But then I changed school systems for high school, and that was slightly traumatic.

I went to a small private religious school for 1st-8th grades. The transition to a public school after that was a little traumatic for me too.

I didn't really settle in with a group of friends until junior year -- I tried one freshman year, it didn't work out, and I spent sophomore year more or less friendless. Which was not as sad as it sounds?

We moved a bunch of times. In the middle of third grade, and then after sixth grade, all the way from NJ to FL. Then we moved *back* to the same town in NJ at the start of ninth grade, which made it a little easier, although by then it was junior high and not simply the elementary school kids I knew.

I hate change, and it was always rough for me, but looking back I handled it a lot better than I could have, I guess.

I agree about "not as sad as it sounds". Tara-esque, but I thought that's how things are, and read a lot of books and watched a lot of TV until high school, when I started to fit in. I don't regret it.

Once I started school I didn't move. Even when my parents divorced, I stayed in the same house until I graduated. I still flipped from public to private mid-5th grade and then back to public after 8th. Those transitions were tough.

Woke up this morning and my mouth feels ok. Also realized my dentist had called last night to check on me and give me his cell number in case I needed anything. Crossing fingers that I don't have to hit up the pain meds at work (yes, I hauled my tush into the office).

I went to 8 different grade schools and 2 different high schools and all of the moves were traumatic, especially the last one from 3 years at a Catholic girls High School to senior year at a public school.

I hated it when I was young, so much. It figured into my alienation from my parents once I was an adult.

I went to a small private religious school for 1st-8th grades. The transition to a public school after that was a little traumatic for me too.

I did the exact opposite and it was also a little traumatic! Mostly because most of the girls in my 9th grade class had gone to either the lower school and or one or two parochial schools and they all knew each other.

Also I had--through reorgs of school districts, going to a gifted program in another school, and moving before the 6th grade--gone to 6 different schools from 4th to 8th grades. Some of those moves were more traumatic than others. I think the worst was probably from 6th to 7th grade where I moved into a much larger school and got hassled walking home early in the school year. Stupid bullies.

Stupid bullies.

Oh yeah, we had those. For some reason, I got bullied by some kids one year behind me.

The worst thing was when a kid tried to trip me while I was going down the stairs on crutches.

See, this is what I meant when I said, "less sad than it sounds." No one was ever mean to me!

My family moved countries when I was 1, 4, 12, and 18. It just seems like the thing to do now. I have never had a need for the sort of security that mac must be craving right now, and my heart breaks for him and every kid that needs it.