New Beginnings - Back to School

It's hard to believe that September is just around the corner, actually one more sleep and with it brings a new school year. Funny how we almost equate the school year to a new year. Our rhythm of life is dictated by the seasons and the Fall brings not only a new school year but the feeling of fresh starts.

In our latest issue of Island Parent, a few of the articles speak of the school year in terms of beginnings. Although my two are finished with public education—one having just graduated in June—the new school year shopping for books and supplies has subsided.

But a new beginning it still is. In some of my earliest blogs, I wrote of change being an integral part of life and this Fall our household is seeing a dramatic change. Our daughter, our youngest of two, has been accepted into "Katimavik"and will be heading off for nine months to live with a group of eleven 18 -21 years and work in 3 different communities across Canada. Truly a life-changing experience but we will not see her until next June unless we venture to one of the communities for one of her few 48 hour leaves. What a dramatic change for our household.

Our daughter on the one hand is quite excited about her adventure but is emotional as this week has been about saying goodbye to many friends who are departing for other parts of the world. She is enthuiastic about the prospects that lay ahead but sad to let go of seeing many of her friends on a day to day, week to week basis. She has been quiet and teary in the midst of happy rejoicing.

Each Fall brings new changes and new beginnings, some relatively minor but most with some significance for either the parent (first child off to Kindergarten) or child (going from elementary to middle school). As parents we need to have some compassion for what each family member may be going through, the anxiety that they may be feeling or the emotions brought on from impending change and newness.

Whatever the magnitude of change that comes to pass in your household, by recognising that change is forever with us and that we can make it a positive or negative experience by how we as parents face it. We are the models—the mentors—that our children look up to for reassurance and support.