School Jitters

Angela doesn't know what "first day jitters" are. She's so excited she can hardly stand it. It's the mom who's having issues. Lets see, maybe because I haven't heard a SINGLE WORD from the Special Ed department at school? This is a new school for her, and all new staff. I don't know them, they don't know me, and they don't know Angela.

Last week was Freshman orientation, and the kids split off from their parents, got their pictures taken, found their lockers. etc. I assumed (man, I should just know better than this by now. I mean, we ARE in high school, right?) that the Special Ed. department would have an aid or someone on hand to greet whatever kids came in from the program. If they were there, I never saw them and they never introduced themselves to me. Angela got her picture taken without my help (including without me to get her hair out of her mouth, make sure there's no food in her braces, etc.) so who knows what they look like? She got to find her locker. That's great! While the other kids were practicing their combinations, what was Angela doing? She uses a key for her locker. Did anyone have a key for her?

Tomorrow I'll watch from the kitchen window as she gets on her bus (I'm not 'allowed' to be anywhere visible, of course.) and assume that someone is going to meet her bus at school as the throng of high schoolers rush the building. I'm torn between letting go; waiting to see how she handles herself, and...and...and becoming "that mom".  I hope this is not an indicator of what communication will be like throughout the year.