beautiful bruises
August 26, 2015 § 4 Comments
It has been one week since we arrived on the outskirts of our new home; three days since our children began school; days still before we will settle into a greater sense of permanence within our community. Each day dawns full of uncertain possibility as we feel our way through the unknown in search of belonging.
The first day of school my son recounted the numerous hellos met with hollow echoes that never evolved into conversations. It was a long day of polite coexistence and no matter the population of his new school, it was a lonely experience. By day two my son had begun friendships, but my daughter was stranded in the social hierarchy of lunch without a place to eat. On the verge of tears she was saved by someone she might never have met had there been space for them elsewhere. On this, our third day, I stumbled through my own mistakes feeling hugely overwhelmed and alone until I remembered how my children have braved their own discouragements.
There is grace in acknowledging the honesty of our emotions while extending ourselves; standing publicly in clumsy efforts of earnest hopefulness and reaching toward an opportunity rather than curling against vulnerability to feign disinterest or posture a superficial image of strength.
These stories of our days are beautiful bruises, tender badges of effort that allow us to celebrate the path of our imperfect progress.
scribblechic 
“It was a long day of polite coexistence”. Oh, you just described one level of hell for me. If it continues unabated. Wishing your son days of jostling and real human contact over the careful emptiness of coexistence.
“Careful emptiness of coexistence.” So well said. I’ll pass along your wishes, Kay. Thanks!
Making new starts can be difficult, especially for children with friendships. You put is so eloquently, I particularly like your description of your days as beautiful bruises.
Thanks, Andy. It isn’t easy, but some of the best things come from unexpected challenges. We’re getting there, day by day.