Easing into school

Transition need not be traumatic

The stunts from the television show "Fear Factor" can seem tame compared to the stories you hear from parents preparing a child for kindergarten. The wailing, worrying and making it through that first day can be hard on both the kids and the nervous parents.

Some children hold to a parent's knees, sobbing. It takes inner strength for a parent to gently pull the child off and leave.

Some children regress with toilet training. Most settle in after the first couple of days.

Just remembering my older son Scott's first day of school brings back panic attacks. What if he doesn't make friends? What if he gets bullied? What if he has an asthma attack and the teachers don't notice? What if he doesn't succeed in school?

All of my worries were eased when I met his kindergarten teacher and her assistant. They reassured me Scott would be OK, and yes, they did have my phone number to call if something happened. As quickly as seemed polite, the teachers ushered me off to the PTA's special "Tissue and Tea" event for moms like me.

Yes, that first day's trauma was all about me. I knew Scott himself was prepared for the transition to kindergarten. A few weeks before school started, he had a chance to visit his new school.

On that first day of school, Scott was ready. His preschool classes had helped him develop social skills and a good attitude toward learning.

When Scott came home from school, he was so excited to tell me about his new friends, the great teachers, and that he was so busy he didn't miss me. Just in case he might miss me in the days ahead, I decided to join the PTA and volunteer in his classroom. Being active kept me from nervously waiting at home for Scott and helped him adjust quickly to his new school.

(Liza Weidle is vice president of the Wake County PTA Council. She can be reached at familyfilter@nc.rr.com or http://home.nc.rr.com/lizaweidle/.)