Back To The Drawing Board

Today is the last day of the first week of school and what a week it has been! It's been good, don't get me wrong, just busy. With three kids at two different schools it is kind of crazy, but so far things have been going smoothly and I hope to God they stay that way.
This year I decided to let Mason go to her neighborhood school instead of attending Camryn's school on special assignment. Well, I say I decided but it's more like it was was decided for me and so I went with it. Actually, Mason could have stayed at her previous school, but Natalie was not able to go to kindergarten there because it was not our zoned school and they are very strict about kindergartner's attending their zoned school. And the only reason Camryn goes there is because it is one of only a handful of schools that have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) units. I was so torn about moving Mason to a new school for fifth grade, but also knew that Natalie would have to go to her assigned school and it would make more sense to send Mason where Nat was because Cam would be riding the bus this year so driving Mason to one school and then Nat to another made no sense. See, crazy huh? Also, Camryns school starts one hour earlier than our zoned school, so the bus picks her up at 7:00, whereas we don't have to leave until 8:20 to get to our neighborhood school on time. And what a nice break that is in the morning, having Camryn off to school before the other two are even up. It makes for such a calmer morning.
So that being said, Cam is with her same teacher as last year, praise the Lord, and Mace and Nat are together,which is so nice for Natalie her first year of school. Turns out, I love this school even more than the previous one, even though that one is phenomenal as well and I am so happy that things fell into place. Schedule wise it is nice too, as Camryn is picked up at our front door before the morning rush of getting ready and then her bus drops her off ten minutes before I leave to pick up her sisters. It's perfect!
Another reason I am so glad about the two different schools is that for once in her five year school career, Mason's identity is not tied to Camryn. Ever since she was in kindergarten, Camryn has been at her school, starting in the VE-Pre-K. And while she loves her sister and also likes to help with her, she has always been known as "Camryn's sister". Sure, she was regarded for her artwork, her good grades and incredible writing skills, but being Camryn Walker's sister always seemed to overshadow her greatest accomplishments at school. And at pick up time this past year, it really became evident when even the staff was using her as Camryn's assistant in car circle, which if you read my previous blogs  you know didn't work out so well. Her friends would always tell her how Camryn scratched them or pinched them on the playground. Most got that Cam couldn't help it, but some were really upset about it and took their sorrows to Mace. She handled it so well, telling them, "Well, I have nothing to do with what Camryn does so be upset at her, not me!" But I know it had to wear on her and probably even embarrass her at times.
Having her at a school where Autism is a foreign word is such a good thing because finally she can just be. Mason Walker, ten years old, loves to write, draw, loves animals and bugs and stuffies. A freckle faced young girl with dreams of being a movie star, famous Disney animator and a veterinarian in her spare time. And if she chooses not to tell anybody that her sister is Autistic, then nobody will ever know. But I know Mason, and Mason will tell everyone about Camryn, because she loves her and is proud of her. And I think that is awesome.
And Cam will never know the difference that Mason is no longer on school grounds. This year she has a wonderful bus situation and I hope and pray it stays this way. So far, she has not assaulted any of her bus or class mates and let's all keep our fingers crossed that continues. If I have to drive her to and from school like what happened last year, it will not be pretty. Her teacher says that so far Cam has shown no signs on aggression which is a huge compliment for her. I know it's only the first week, but I really hope this trend continues.
Nat is adjusting beautifully to kindergarten. She has a great teacher and is loving school. And it is so cute when I pick them up in the car circle after school. She and Mace are sitting together on the bench and when they clamor in the car Mace tells me all about Nats day. Apparently she gets the low-down on how much Nat ate at lunch and what she did in art or music on their walk to parent pickup. It's so refreshing to see them having a normal school experience together, so special, so....normal.
Next year is middle school and Mace and Nat will have to part ways. My three girls will be in three different schools and how that is going to work I have no idea. But I still have 360 days to figure that one out and like most things usually do, I'm sure it will turn out just fine. Except the middle school part, for that I am really, really scared! lol