8th Grade Graduation

Yesterday was my daughter's 8th grade promotion ceremony. I have to be honest with you that there were certain times this past school year when we weren't sure she was going to make it to this day. Like... when she came home with an F on her report card in Algebra  for example. But she pulled through and yesterday was the big day. I'd pictured this moment for many years...at least since her 6th grade promotion...but it didn't play out as I had imagined. I was calm and not weepy. (I cried like a baby at her preschool graduation). I really just found that I was relieved it was all over.

Middle School sucks.

There's no sugar coating it. The drama alone is enough to drive an adult crazy. I always thought my mom just didn't understand me and now I realize I was just a dramatic bitchy teenager. These are the years we start to  get a feel for who we really are. We try on new friends. We try on new personalities. We try on new attitudes. It's a time of such change that it's hard for anyone to keep up.

It seemed like Alex had a new best friend every other month. Liked a different boy every week.  I know that high school brings a whole new pile of worries but in some ways I know that it starts to stabilize. A little. I'm looking for a little stability. She made the cheerleading team last week and I hope that this also keeps her in check with her grades. And introduces some new friends because some of these girls she's been friends with are really just awful to each other. They have such tempers and emotions at this age. The smallest things really set off a chain of events within her group. I'm not a dramatic person (now...) so it was a little too much for me to take sometimes.

I was so proud of her yesterday though. She's become quite a young woman. I like that she still has a unique sense of style. Her spunky personality. She couldn't stop smiling after the ceremony...really smiling. With teeth showing and all...that's the part I enjoyed the most yesterday...seeing her reaction to this milestone. I'll have to actually post one of her big smile...these were taken before the ceremony...when she was still nervous about the whole affair. 

Comments

[Sarah]

Congrats to Alex!! Hope high school improves drastically for her and you and all involved.

[Nicole]

congrats to both of you for making it :)
and what a great recap of the past year...one day she will appreciate what you went through this year. (Like you I also look back and wonder how my mother put up with it!)
and for me...
so not looking forward to those years!

[Mandi]

I'm a nanny for two kids, one of which has just just graduated from middle school as well! You don't have to tell me about the drama! haha I just hope she makes the right friends in high school. :)