Debriefing

So, I guess middle school is going well.

I can only guess because every question, no matter how carefully worded, is somehow answered with fewer than 3 words. "It was good." "No, not really." "Yes, I think so." "I'm not sure." "Everyone is nice." "It seems long." That is the Cliff Notes to our entire middle school experience. I might have to resort to waterboarding in order to figure out what is actually going on.

On the first day he came home and announced that his day was great but that he wasn't particularly interested in doing it again tomorrow.

He seems content though and determined to get it right. He takes special care with packing his backpack and coming up with a plan for locker visits for the day. He does well with collared shirts and combination locks and homework. He reports that he still gets lost occasionally, but he doesn't seem bothered by this. He seems to sit wherever at lunch, eating mostly alone which causes a little concern but only for me -- I've stopped asking about it because I don't want to make it weird if it's not.

"You should set some social goals now that you're getting settled in!" I offer.

"You know, I will. That's a good idea," he agrees, probably to shut me up.

I know he's an introvert and I know I should shut up about it but as a mother, it's like I just can't shut up about anything. I hear things I'm saying at the same time I'm thinking that it's annoying that I'm saying those things. He saw all kinds of kids at orientation that were clearly happy to see him, and he was fine with that. Not overly excited to reunite, not anxious or awkward, just cool about it. He does have friends and people he hangs out with socially. Also, it's the third day. So I guess it's fine.

I've just realized this is probably why he doesn't tell me anything. It's the third day! And I'm being this annoying already.

I'm going to have to completely re-work my interrogation tactics.