A Little Bit of Tears

So I guess yesterday wasn't as great as I thought it would be for little Mikey. Jeff picked the boys up from school yesterday because I was at the orthodontist with Calvin. I couldn't wait to hear how it went. Mikey seemed like he would be just fine when I left his classroom yesterday morning. He held it together for a minute or two in the car and then the tears came. He sobbed. Poor Mikey! He told Jeff, "Dad, I cried like 15 times at school today!" He was sad because he doesn't know anyone. He feels like he doesn't have any friends at school. He tried to sit with Isaac at lunch but they wouldn't let him. They make you sit with your class. Mikey wanted hot lunch today because he thought at least he could see Isaac in the lunch line for a minute. He had a good, long cry after school with me. I got home just a few minutes before him and he really needed some Mommy-time. I talked to him about how to make friends and how everyone else is scared too. He was buoyed up a little and we spent a good hour working on a puzzle together and snuggling in the chair, talking. He was worried all night with lots of sniffles and a few more tears. This morning he was still scared and didn't want to go to school but he isn't defiant. He still grabbed his backpack and got in the car. I walked him into his classroom hoping to help him meet some friends before class started. At least get introduced. They had already switched desks so he was sitting with all new people again at his table. But his teacher put him in the front row and by a kid she thought he had made friends with yesterday. So I walked with Mikey to his desk while he choked back the tears and held my hand. I asked the boy his name, introduced Mikey and asked if he could be Mikey's friend today. He stared back at me and shook his head, no. Are you kidding me?!!?? That really was a set back. Mikey buried his face in my arm and started crying. I found another boy who seemed friendly and did the same thing. He was really nice and said he would be Mikey's friend and play with him at recess. A little girl next to him said "Well, I have a tummy ache today so I might throw up. If I do, they'll send me to the office." Ok.....we moved on to another boy at a nearby table. I asked him if he would be Mikey's friend today since Mikey was new and didn't know anyone in the class. He shook his head, NO and went back to writing. Now I was ready to cry! I tried to be really positive and help Mikey get started on his board work. His teacher came over and put her arm around Mikey and gave me the hint that it was time for me to go. She helped him get started on his board work and I slowly slipped out the back, choking back my own tears. I had to fight to keep myself in check as I walked out to the car. It was so hard to drive away, thinking about little Mikey crying inside without any little friends to comfort him. I really hope he has a better day today. I'm not sure I can do this! Maybe this wasn't the best choice for Mikey.

Isaac, on the other hand, had a fantastic first day of school. He has tons of friends in his class. He was so excited about his giant,  hardbound Math book that he brought home and did his homework first thing. He feels so smart and grown up. I love it! And he was so nice to Mikey. He tried to comfort him, telling him "the first day is always the hardest Mikey. You'll make lots of friends!" It's hard for him to see Mikey sad. Partly because he loves his little brother. And partly because he is worried that Mikey doesn't like his school. Isaac feels this sort of competition between Ridgeline and Challenger because he was the only one at Challenger last year. I'm so grateful Isaac loves it because I think Challenger is the perfect fit for him. But it may not be the perfect fit for Mikey. We'll see...