This was never something I ever considered to be a problem, or something that I’d ever worry about in the slightest. I went to secondary school in the 90’s. I was popular through sports, had lovely friends. Had a good time to be honest.
My eldest son is a gorgeous, beautiful soul, who is “gifted” at mathematics and got full marks on his SATS a few months ago. But my elderly auntie told me that HER grandson HAD to have a certain backpack… apparently all the kids have it, and if they don’t have it… they get “bullied”. I laughed at first. Her family live an hour away from me. Different schools. Different areas. I told her don’t worry auntie, I know what I’m doing haha.. 😟
But September is getting closer, and I find myself laying awake at night, imagining that I buy the wrong sort of backpack, like an adidas instead of Nike (I can’t believe I’m writing this 🙄🔫) and I imagine all the horrible kids, laughing at him. Excluding him. Calling him names. He’s vulnerable anyway, having autism. Primary school was a journey for us both.
I have tears in my eyes as I’m even writing this. I think the backpack issue is probably all of my real worries and fears about secondary school, just wrapped up in a post about backpacks. But if I could find out what other people’s kids have, or want, then maybe that’s one less thing to worry about. Sorry for such a