Ian Starts Middle School - And Likes It

I drove Ian to football practice on Wednesday, which was also his first day at a new school. The trip also takes about 20 minutes, so there was plenty of time to talk.

Now while Ian will be tight-lipped from time to time, he still isn't at that age (or temperament) where he clams up around his mother and father. It take long for him to start telling me all about his first day as a 6th grader at the public middle school near us.

I heard all about the bus ride, finding his classrooms, what went on in the lunchroom, and in general the new experiences of being in middle school instead of elementary school.

It was all stuff I expected to hear, but still plenty fascinating because it was my son sharing his experiences with me.

What surprised me was when he commented on how he likes the freedom that middle school gives him. He enjoys the independence of moving from class to class, and being solely responsible for taking care of himself. His day isn't spent sitting in one room with one teacher moving the class as a group. The success of his school day was equally on his shoulders to be where he needed to be at the right time. It was an observation that I wouldn't expect from an eleven year-old. I'm proud of him.

Hopefully the next 9 months go as well as the first.