There was really nothing I could say. I just told her that I was nervous too, I’m sure it would work it out and I wouldn’t leave her alone for a minute at the lunch. She cried the entire way there but I told her it probably would be best if she at least pretended to be happy and she seemed okay with that. As luck would have it, when we wondered up to the third grade section the first person we ran into was a mom and daughter we met over the summer at a birthday party of an old school friend of the princess. Whew. And then we met the teacher and found out she was new so they decided they could be new together. Whew. And then a little girl came running across the field shouting the princess’ name. This little one remembered the princess from the time she shadowed back in May and was the kid in our host family. Whew. We found L’s mom who was just as welcoming as her daughter and we were set. Within minutes after that, the princess was in a pack of girls and gone exploring. She pronounced the lunch a success, could hardly wait to start school the next day and now that she’s three days into it has a best friend and lots of other friends. Gotta love a 3rd grader.

The prince. Well, he had a pool party later that same day of the princess’ lunch. He managed it fine without me there but when I picked him up I could have sworn he had tears in his eyes. He wouldn’t cop to anything being wrong said he was tired and went to his barbershop chorus practice. Then the next morning he proceeded to melt down and as only 12 year old can. No tears but plenty of drama. “I don’t know my schedule, what if my teacher doesn’t know my schedule, what if I can’t find my classroom, what if “…. the list was endless. Nothing I said worked. From the logically…they will make sure you are fine to the sarcastic it sucks to be you. Nothing worked. Even the poor baby, I’m so sorry didn’t work. So I did what any self respecting mother would do. As he got out the car I promised him that it would be okay. He gave me a look that said clearly I have no clue what I’m talking about and walked off.

I was a mess. First off was what if it wasn’t okay. Second, I just knew you didn’t switch schools on a 7th grader so I was sure I’d made the worst decision of his life and he probably wouldn’t recover and his life would be a mess and it would be all my fault (he comes by the drama honestly). I was miserable the entire day. I tried to work, couldn’t focus or get anything done and spent a lot of time on the phone (somebody, please, make me feel better). It was a brutal day and by the time I got back to the school to pick them up my stomach was a mess.

Naturally they both hopped in the car all smiles. The princess announced she already had a best friend and the prince thanked me for switching schools for him. Without any prompting. Honest. I was dumbfounded. I asked him how long it was before he was okay with everything and he said after about 5 minutes he knew it was working out and he was fine. FIVE MINUTES!?!?!?!?!?! I said next time he should call me because I WASN’T FINE THE ENTIRE DAY!!!!!!! ARRRGGGG. Kids. There should be a lesson in here for me somewhere but honestly I was so relieved that he was okay I don’t know if I learned what I needed to or not.

He thanked me for switching schools for him. Did I mention that?

The other place was a bit toxic for him. Poor baby. But we’re alive and well and in school.