One Giant Leap

This is a really busy time of year.  It seems like I have been running at rocket speed since the school year started.  This is our third week of school and I finally feel like things are starting to settle down a little bit.  Our routine is coming together as is the schedule of weekly events.  The leap to Middle School at our house has been a big one.  My daughter is now the very proud owner of a locker at school.  She has figured out how much time she has between her classes to visit her favorite part of school and still get to her next class on time.  She told me today that she has it all organized so that everything fits.  I've decided that organization is a big part of being in 6th grade.  On the very first day of school they are handed a student planner and told to use it.  They write down their homework assignments and when they are due.  My daughter's school uses "block" scheduling so they don't have the same classes everyday.  So something that is assigned in Spanish on Tuesday probably isn't due until Thursday when the class meets again.  She made the Cross Country team this fall and she's had to be at practice until 5.  When she comes home she works on her homework until its done and then she might have a little relaxing time.  There's also band and learning a new instrument (the clarinet) thrown in there for good measure.  She's still managing to make it to two martial arts classes + sparring every week.  Yes, we are very busy at our house.
I have to say that I am very proud of the way my darling girl has landed on her feet throughout this big transition.  We've had a few organizational hiccups these last few weeks but we have learned from them and I have tried to provide a few suggestions to help her manage her needs.  She decided she needed a magnetic tablet inside her locker so that she can quickly write down things she needs to bring home for homework.  She's also using her running to decompress so that she can have a relaxing evening and her martial arts classes are a much needed break from the hectic pace of the week.  She decided that a class on Wednesday evening would help her focus for the end of the week.
Every parent hopes that their children get to this point sometime in their life.  This time next year, or even in 3 months, the situation could be drastically different.  I know she is capable of rising to the challenge of a new school and a new schedule, and I have to say that I am quite proud of her.  It's delightful to see her in this new environment and to "re-live" all of these "firsts" with her.  Even when my job gets stressful I know that when I get home there will be a run down of the day at the dinner table, and we'll both enjoy hearing the news and events that have recently come to pass.
It all has happened so fast.  I just want to savor every detail!
To Middle School and the "Giant Leap" from Elementary!  Cheers!