Journaling reads: my freshman year in high school was the only year that I was in one school for the whole year. Most years i was in at least two schools. i hated it! always the new kid and having to make friends all over again to the point that i stopped making friends at school. somehow it just seemed like too much work and why bother when i knew we wouldn't be there long anyway. i always had knots in my stomach and was always nervous. the first day was always the worst! the principal would take me to the class, which was already in session and introduce me....all eyes on me and then i would have to find an empty seat and everyone's eyes would follow me. do i limp? is there something on my chin? why does everyone have to stare so?

I made it a point to establish roots for my children, moving only a couple of times when they were growing up and never changing their schools in the middle of the year. it was my intention that they be able to have lifetime friends and the feeling that they belonged.