He is a fantastic and amazing kid. I sat in the auditorium of his school weeping as he and his classmates sang songs about caterpillars turning into butterflies and flying away, and about being little, which doesn't last forever. It was an emotionally manipulative trick to play on a pregnant woman. All the while he looked right at me and smiled his genuine smile. I wanted to run down and pull him onto my {very little remaining} lap and rock him like I used to when he was small. But that would be embarrassing and uncool, so instead I sat in the stands and let tears and snot run down my face, which is the exact opposite of embarrassing and uncool.
I will state for the record here and now that I AM IN NO WAY READY to send this boy off to Middle School in the fall. I know Middle School. I did Middle School. It is the place where niceness seems to end, cliques seem to begin and innocence slips away like sand through fingers. It's the place where homework gets tougher and girls get more aggressive. It's the place where suddenly parents become the enemy as hormones take over small bodies. It's the place where hard changes happen. Obviously I've got a lot of coping to do before September.
Now Big C and his group of really great buddies will spend the summer enjoying the waning of innocent childhood and get ready to move up to rotating class schedules and lockers. I love my boy and just want to tell him thanks for coming up to me and kissing me right on the lips in front of all the 5th graders after the program was over. I will remember that moment for as long as I live.
9 comments:
So sweet. The end (the kiss) almost put ME in tears and it's not even my son. I'll blame it on pregnancy. I wish we could find a way to slow it all down, too.
I didn't realize Chris and Bradley were the same age...very cool...Middle School is great. Andrew has loved it. Lots of changes true, but it's so fun to see them grow and mature. Chris will be one great Middle schooler. I'm confident of that!
Oh my gosh I am in denial, how could little Chris be done with elementary school? I hated middle school, but Chris has a good head on his shoulders. Love that he still kisses you, that is so incredibly sweet.
OK, I'm a little weepy over here too and not pregnant. What's my excuse?!
Oh yeah, I have a really talented writer sister and similar parental fear of the middle school years.
Counting on Big C and Dragonfly parents to show us the way.
I love this post. You are so accurate about how things in middle school change. I'm not looking forward to that change. Big C is a great kid and I'm sure he'll pull through those choppy waters.
Also I think you have to cry with snot running down your face at graduation. It's like a Mom Law. =) I know I obeyed when my son graduated!
Avoid at all costs a country song called "Let them be little"
It's every Mom's tear jerker song.
There's no stopping the growth nor would you really want to. Big C is a great kid, there may be a few rough times ahead but both of you will get through it. I have to agree that middle school and for those going through it is a huge transition. You can do it!
What a very sweet tribute to him, Sam!
They played "Let Them Be Little" at Jordyn's Pre-K grad. Tobi's right - tear-jerker. Thank goodness Cara's elementary school is K-6 so I have one more year until junior high snot and tears. :) She and Big C have a lot in common... crossing my fingers that they end up in the same BYU ward. :)
I so remember Christina graduating from the 5th grade and moving on to Middle School. I had those same worries and it all turned out ok in the end. Chris is a wonderful kid who was some awesome parents who have taught him well. Middle school is a whole different ball game but one that needs to be played to progress onto bigger and better things :)
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