Going Back to School

Being away from school for treatment can feel like a long time. Going back is a big deal — and it's normal to feel about ten feelings at once.

It's okay to feel two ways

Lots of kids feel excited and nervous. Excited to see friends, have recess, and be a regular kid again. Nervous about questions, looking different, or being behind in math. Both feelings can be true at the same time. That's totally normal.

About the questions

Kids at school will probably be curious. Curious isn't mean — they just haven't seen you in a while. It helps to plan what you want to say ahead of time. You get to pick! Some ideas:

• "I was sick, and I got medicine, and now I'm back."
• "It's called cancer. You can't catch it."
• "I don't feel like talking about it. Want to play?"

You never have to tell more than you want to. A short answer plus a subject change works great.

Here's a cool trick some kids use: a nurse or helper from the hospital can visit your class before you come back. They explain everything to your classmates so you don't have to.

Your body might need time

After treatment, some kids get tired faster than before. You might need to sit out part of gym, or rest at lunch, or start with half days. That's not being lazy. Your body did a big job and it's still recharging.

If your hair fell out, it grows back — and hats or scarves are fine in the meantime. Your grown-up can set that up with the school.

Being behind is fixable

Missing school means missing some lessons. That's okay. Teachers know how to help you catch up bit by bit. You don't have to learn it all in one week. Ask your teacher, your grown-up, or the school counselor when things feel like too much.

School will start to feel normal again. Maybe not the first day, but sooner than you think.