She's a big girl, all the way

My daughter started sixth grade last week, Middle School (that is sixth, seventh, and eighth grade)! She was excited about it most of the summer and then, very naturally, got a bit nervous in those last couple of days. She was so cute getting ready. We spent part of the summer totally cleaning out her disaster of a room so she could begin the year organized. She now has floor space where once she had none. Her room is so freaking small, but we took out the doors to this stupid huge closet that takes up half the room and put her bed in there. We cut a little ‘window’ in the side to let in light from the actual window the stupid closet was mostly blocking. I gave her my old computer and a wardrobe. We filled up bags and bags of clothes to give away, boxes of books, and mountains of garbage were tossed. Very fulfilling. Now I just have to get my ass over to the donation places to get this shit out of my house. Heh. Also, clean out the ‘extra’ room that is now impossible to walk into because it is filled with stuff I figured I’d put away “later.” Yeah…I’ll get to that eventually!

So she’s doing really well. That first day she asked if Pete and I would walk with her down to the end of the street where the bus picks her up (in elementary school she walked or I gave her a ride). As I watched her get on the bus and get carried away I felt so nervous inside and I realized it wasn’t for her, but a reliving of my own horrid middle school experiences. Coming home almost every day in tears off the bus because of the two friends who turned on me would yell insults from the back of the bus to me in the front during the whole ride.

I thought about that for a bit and took a deep breath. My daughter is so far beyond what I was at her age…so much more aware of the way people are and I just know she wouldn’t put up with that sort of thing. Even better is that I know she wouldn’t perpetrate it onto others, either.

So each day she comes outside in the morning with her backpack on to say goodbye to Pete and I and the dogs. We watch her walk down the street looking so much older than the kid who came running home from elementary school last year; and we feel a bit old. But we also feel quite proud. She’s been on top of her homework without being asked. She’s been extremely helpful around the house. She’s gone to bed without giving me grief. It is like a switch was flipped and she decided she needed to grow up. Amazing…not that she was a bad kid before or anything. She just is more focused on being helpful and responsible this year. And it is fantastic. Makes the whole household happier, really.

Damn, I’m proud of her.

Comments

[siobhan]

I am proud of all of you!!!!!
I love you!!!

[Elise]

WOW, that is so cool, and a little scary to think she is so big now. When we saw you guys on Labor Day we were all blown away by her - I still remember first meeting you guys way back in 2000, and she was the age that P. is now! Also I must confess to an odd nostalgic and weird feeling as I read this post, knowing she's in the same middle school where I went, lo these many years ago. We are getting old!!! But congrats to you on having a great kid. That in itself is an amazing accomplishment.

[Cecily]

Me too.

[MollyB]

Wow. Will be interesting to see whether your daughter's middle school clime has her asking for thong underwear.

Kids these days are so much different. My youngest sister is about your daughter's age (though young enough to be my daughter) and full of so much wisdom.

[Shelli]

And you should be, Sarah. You done good.

[julie]

Hey- your darling child has always struck me as so grown up and poised. You've done a great job with her.

My wee beloved nephew just started first grade and it just seems crazy. It's funny how time passes and I still feel like I'm 27!

A de-cluttering hunt: a few years ago I woke up one day I felt I'd die if I didn't get rid of every extraneous book- and there were hundreds. I piled them all into paper grocery bags, put a thing up on Craig's list saying they'd be on the curb on x and such afternoon, and they vanished. It was beautiful.

I know you can do the same with clothes- no muss, no fuss.

[Coral]

They do grow up in big steps, and not stages, don't they?

Please let me know what grades are what ages - I am all at sea with the US school system and 'grades'. - thank you!

Why thongs? Confused 'sharpei face' here!

[Ali]

Sophia is the coolest 6th grader I know. You have been and are a wonderful mum to beautiful girl. I'm sure I will be asking you for loads of advice these coming years:)

[MollyB]

@Coral - thongs, dunno. A friend found thongs in her 11-yr-old stepdaughter's laundry. She tried to diplomatically suss out whether the mother was aware, and the mother snapped that she'd bought them, b/c "all" the girls in her daughter's class had them.