hear the door close, and deduce instantly that Mommy has left the house.

She will turn to me and emphatically sign "not Mommy". Meaning that "you are not Mommy, and I am upset that she is not here RIGHT NOW." Usually this is accompanied by Kimmie yelling at us in annoyance. Now, she often calms down and goes back to playing when I tell her that Mommy has gone out for an errand and will be home soon.

A few years ago, she would get upset and sob, sometimes until Mommy came back home. I was a little surprised, since we could leave her about anywhere -- church, school, Grandma and Grandpa's house -- without much drama. But when she is home, she wants Mommy to be nearby.

I think Mommy feels the same way about Kimmie, too.

-- Dad (Not Mommy)