My Lucky Charm

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I can only assume my previous post was to blame for the epic and unprecedented 3rd grade anxiety shown by Boy Wonder last Sunday.  If I didn’t know better, I would have thought this kid was dead man walking.

As I tucked him into bed and wished him good luck on his first day at school, the tears started flowing.

He went on to tell me how hard it was to be quiet in the classroom and how his mouth talks even when he doesn’t want it to.  How talking in class makes his teacher mad and how he knew another N in citizenship would upset us.  He told me he wanted to be quiet this year but that he wasn’t sure he could.  I nodded and told him I understood, because I do.  It was no accident that my name remained a permanent fixture on the chalkboard until about 5th grade when finally got smart enough to start passing notes. 

I knew I needed to do something to ease his anxiety and before I could stop my own mouth from talking, I uttered, “I have a lucky charm but it’s really special to me because it works so well.  Do you think if I give it to you that you could keep it safe?”  He excitedly nodded his head and asked what it was.  My, what an excellent question, wish I knew the answer. 

I hurried into my room and frantically began opening every drawer, miscellaneous box and pouch I had; nothing!  Crap, why don’t I save trinkety things?  My heart was racing, my palms were sweaty and he was waiting.  Just as I was about to call my own bluff and admit defeat, I pulled down a dusty old jewelry box from the top of my closet.  There inside, a $2 bill expertly folded into the shape of a ring; a perfect lucky charm.  As I placed the $2 bill ring on my finger, I felt awesome for a moment until I realized it made me look like a pimp.  He wouldn’t care, he would love it.

Boy Wonder and his lucky charm.

Feeling all kinds of victorious, I walked back into his room and told how rare and special $2 bills were since they don’t make them anymore (right?).  I opened my hand to reveal the $2 bill ring, his eyes lit up.  I told him the ring always brought me luck and would do the same for him if he believed it would.  He looked me deep in the eyes and with every ounce of conviction he could muster, he said, “I believe it will, Mom.”

We found a secret spot in his backpack to hide his lucky charm.  Happy, confident and obviously relieved, he gave me a smile as I tucked him into bed.

I have high hopes it’s going to be a good year because he finally believes it can be.

Did your children suffer from back to school anxiety?  How did you put them at ease?