Happy First Day! New School, New Grade, New Experiences!

How is it that my daughter is starting a new school and seventh grade when I vividly remember her starting kindergarten as though it was moments ago? 😅

I asked my twelve year old how she was feeling this morning, and she said a combination of excited and nervous, but more excited about the school year. I too am excited for her as this is her last stop before she enters high school! 😳 Wow! High school!

But before she gets there, I’m grateful that she is entering middle school with the opportunity to continue her educational journey by not only continuing with the core disciplines like math and English but learning a foreign language, financial literacy, cooking skills along with countless extracurricular activities to further establish what she’s good at, enjoys and may even want to pursue when it’s time for high school.

Here’s to a wonderful semester for my tween who continues to make me proud to be her mom.

All the best,

Tanya

Celebrating School: My Daughter’s 100 Days Smarter!

“Guess what, Mommy! Mrs. Moore said that we’re all 100 days smarter,” my first grader told me upon getting home from celebrating the 100th day of school. I have a sharp memory, and I do not recall ever celebrating the 100th day of school, just maybe the last day when everyone was eager to start summer break. While some parents may think the projects and hoopla is overboard, as a professor and parent, I think it’s awesome!

There’s so many goals students must complete and achieve. For some, it may be a cinch, while for others it may be overwhelming or extremely difficult. Either way, showing up and trying one’s best must be acknowledged too. It helps keep up morale and motivation. It also allows both parents and teachers to reflect on how far their students have come without it necessarily being about a grade or milestone that must be achieved.

Within that 100 days, Quinn hasn’t only gotten smarter intellectually but socially and emotionally. She’s gotten a little taller, developed new interests and even decided that she might want to be a teacher as her profession instead of a dancer. Indeed, I do anticipate more changes to come in the next 100 days, but I’m glad we both had an opportunity to rejoice in the time that’s passed thus far: she with her teacher and friends, and me as her proud mother.

All the best,

Tanya