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T H I R T E E N!!! Welcome to the teen years. I'm not really sure why everyone makes such a huge deal about the teen years - I promise, they're not awful. They're the important and impressionable years where you discover yourself, make mistakes, change, grow, learn hard lessons, and grow some more. It's an experience and one I'm excited for you to go through.
This past year was a big one for you. You tried new things, navigated friendships, relationships, and let go of things you didn't like. You completed 7th grade on Thursday and had a stellar school year. Unsurprisingly, you nailed health and sex ed class. I'm quite proud of your wealth of knowledge on the subject, including your awareness for mental health. You are highly in tune with your emotional and mental health and you're not afraid to let us know. I love that so much!
You still LOVE dance and started in Junior Performing Arts, doing dances in jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical. Your commitment to it is impressive and leaves me in awe each and every year. While dance continues to be your main extracurricular focus, you have a long list of accomplishments from this past year. You gave Mock Trial a try and loved it. You committed to showing up for every practice and rehearsal, dressing the part, and your team made it all the way to round 2. You did such a great job learning the case and the ins and outs of law practice. You made it through your first boy drama with ease. You also made a point to stay away from middle school drama. You have your preferred friends and don't mess around with anyone who isn't kind to you. You don't question your worth and that's a rarity for a middle schooler. You grew your kitchen skills in cooking class. Sometimes I'm taken aback when you offer to make the muffins or baked goods or dinner by yourself. It seems like you should still require a brother's help in the kitchen, when in reality, you often follow recipes better than I do! With Max off working and hanging out with friends more often than not, you have become the official dog walker when we hike, but you still refuse to pick up his poop.
Some of your favorite things include: spending time in your room, painting or other relaxing things, reels, Tik Toks, Friends, Ginny and Georgia, Instagram (you finally got your own account!), Mexican food, your daycare friends and our new daycare summers, CBS News, Adventureland, staying up late, sleeping in, skin care, hair care, clothes, and shopping. Your dislikes include: hiking (it's a whole thing right now), the ocean (you recently told me we can't go to the ocean this year because you can't swim in it, "there's too many things swimming in it. I like pools," parents asking questions, too many people, too many plans, mom being "too loud," and having to do "everything" around the house.
Oh how we love your over aggerated ways! There's never a dull moment with you around. You have some classic one liners and even after thirteen years, I'm still trying to figure out how your mind works. I love your confidence and willingness to try to new things - even when you're scared. More often than not, I know you'll go along with most things if it means having a good time. That's a quality you've possessed since birth and it's one I hope you always keep.
I wish nothing but the best for your next trip around the sun, as you undergo your last year of middle school (hooray - it's something we're both very excited about!). I love every part of you and so lucky I get to be along for your ride! I love you, I love you, I love you!! Thank you for making every day full of laughter and smiles.
Love always and forever,
Mom
