My daughter has been in middle school for just over a month, and she is surviving…even without her own cell phone. Woo hoo!
I am so glad we forced her to do cross-country in the summer, because I believe it has made all the difference for her this fall. Today she gets to go on her first state meet complete with missing school and a 2 hour bus ride there and back with her team. She is overjoyed. We are overjoyed. Success!
This past week I also got two bits of great news in the mail about her. First, her standardized test results came back from 5th grade, and her reading scores were practically off the charts. I have been worried about dyslexia with this child since second grade. I feel like I can finally, finally relax about that. Whew! Second, we just received her progress reports in the mail, and it’s all As and one B. I was so, so worried about changing from desk to locker, increased class sizes and such. But she is doing just fine…and now I wonder why I ever worried.
Of course I know why. Junior High was hell for me socially. I began to relive all the mean girl induced tears and cried for her to have to grow up around this madness. I wanted to prevent my daughter from experiencing any overwhelming pain like that. I wanted to shelter her and keep her safe…and yet since I refuse to ever home-school this could not work out. It was a plan doomed to failure.
Then I realized something.
It’s fine that I was worrying. I shouldn’t feel bad about it. I’m a mom, and I love my kids.
Besides, it’s not my job to prevent my big girl from experiencing mean girls and their manifested insecurities.
It’s my job to help her learn how to deal with it all – the good, the bad, the ugly, and the overwhelming pain.
I intend to keep blathering on about putting it in perspective and not letting anyone make you feel bad about yourself…and maybe she’ll hear. I hope she will. It gives me hope that her favorite bookmark has this quote on it:
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt
I feel so lucky to be able to share it my blooming beauty’s life for a bit longer. Happy Friday!
