I really intended to link up with Alison and Galit for Memories Captured. Really I did. Unfortunately the week got away from me and before I knew it it was Sunday night and the link was down. And the little window of opportunity to participate had passed me by.
Sigh.
But I really liked the post I had in mind so I am going to do it anyway.
Take that stupid deadlines that I just can't seem to make this spring.
This week is the last official week of school. So in a few days I will be a proud momma to a rising 8th grader, 6th grader, and 2nd grader.
Gulp.
Who am I? Can I really be the mom that has an 8th grader, 6 grader, and 2nd grader?
It appears I can and I am.
My children had great school years. Fortunately for us they have had more good years than bad. The good teachers definitely outnumbering the not so good.. My children have also spent the past year growing. Like physically growing. There are mornings that I swear to God Golden Boy has grown taller and lost more of his little boy look over night. I feel like he is changing fast and furious. And my children have grown and matured emotionally as well. It does my momma's heart good to see my children growing up to be people I like to be around. Mostly. There are still definitely days when I just shake my head, but mostly I like them. For each of my babies there seems to be a special area of growth.
TeenStar
My TeenStar has never suffered fools gladly. She has always had an extremely low tolerance for people who she thinks are wasting her time. As you can imagine this impatience, this intolerance, can lead to problems when you are in middle school where silly drama and stupid antics reign supreme. And when you have a younger brother and sister who make it their job (and do the job well) to annoy and waste as much your time as possible.,
Oh my girl.
But I am happy to say that my oldest has matured this year. Not to say that all of a sudden she is this easy going and happy go lucky kid who doesn't let things bother her, not so much. She has figured out some strategies to deal with things. She is now happy to walk away or stay away from an event when it is going to make her crazy because of drama and stupidity. She is also able to (mostly/sometimes) bite her tongue when people are driving her a little bit crazy. She saves the ranting and raving for her dad and myself after school.
And slowly, but surely, she is softening just a little teeny tiny bit towards her brother and sister.
It may be a slow change, but it is a steady change and I will take it.
Golden Boy
I always think of the change from elementary school to middle school to be a hard one. My Golden Boy has made it an easy one. I think SuperHubby and I have always considered Golden Boy to be a leader of sorts even with his goofy sometimes spazzy behavior, but this year truly showed him to be a leader. He leads by example and he leads by his words. He seems to have no trouble calling other children out when he thinks they are being a bit of a jerk. Incredibly enough he does so in a way not designed to embarrass the jerk, but just enough to reign their behavior in. And surprisingly enough his friends don't seem to mind his gentle prodding to be a better person.
Because Golden Boy has a sister at the same school he occasionally has the opportunity to hang out with kids a bit older than him, think 8th graders. When I asked TeenStar if the 8th grade boys mind having him hanging around she said no that when he gets a little too "tigger-ish" (you know in a bouncy and dorky way) they simply tell him to cool it and he does. I love that (a) he doesn't change his personality to fit in with the older kids and that (b) he has garnered enough respect from the older kids so that even when his 11 year old ness starts to burn brightly they don't tease him, but simply tell him to give it a rest.
I can't explain how much this boy has my heart.
Princess
Princess has her nickname for a very good reason. If allowed to she can definitely rule the roost. And by ruling the roost I mean bossing everyone around and making everyone do things for her. As the youngest of three she also has the advantage of two older siblings and their knowledge and experience. So far things have been pretty easy for my princess for the past seven years. She breezed her way through preschool and Kindergarten and athletically had never been challenged (definitely an advantage growing up with an athletic brother and sister).
First grade set up a few challenges for my baby, though. The actual schoolwork wasn't necessarily hard for her, but the amount of work and decrease in the amount of free time and recess were challenges. First grade wasn't all fun and games.
And my little one tackled lacrosse this year. Lacrosse is a hard sport you guys. And my baby worked at it. She worked hard. And she improved. She improved because she put in the time, listened to her coaches, and worked hard. Not to say that she now wants to get her own glass of water if she is watching tv or sometimes is so lazy that she begs me to brush her teeth, but she has proven that when she wants to this girl is not afraid of hard work.
Oh my Princess makes me smile.
It has been a good year. Challenging in many ways. But full of so many accomplishments growth.
Only two more months until it starts back up again.
Have I mentioned that I will have an 8th grader, a 6th grader, and a 2nd grader?
Ugh.
In what ways have your children grown this school year?
