H.M.S

Picture provided by http://hallsms.knoxschools.org/

Last night was 6th grade open house. It was interesting and pretty fun. We started in homeroom, and went around to each classroom just as they do during the day. We followed their schedule with the exception of lunch, and we only got 10 minutes per class, that made for some fast talking teachers.

Its weird for me to go to open house with them, because it is weird for me to be back at the same school I attended in my younger years. It is however, exactly what I wanted. I've told everyone plenty of times that I don't do change, I can't cope when things change. I know that I loved Halls Middle School, for the most part I had wonderful teachers, and some of the best friends.

I do know though, that many people did not like HMS. I know quite a few people that said they would NEVER send their kids there, and I respect their decision. I, however was going to fight tooth and nail to get my kids into Halls.... I know, I know somethings have to change, but lucky for me this is one thing that didn't have to change. It helps me even more, or maybe it hinders me to know that some of the people I went to school with will now be teaching my children. That makes me feel even better about my decision to send my children to Halls.

Adriana doesn't have any of the teachers that I had when I was in 6th grade, as a matter of fact of the 5 core subjects, I only know of 3 of the teachers. Two of the teachers were there when I was there, and lucky for Adriana the other teacher that she has I know because I went to school with her. She was always such a great person when we went to school together and she still is that wonderfully loving person, which makes my decision to send Adriana to Halls completely and totally worth it.

I thought I was doing okay with 6th grade, I didn't really cry when I had to drop her off her first day and even though I almost cried the first day I watched her walk across to the church all by herself, I didn't. It's hard to let your baby go, and its even harder when you know you are letting go because they are growing up. I did really awesome at the open house, never really felt a twinge of sadness, never really felt any tears welling up.... UNTIL.... we had been through all the periods first through fourth, and now we were sitting in Adriana's 5th period class. For 5th period she has reading, with Allison or as the kids have to call her Mrs. Thomas and this was the first time I felt it. As Adriana sat there looking at me, telling me all about her classroom and what they do during reading, I felt it in my throat and tears started welling up. I warned her, so if I let a tear roll she would be expecting it and maybe she wouldn't be so embarrassed. She said, "Mom, don't cry!" She is much stronger than I am, and she really can't understand why Mom cries all the time.

I gained my composure before Mrs. Thomas came in the room to address all us parents. I sat in a desk behind the desk my child sits in daily, watching a friend of mine be a teacher. I guess the emotion came from the fact that life comes full circle, no matter what, even when we think it won't, it always does. I did want to cry, but I refrained except for the little tears that welled up for a brief moment. I really admire most of the people that I had the pleasure of meeting and knowing during my time at Halls Middle School, I just hope that my girls feel the same way when they are "grown-ups".