My Baby Will No Longer Be a Baby.
For the past few weeks, Shane has been reveling in the pleasures of being at the end of 8th grade. For two years, he’s watched the other 8th graders having privileges and fun activities that the 6th and 7th graders didn’t have.
Finally, this year, it was Shane’s turn.
First, he went to the 8th grade dance. “It was just like all the other dances,” he told me. “But without all the little kids running around.”
Then he went to King’s Dominion, an enormous amusement park, on a field trip exclusive to the 8th graders. Given Shane’s obsession with roller coasters and thrill rides, this was the event he’s most anticipated.
Unfortunately, it rained all day and his thrill-seeking friends ran off without him. “We got a few decent rides in,” he said. “The rain hit our face as we rode and a bunch of people didn’t want to do anything,” he said. “It was pretty fun, though.”
Two days ago, they had the last Morning Show of the year at school, run exclusively by 8th graders. Since Shane has been working on the Morning Show every day since the first week of 6th grade, he was quite excited about this.
“It was the best show ever!” Shane said. He told me about the anchors and their fantastic rapport. He told me about the music he played – every song, and why it was chosen. He told me about the jokes that were aired, and the one that he wrote that was – literally – very, very funny. Shane went on and on, more excited than I’ve seen him in ages.
I was so excited to see him so excited. He poured his heart into that show, day after day. Being director was tough for him, because he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But he stepped up and got the job done. So to have the final show be so successful mattered a great deal.
Today is Shane’s promotional ceremony – the 8th grade “graduation.” He will be marching across the stage in his sporty-yet-casual business attire, and he will likely earn some awards. Shane has had A’s and B’s throughout his entire middle school career, and he’s completed all of the social service learning hours required for high school graduation. Even his college transcript will start with a 3.75 GPA.
So he will definitely get some awards. I am so very proud of him!
And while I am so, so, so sure I will cry at the ceremony, because my baby will no longer be a baby, I know one thing for sure: I am thrilled that Shane is done with middle school.
Middle school can be heartless and cruel. It’s a time of self-discovery and friendship, sure, but most kids don’t have a clue about either of those things. Shane has somehow escaped intact, relatively unscathed, and is ready for high school for all the right reasons.
And I am ready for him to move forward, move up to the next level, and start developing his passions. Sad though I will be about the end of an era, it is also the beginning of a new one.
That’s the thought to which I will cling when I start to cry. And maybe I will think about that awesome Morning Show.
Good memories are good enough.