so, mac started school today. there were tears, but I left him at 9 after staying 45 minutes in the room with him. The school counselor kept me from leaving earlier. She didn't want me to leave until he had completely stopped crying for a period of time. my mom picks him up at 2:30.

It's a tough transition. It helps to have a good-bye routine. (A short one, but a routine.)

{{msbelle and mac}} First day of school is a tough one.

I really dislike the idea of there being a threshold below which one may not have body issues -- my body is the only one I've ever lived in, and when it changes shape in a way that displeases me, it has exactly nothing to do with anyone else. My body, my standards. I don't bring up body image demons at work, because I think it's tacky (discussing anything that personal with acquaintances), but the idea that my opinions about my own body don't count unless I'm the fattest one in the room is bullshit.

[eta that I'm in a massively pissy mood today from being 18 weeks pregnant and still unable to keep a decent breakfast down, and it's probably affecting my reading of this conversation in unfairly negative ways.]

but the idea that my opinions about my own body don't count unless I'm the fattest one in the room is bullshit.

I don't think anyone has expressed that idea.

so, mac started school today. there were tears, but I left him at 9 after staying 45 minutes in the room with him. The school counselor kept me from leaving earlier. She didn't want me to leave until he had completely stopped crying for a period of time. my mom picks him up at 2:30.

I think it is great that your mom and dad were able to come up and help you with this transition. Good luck to mac at school!

sits with Jessica.

so, mac started school today. there were tears, but I left him at 9 after staying 45 minutes in the room with him. The school counselor kept me from leaving earlier. She didn't want me to leave until he had completely stopped crying for a period of time. my mom picks him up at 2:30.

Aw. Poor macbelle, but I'm glad your parents are here to help. I love hearing these stories, mamabelle!!

I hope mac had a good day at school after you left and that the transition isn't too difficult for him or for you. What grade is he in?

I really dislike the idea of there being a threshold below which one may not have body issues

I didn't really mean to imply that. Of course, for ME it is annoying because it makes me feel personally worse (and this is work and it is rather inappropraite), but the reason my boss's body issue make me feel worried is that she is empirically not "morbidly obese" as she claims to be AND she is a health care professional, so I don't think she is being careless with terms.

Everyone can have body issues, fat or thin or in between. I had far more as a thin person, frankly.

ftr - he was much more hysterical the first time I actually left him in the church kid's program. The second time (this past Sunday) there was shining before, but no tears or clinging at the actual drop-off. My guess is that by the end of the week drop-off will be fine.

The next transition will be going to afterschool. He will start that sometime next week.

eta - he is in K.