As I
think back to the beginning of this roller coaster ride called “the middle
school years,” I remember how the jolt of lockers, blazers, and mounds of
homework seemed to awaken all of us. As
a family, we had planned for these years and as a mother, I had certainly
prayed for these years to be smooth sailing for my twins. Now that we are
coasting back into the home gate, I can tell you that the ride included many
ups and downs and many more fantastic views from the top.
For moms
of littles that are about to embark on the elementary school years or even
those moms about to buckle up and ride through middle school, I want you to
know that although the ride is bumpy and grueling, it’s the speed at which the ride
passes that will take your breath away.
These years can be hard and confusing, but try to remember that there
will be an end. How you enjoy the middle
will define the middle school experience for you and your children and
ultimately bring the most joy. Because
eventually, the ride does come to a slow stop back at the gate and you want to
be the one they remember smiling back at them.
The
middle school years are often dreaded and maybe rightfully so. There will be days when you think you don’t
know your child anymore and then there will be days when they remind you so
much of yourself that you nod your head and quietly say, “I remember feeling
that way” or “Gosh, I remember THAT from middle school.” Those are the days that they need you to just
be there. Did you hear that
sweet mama of littles? There will be
days that you can’t fix the struggle and you just have to let your child climb
and conquer the mountain on their own.
These are the hard days but I promise the view from the top is worth the
wait.
Just as
quickly as the hard days come, the easy and overwhelmingly fun days with middle
schoolers will also come. Don’t be
fooled into thinking that there is no joy in these years because there certainly
will be more happy days than hard ones. There will be days that your middle
schooler will surprise you by throwing up their hands, laughing, and enjoying
the rush of the trip. Be sure to keep
your eyes open wide on this roller coaster, watching how they enjoy conquering
the fear of these years. Middle school
may start with awkwardness and insecurity, but for us, it ends with an
abundance of confidence and maturity because they have endured the ride with perseverance.
The many
twists and turns along the way ignite growth in your teen that will surprise
you. Yes, there is unbelievable physical
growth during these years and you will wonder how they can possibly eat so much
food. But there is also growth in
character, growth in friendships, and growth in faith. Watching your teen take ownership of their
own relationship with Jesus will leave you praising your Savior for the joy of
it all. Similarly, your teen will
develop friendships during these years that are so valuable to them that you
will find yourself thankful that they have someone to confide in. Often these friends and their families become
your friends and so precious to you, too.
They will figure out how to navigate social media and cell phones. They will learn that inclusion is everything
and being left out hurts. They will
finally find their passion—whether it’s sports or music, or dance, or art, they
will find what makes their heart happy.
They will find motivation within themselves to excel in this passion,
simply because they love it so.
Character traits like trustworthiness, forgiveness, and honesty will develop
all of a sudden and give you a glimpse into the person God has created them to
be. Your son will open doors for you and offer to carry heavy stuff for you, and
your daughter will send you texts that say “Thanks for always being in the
stands.” You will cry because you can’t
believe God would give you a front row seat to watching these beautiful little
people become young adults. Your heart will almost explode from your chest when
they look for you at the end of every game or school function. You are still the
one they search for in the midst of the twists and turns of these hard middle
years.
Finally,
if I had to summarize to you the middle school journey, I’d say this: Middle school is definitely a roller coaster
ride through the early teen years. There
are days of immense joy and pride, but there are also days of disappointment
and loss. The ride often turns you
upside down and that can leave you reeling and holding on tightly. Remember to enjoy both the ups and downs of
the journey because they are what lead your teen back safely to the gate. And as you reach the end of the ride,
unbuckle, smile, and then take their hand on the other side, leading them to
the next big ride. We look forward to
the joys of high school and the view from the top of another incredible ride.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for joys of middle
school. My heart is grateful for the
hard days and the easy days. We have conquered mountains, cried tears, endured loss, and enjoyed incredible highs. Thanks for
helping us learn tough lessons in the classroom and out. We understand that not only did you use these years to grow our children, but also to teach us as parents to depend on you more. We recognize that you were right there with
us through every single second of the ride.
Our hearts are grateful for the journey.
Lead us into these high school years with our eyes fixed on you.
Amen
