The first day of a new school can be especially daunting for some teenagers...

The first day of a new school can be especially daunting for some teenagers, and they may be nervous and excited in equal quantities.
It really is a huge step for them but once you have chatted with them about secondary school and given them a few tips the rest is up to them! Here are a few things your teen will say on the first day of secondary school and try to keep a cool head on you to avoid any little arguments as you want this day to go as calmly as possible.
  • “I can’t believe it’s time to get up” followed by “Can I go back to sleep for twenty minutes?”- After a summer of a relaxed routine and a huge amount of lie in’s there will be some moans about getting up early. Though persevere and drag them up by all means as they need to get up earlier than usual the first day to be organised, it may be like waking the dead- you have been warned!
  • “I don’t think I can eat breakfast”- They may be feeling a little nervous and let’s be honest it is incredibly early by their usual standards however breakfast is important to our adolescents. Make pancakes, waffles or fruit salad to get them to eat, sure you can’t do this every day but this is the big one so make it special, and if they still don’t eat well there is more for you so!
  • “Why do I have so many books?”- There will an enormous amount of books to bring in on the first day of school, but your teen will get a locker and only have so many to carry each day depending on lessons. Your teen will need help with bringing these in but whether they want your help is another thing altogether, cue struggling teen dragging books into school.
  • “This uniform feels weird”- Sure it does it is new, crisp, fresh and totally different to the uniform you wore in primary school for the last few years so don’t scowl it has to be worn! Stand up straight, shoulders back- yes you look grumpy but so smart.
  • “Do I look ok?”- Whether you have a boy or a girl they will probably spend ages in the mirror perfecting themselves and checking their hair over and over again. You look absolutely fantastic darling and refrain from mentioning the spot on their chin-they won’t thank you for it!
  • “You are not coming in with me”- Their first day of primary school they screamed, cried and hung onto your leg while you tried to unattach him/her and make an escape. Now there is little chance of them being seen with you especially on the first day of secondary school as they are mature now don’t you know?!
  • “I am going to get lost in here”- Yes your teens will get lost in school probably a lot, though they will get used to their new surroundings in time. Just tell them take their time- teachers will give them some leeway while they settle in.
Then you will drop them off (not to close to the school) and it will be the start of their new adventure, and hopefully it is goes as well as possible.
Best of luck x
Written by Emma Hayes, staff writer at  www.familyfriendlyhq.ie 

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