My Second-Grade Daughter in the Gray Zone: A Year-in-Review Compilation (Part 2)

Third Term

Partly because I had a faint hope that maybe we wouldn't have to transfer schools,
my second daughter's transfer was decided in the first half of February.
The new school was decided, but I found myself unable to tell her.
"Why am I going to XX Elementary?"
I took her for a visit while she was still feeling anxious.
It seemed like they were already prepared to accept her from April.
(I have to talk to her properly!)
I didn't know how much she understood.

I explained it using the simplest words I could.
I wonder if I was able to understand how she felt?
There weren't many days left to attend her current school.
I'm sorry for making you feel lonely.

Third Term Closing Ceremony

Since school ended before noon, she was at the after-school care program that day.
When I finished work and went to pick her up,
"I'm going to the principal's office!"
my second daughter said as she ran off.

The homeroom teacher and the principal were waiting in the principal's office.
It was a closing ceremony just for my second daughter, almost like a graduation ceremony🌸
"Here, this is a present for you from the principal."
She was handed a book in a school brown envelope.
"This book is, well,
it was written by a great person named Yukichi Fukuzawa, the man on the old 10,000 yen bill, and it's been rewritten so that even children can read it."

"It might still be difficult, but please read it with your mother.
I read it sometimes too."
I was moved by such a principal-like gift.
From her homeroom teacher, she received a message board from everyone in the class,
a letter from a girl she was close with,
and lots of stationery.

(Why are they being so kind to us...)
I felt something hot welling up and held back my tears.
The fact that even though her attendance was low, my second daughter was loved by everyone.
The fact that she had built good relationships at school made me happier than anything.
To receive so many words of encouragement from everyone,
my second daughter will surely be fine even after transferring.
It doesn't matter if she's in the gray zone or a school refuser.
I am who I am today because of my second daughter.
I'm a mother who makes her endure a lot and isn't perfect, but
I want to tell her thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you for reading until the end.

The reason I decided to write and leave my thoughts through noto is
because of the lessons I've learned from "Momoko Kanzaki-sensei,"
who is my mentor, someone I admire, and someone I trust.
Since she kindly edited the compilation (Part 1) I posted earlier despite her busy schedule,
I rewrote the opening part.
　"Writing is love for the reader - by Momoko Kanzaki"
I am still far from being able to write with love,
but I am also learning in an online space called Momoko Juku.
I hope to continue delivering writing that encourages someone.