“Ms.Hong, I just wanted to mention that I won’t be in class for next few days and longer if necessary. I have an eye surgery schedule for tomorrow. I can assure you that you don’t have to worry at all, I can catch up with all the school work, I took a phone number of a classmate.” – First Day of the school at age 6.
I see many kids are going back to school full of excitement. I remember my K-6 time, too. Perhaps slightly different as I have gone to an elementary school in South Korea. However, beginning of school year for parents and kids is mostly similar. I guess some things were more special because I looked slightly different. It was time of excitement, good and bad.
New friends, new teachers and here we go with new introductions!
Few days into school year, I always had a meeting with a school clinic nurse because of my medical history. As I got older my parents learn to not report anything unless it’s extremely important as I hated this special meeting that is not my physician.
Having go through five surgeries by the time I was 10 years old it is always bit of concern for my parents-how much should they let school personnels know? What is best way for me?
The similar questions have passed my mind as I meet new group of people. Some things my parents would say they regret looking back 30 years later and yet what counts the most is trying best with good intentions. My parents raised me as a very independent by not getting really involved with my school life. Never the overbearing or overprotective at all. Unfortunately.. it took me awhile for me to understand that they meant well. I thought they didn’t care. I was taught to represent myself in any time.
My first day of school at age 6, after a class, I requested “sidebar” session.
“Ms.Hong, I just wanted to mention that I won’t be in class for next few days and longer if necessary. I have an eye surgery schedule for tomorrow. I can assure you that you don’t have to worry at all, I can catch up with all the school work, I took a phone number of a classmate.”
Yes, that was my first day… and it was memorable to my homeroom teacher for the next 6 years. Through my brain surgery immediately following the eye surgery… and other things…
Today, I volunteered at Baby Buggy. A non profit organization helping families in need by providing clothes and other things required for their children. As I helped out along with other volunteers, I thought of my childhood. How privileged I was despite my multiple turmoils. Having the parents who truly cared and devoted all their financial means for and to me. The video I watched at the end of my work tonight had the founder telling a story of a Korean father who lost his wife to a sudden death but his daughter was miraculously born. (7th month.) If he wasn’t able to afford all the necessities for the baby, the baby was going to be sent to a foster care. (He also lost his job right after the baby was born.)
The story reminded me of my birth and my parents being poor graduate student family who felt affording to go to McDonald was a big treat. My parents had friends who were willing to lend money, gift toys, and everything else. As I struggle to make my means meet end and still receive help from my parents, and still giving not so good news such as ” I have Pneumonia and I am hospitalized… yet again..” ” I am still looking… I just received a rejection e-mail from this company.” I would like to thank my parents for their patience and unconditional love.
For those of you who are parents and just sent off your child to her or his first week of the school with bit of nervousness, I commend you for your courage and patience! Of course I commend all the brave souls who are in school introducing themselves for the first time yet again. Please share your first day of school story! As always, good or bad! Simply another day~<3
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