First time Parents of incoming HS freshman

[Pembo]

My oldest is starting hs and it's hitting me hard. I've never had a problem with my kids growing up but this year is different. He has grown a foot in the last year, he is "maturing" physically and I see such growth in him. These are all positives and yet I feel so melancholy.

It probably doesn't help that I found old VHS tapes from when he was a baby that I've been putting on DVD.

It seems like yesterday I wanted babies! Everyone says enjoy it when they are young, time goes fast. But wow, it really zooms by.

I still have 2 more kids, 7th and 3rd grade but I'm missing my babies and toddlers. I never thought I'd miss those days when I was in them. We visited with my best friend this summer who has a 2 yo...I really did envy her, just starting out.

I just need a little support here, so parents of incoming hs fresh, where are you?

 

[mjkacmom]

My oldest is as well, and this is the first time a milestone is hitting me hard. I think back to 4 years ago, and it seems like yesterday - only 4 more years until she's off to college! Ds12 is starting middle school, which also makes me sad. I'm hoping that by the time my 7 year olds get to HS, I'll be ready.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm not a first time parent of a hs freshman -- it's my youngest. Wow, talk about your baby growing up. I've got a knot in my throat just thinking about it.

 

[foolishmortal]

our oldest is starting freshman year in 2 weeks. cant say im choked up at all. happy he is such a strong smart and well rounded kid. Look forward to what these next 4 years brings. Now ask me this question in 4 years and its freshman in collge.

 

[Christine]

Well, I'm probably not going to give you what you're looking for.

My *baby* just finished his freshman year and will be a sophmore. I do miss his baby days because he was such a good baby, but I can't say I miss having the little ones.

My friend and I did a day trip to the beach the other day and we were remarking about how nice it was now that the kids were older and we could just actually RELAX on the beach. I would never go back to that time. It was hard work for me.

I was pretty excited when both my kids went to high school. I will say that the college freshman thing "got" me. I had some tough months without my shopping buddy around.

 

[jen0610]

My baby boy is a freshman and the baby girl is a 7th grader.

The where has the time gone, hit me in the face last year, when she went into 6th. Her teacher for Math and Science, Mrs Race, I use to babysit her - AS A BABY!!! DD thinks that it's really cool that I baby sat her teacher and she is baby sitting for her teachers daughter. It just makes me feel old!

 

[JerseyJanice]

My boy starts high school this fall, but he goes to a junior/senior high school, so he's been there already for two years. There's no real transition.

I really expected him to physically mature more this summer, but he's still a kid. I was a late-bloomer myself, so it's not surprising that he hasn't truly hit puberty yet. I do find it odd that his cousin who is seven months younger has. That child's voice is deepening quite a bit, but DS is still my baby. (And I like him like that!)

 

[SpecialK]

our oldest is starting freshman year in 2 weeks. cant say im choked up at all. happy he is such a strong smart and well rounded kid. Look forward to what these next 4 years brings.

This is how I feel too. I have a lot of neighbors with little ones, and being with them makes me really happy my kids are the ages the are. I enjoyed the baby and toddler stages, but I have no desire to go back there.

 

[dislaney]

I just spent some time with my nieces and nephews over the summer. They are much younger than my kids and while I enjoyed it, I can't say that I really miss those days all that much. It was so much work!

I do occasionally feel nostalgic for the way they were but I'm so proud of the people they are becoming. It does and is going by fast though so I can sympathize on that level.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was A-OK with the oldest starting HS, excited even. She is now 19 and a college sophmore.

Now my youngest is going into 8th grade and I am in shock over that. Well maybe not shock but I am surprised that it seems to BE HERE already and that she is well on her way to her dreams. I guess she is the one that has a clear vision and she will be the one to be driven and gone pursuing her dreams.

I was never a "baby person" so that longing for little ones was never in my radar. (Shudders at the thought of having a baby now at 45.)

 

[Pembo]

Okay I'm not saying I would want to have another baby... I do enjoy my kids being older and I really like being able to run errands ALONE and leave them home. That said, it just seems that the younger years went by very quick. Of course at the time I thought they would never end. It was a lot of work!!!

Nostalgic, that is the word I've been searching for--thanks dislaney

Time has a way of flying...and I never age, how does that happen?!

 

[Tosie]

My baby boy starts his freshman year in about 4 weeks. I'm not sad - I'm truly excited for him.

He is not attending the (crappy) local public high school - he's going to an engineering academy at a technical high school.

The best part is that ALL of his buddies are going to the same school (some in other programs).

He did a shadow day a few months ago (spent the day with a junior) and it turns out the English teacher is an ex-girlfriend of a family member! She recognized his name and said "Hey! I was at your sister's christening!" So he already knows one teacher too!

I'm sure the next 4 years will fly by and I'm not ready for college yet!!

 

[coinkc]

My one and only baby started high school today. I had a pretty emotional moment after I dropped her off...it's hard to believe she's that old.

Her school counselor was trying to get the kids to realize that they need to be serious about their studies even as freshmen. He told them to think of it not as 4 years but 8 semesters...that made me tear up even more...sure doesn't seem like a long time!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My oldest just started 9th grade, youngest 5th grade. They are growing up fast but I'm enjoying watching them mature.

I haven't hit the sadness of them growing up yet. It'll probably hit me when DS is a High School Senior.

 

[Longsx3]

My Baby, My Only, My DD starts HS on Monday. The years have flown by and I know the next four years will too

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Add me to this support group! My oldest dd will be a freshman in 2 weeks. I am so scared that she will get eaten alive....she is SO incredibly shy.

She is trying out for the freshman girls volleyball team on Monday, along with 30 other girls...ughhh

 

[Tinks]

How timely. My oldest starts HS on Monday. Where did the time go???

We are on our way to open house today! I am happy for him, but worried because he doesn't seem as motivated as other boys his age. I'd love for him to jump in and get involved in activities, but it's his life so what do you do I encourage him and hope for the best.

 

[Val]

My oldest DD22 graduated from college and now lives in upstate NY (we are in IL), my DD18 leaves on Sunday for her freshman year in college in Oregon; DS14 starts as a freshman in HS in 1 week.....thank goodness for DD12 who is still "little" in 7th grade.

DD18 is having a going-away party right now. I have holed myself up in the study, because every time I walk out and see all the teens who are leaving for college in the next few days I start to bawl......thought it best to continue my sob fest alone with the dogs. In less than "2 sleeps" my next DD will be driving across the country and on her own for the next three months.

WHERE did the time go? Such a happy-sad time, isn't it!?!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

My oldest will begin his senior year next week. For all of you with freshmen, enjoy the time with them. I think the last 3 years have only really been about 3 months long! Really his high school years have flown by and from what friends have told me the senior year goes the fastest of them all! This time has been fun for our whole family!

 

[dislaney]

Okay I'm not saying I would want to have another baby... I do enjoy my kids being older and I really like being able to run errands ALONE and leave them home. That said, it just seems that the younger years went by very quick. Of course at the time I thought they would never end. It was a lot of work!!!

Nostalgic, that is the word I've been searching for--thanks dislaney

Time has a way of flying...and I never age, how does that happen?!

Anytime! And I really need to know the secret to never aging!!! I really need that right about now!