I am still learning how much time I do have to actually write a post. During vacation? Not so much time. Especially not if I don’t plan everything out in detail. Hey, at least I booked all the stays on the trip and had not to scramble to find one on the day of or the day before. I know some people like that or would just go camping. Very early in our relationship I told my now husband it would stress me out to no end if I would not know where to sleep at night (he would not mind so much at least back in the day – now he just lets me do what I want). At least some of the nights we spend researching and planning what we would do the following day. The route was planned out but everything else was still up in the air.
Last weekend was spend doing laundry and getting the kids ready for school. It is now back to work and school for everyone. It feels a little easier now with the kids in high school and middle school. My son did really well last year in middle school so I am less anxious having to be on top of him most of the time. I would not have thought that he would be this independent and responsible when he was in elementary and I am so proud of both of them. Last year the start was a little rough I think mostly due to the fact that I felt a little traumatized by my own high school experience. The school system in Germany is very different and they split up the kids in different tracks after 4th or 6th grade. I was the only one in my close friend group that ended up going to Gymnasium. It’s the school that goes up to grade 13 and prepares you to study at a University. Needless to say I felt a little lost at first. But it turned out better than I expected for my daughter.
Talking about school systems: is it an American thing that it seems like the first two/three weeks of school are kind of a trial period for classes? With the course system there seems to be always so much shift that they might end up with a completely different set of classes and teachers by the time this period is over. Last year my sons classes changed after the three weeks what really sucked. It was still the same classes but mostly new teachers who of course already set ground rules etc. It was due to 100 kids more than expected showed up on the first day and they had to adjust class sizes.
In our high school it is even more interesting since you can end up with a completely different set of class topics (intentionally or unintentionally). When school starts and they get their schedule they can submit change requests of they want to not do a class or change a class. Sometimes they end up in classes they did not sign up for. E.g. my daughter has”Introduction to Law” instead of the requested “Psychology” – we will see how that plays out. Some friends got switched in the middle of the night the day before school started or there are kids who don’t have a schedule yet when the head to school the day of.
Needless to say this whole system of courses starting with high school is completely new to me. I started courses in 11th grade and I had to pick two majors in 12th grade and make sure I cover all required courses to graduate but not before that.
I guess the course system is the same in the whole US? But also the soft schedules in the first two weeks? I always wonder if it would not be better to get the schedule figured out starting two weeks before school starts or is there a method to the madness I am not aware of?
I will leave you with a picture of my vacation before I sign off for today. It already calms me a little just to look at it. I hope it does the same for you.
Home here and there 
It sounds like you had a great trip. Did you like Eureka (my colleague lives there)?
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It was a really great trip! I did like Eureka. We went to a nice restaurant there, there are lots of murals and some nice shops and it’s next to the ocean. I am not sure if I would want to live there though.
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What a calming pictures. I can roughly picture how your trip must have looked like. When my parents picked me up after my change year we rode down Highway 101 from Portland to San Francisco- I think we also stopped in Eureka. It is a beautiful coast.
The course system sounds stressful.
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It is so beautiful. Every stretch is a little different – I really could not pick a favorite.
The kids are surprisingly relaxed about the changing classes. It’s mostly me who is stressed out.
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Back in my day, our schedules were pretty firm by day 2, but I guess things are more complicated now with more options/electives. I would have hated to miss the first day of classes when they went over expectations and things, but I am a weirdo like that!
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Missing the first day. Of classes was no fun but at least it was only one day. Last year my other one missed the first week which was really tricky. It was all good in the end. Having a firm schedule by day 2 sounds great. One problem also seems to be that there are always more kids then they originally expect (last year it was almost 100 at one school). I am crossing my fingers it works out.
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My guess is that the 100 extra students complicated things. My schedule was set, and 30 years later, my daughter’s schedule was set. But 100 last minute students is a lot to add to a school, and maybe threw everything off. I’ve never driven down 101 from Portland, but I do LOVE the Oregon and California coasts, so I’ll bet it was spectacular.
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Yeah, 100 students is a lot. The class sizes had to be readjusted so I do understand but sometimes the first two weeks feel so redundant.
That drive is spectacular. I loved every minute of it.
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Yes, I think there’s a lot of schedule shifting in the first couple weeks of high school. It must be a nightmare for the administration. I don’t remember that from my own high school experience- we chose our classes, registered for them and that was that. But it’s way more complicated now, with more options for the kids. My daughter wanted to switch out of her pre calc class after the first day because she thought it would be too hard. But then she couldn’t figure out what class she would switch in to, and it would have messed up the rest of her schedule- so she just stuck with the class. I have to say I breathe a say of relief when the first couple weeks of school are over.
Good luck with it all- I hope your kids have a great year!
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Good luck to you as well! So far so good for us. I hope the classes stay the way they are now because I have the feeling they both got some great teachers.
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