Moving Up to High School

Today my son graduates from 8th grade; no more middle school.  It's so cliche to say that time goes by quickly and to question how it seems like only yesterday since , but I cannot help but think about the changes we have experienced over the past 4 years.

I was thrilled when he received his acceptance letter from Nichols Middle School.  His initial day of 5th grade was a camp sleep over to get to know each other.  He couldn't wait to meet the new kids, to have his first camping trip overnight and to start middle school.  That morning at 3:00 am he came into our room feeling odd.  His left eye, lip and right hand were swelled up like a beaten boxer.  He had some allergic reaction and was swelling like mad.  After much worry, at trip to the ER and a lot of benodryl, we sent him off.  We sat discussing what his next four years would be like if this was the start.

Today he is a different boy. Actually he is much more like a man than a boy.  He has established close friendships with good kids and has learned not just about history, math and science but about himself and who his is becoming.

Days were not always good.  There was the exercising of self, followed by detention.  There was the first lie and ramifications for that choice.  There was slipping of grades and painful lessons of responsibility.  But there was also the first dance, the winning of the chess tournament, the guitar performance and the science olympiad medals.

I know high school is going to fly by and that we will experience even greater changes.  That our young man will become more independent, more serious and more focused.  Although today I am nostalgic for 5th grade and my little boy, I am looking forward to what high school will bring and to the man I will be looking at this time four years later.