Bruce Mancini and his wife Betty Nystrom were among the many parents who helped their children get on the school bus for the first day of the new school year Wednesday. It was nothing new to them; they did it before for their first four children. But the last time any one of those children were in the Kimball Elementary School was five years ago. In May of this year, the Nystrom-Mancini family adopted five children. “We have four children we call our ‘first family’ where the oldest is 28 and the youngest is 17,” Nystrom said. “Now we have five adopted children. The oldest is 12 and the youngest is 6.” Their second family – Allan, Kaylyn, Dustin, Scahara and James – have been living with them since Memorial Day weekend. “We’re starting all over,” Nystrom said. “We’re back at the elementary school and it’s been a little crazy.” There is even a sense of deja vu for Mancini and Nystrom. Three of their four adopted children attending the elementary school will have teachers who have taught some of their older children. “We’re reliving old friendships (with the teachers),” Mancini said. “At the elementary school open house on Wednesday (Aug. 22), there were teachers who said, ‘we never thought we’d see you here that soon.’” Getting acquainted Both Mancini and Nystrom have spent much of the summer getting acquainted with the newest members of their family. There are good days and bad days like any other family, Nystrom said, and they’re still getting to know each other. The biggest challenge so far, Mancini added, is finding a way to get the children to decide for themselves what’s right and wrong. “They come from a structured foster home with rules and we are a minimal-rules family,” Mancini said. “So we are trying to meet in the middle.” Another thing Nystrom has rediscovered is the amount of energy it takes to keep up with five young and vibrant children. “They are very lively,” Nystrom said. “From the first thing in the morning ’til we tuck them in at night, we are racing to keep up with them.” Mancini agrees. “I think the days are getting shorter,” he joked. Their daughter Jesi, 17, has also had to adapt. Before the children moved in, she was the youngest in the house. Now, she has become the responsible big sister. Nystrom said she has adjusted well and has a great relationship with the children. “It’s nice to watch her grow in dealing with the kids,” Nystrom said. Making friends Everyone remembers what it’s like going to a new school and not knowing anyone. But that hasn’t been the case for the children. Three of them were involved with the local summer sports activities and have already made a number of friends. Allan, 12, is the only one out of the five children going to high school and is an avid sports fan. “He plays baseball and follows the Minnesota Twins regularly,” Mancini said, “and has set his sights on playing football in high school.” “At the open house night, they were very excited because they found out that some of their teammates were going to be in their classes,” Mancini said. “The younger kids were in Kid Zone, and they too have made some connections with other kids. That says a lot about the summer programs (in town).” In fact, Mancini said the summer programs helped a great deal in getting the children settled in. “We’re thanking the community for the summer sports and the encouraging comments,” he said. “This community has been great and has helped everyone settle in.”
