Wren is starting middle school, and since there's no way we'd be able to carpool with Leelia and Rafi through all of Wren's middle-school years, we decided we should move her now, when everybody else is also new to middle school. Leela is starting high school with Ever, so she's out of JCS; unclear if Rafi will be returning. He wants to go to a middle school up here if he can get in. Losing the carpool is a deal-breaker. Even with the carpool, I'm so over the early mornings and the drive and the Friday homeschool (although the Friday homeschool is, in some ways, really nice). So we decided we finally have to move both girls, even though it's seriously heartbreaking for them and me to think about taking them away from their friends. We've been talking about it for so long, and it's been so hard.
Tiny and Wrenzy had spring break the week of March 30-April 3, and then Ever's spring break was April 6-10. Since we went to Hawai'i April 7-14, the littles missed a week and a couple days of school after their spring break. We got back to Oceanside after 1:00 A.M. on Wednesday morning, April 15, and I let the girls sleep in. I didn't end up getting the littles to school until about 11:00 A.M. Tiny had an overnight field trip to the Star of India (aka the Euterpe), the world's oldest active sailing ship (born 1863), that afternoon (pics to be posted separately), so I walked her in with her stuff. When we opened the door, Miss Scher was reading to the class. Tiny walked in and started toward her seat. Kendall (who was closest), and then Kaia and Maya, rushed her and hugged her, so excited to have her back. Kaia's mom, Courtney, had already texted that morning to tell me how much Kaia had missed Tiny every day that she was gone. Miss Scher kept reading, trying to ignore the disturbance caused by Tiny's arrival, but finally started walking toward the reunited friends (while still reading). I slipped out before I saw the girls get chastised. Directly across the hall, I peeked into Wrenzy's classroom as her best friend, Fiora, met her near the door and gave her a bear hug, while Mrs. Hurst said warmly, "Hi, Wren!" I teared up as I left the school, so incredibly devastated to be pulling the girls away from these amazing friends who love them so much. I talked to Bags as I drove home and had a serious cry. I was devastated.
A few days later, I mentioned to Tiny how sad it had made me to see her and Wren's reunions with friends. She comforted me: "It's OK. I get $2 and monthly playdates." Ever had told her that every Wednesday at Palmquist (our Oceanside elementary school), you can get an ice cream cone for $1, and Tiny had negotiated for two ice cream cones a month if she switches schools. I had also told her that I'd make every effort to get her together with her JCS friends as frequently as possible. I felt so much better after talking to her, as she seemed to have made peace with this move. (Before, she got teary and devastated when I brought it up.)
I finally e-mailed JCS (our Encinitas charter school) to tell them Wren and Tiny won't be returning next year (this fall). I received this response from the principal:
Such a nice, personal message! Makes me cry again.
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