Happy End of School & Grade 8 Grad!

Another school year has come and gone, and it brings with it some pretty significant milestones. Holden, you’re now entering your last year of elementary school (and your TENTH and final year at Hewitt’s Creek). Mercedes, you are now officially halfway through high school (how on earth did that happen so quickly). And Lexi, you are now a shiny new graduate (with honours), and ready for high school in the Fall.

I couldn’t be prouder of all three of you. There’s been great report cards, lots of learning, exciting field trips, awards given, friends and parties and social lives… I love the good grades of course, but mostly I’m so thrilled at how well-rounded you all are. Kind, considerate, inquisitive, dedicated, but still able to have fun and enjoy all of the great things that your schools and this awesome neighbourhood and community have to offer.

Mercedes, I am so excited to watch you figuring out what you potentially want to do with the rest of your life (as of now, leaning towards Pediatric Occupational Therapy) and then doing the research and working backwards to ensure you can make it happen with the right prerequisites over the next two years. You’ve gotten your first real job (yay McDonald’s), joined a gym, and made some new friends, all while navigating your first serious relationship and keeping your grades up. It’s a joy to watch you move through some of the hardest years of your life with grace and humour (and of course, there’s the truly wonderful fact that you still love spending time with me, which I will cherish for as long as it lasts!).

Holden, every day you seem to grow an inch and look more grown-up. But beyond physical changes, I love seeing you change - although your friendships haven’t changed much! But I absolutely love that you and your gang of buds have endured through many years of friendship and nothing makes me happier than hearing you laugh hysterically while you’re playing games online with them. Except maybe watching you speed off (safely!) on your scooter to roam the neighbourhood with those exact same kids. You’re independent and adventurous with them (going as far as the beach to watch the airshow, swimming at friends’ houses, buying food wherever you go, etc.) and it makes me so happy that you still have this completely normal aspect of childhood/pre-teen life. Your report card was great, sure, but even more thrilling is reading the comments from your teacher on what a great kid and peer you are (and the fact that you are being recognized with a character award at the last assembly of the year this week!).

And last but certainly not least, my honour-roll graduate. Lexi we could not be prouder of how you conquered this year, with all of its importance and significant transitions. Grade 7 was so hard for you, and it broke our hearts as we tried to figure out how best to help you cope with your anxiety. But you persevered and worked so damn hard - and Grade 8 was a roaring success. You made it to ALL of the field trips (including a two night overnight trip in the frozen north, and a very crowded downtown Toronto field trip). You chose your courses for next year, you had sleepovers with friends, you had the best time at grad (in an actual dress and heels!) with your friends. Your report card was great, and the honour roll is an impressive achievement - but watching you embrace friendships and your social life and make these memories in this pivotal final year of elementary school… nothing compares to that feeling of pride. We are overwhelmed with love and admiration for the person you’re growing up to be, and I can’t wait to see the adventures that await you in high school next year and beyond.

Congratulations to all of you - and I hope this summer is one of even more magical memories.

Love,

Mama

Lexi - Happy 14th Birthday!

At 5:22 this morning, on 5/22, you turned 14! And I can’t help but reflect on how amazing this past year has been for you. Grade 7 was pretty rough (lots of anxiety and social/school avoidance), but you’ve worked SO hard to learn how to cope and overcome those challenges. We couldn’t be prouder – and your hard work was never more evident than this morning, when I dropped you and your brother off at school early for the annual Grade 7/8 field trip downtown (St. Lawrence Market, a Blue Jays game, and a trip to the Eaton Centre for the Grade 8s). Last year, you never made it on this trip – too worried about being far from home, nervous about the crowds downtown and at the game, scared of having a panic attack with no escape route. It was heartbreaking. And today, your only fear is that somehow you’ll end up on the Jumbotron in honour of your birthday (which would be a dream come true for your mother!).

I am in awe of how much you’ve grown and changed over this past year, how well you’ve handled all of the changes and stress that finishing elementary school brings, and how you’re very bravely getting ready to face graduation and starting high school. You have amazing friends who truly let you be yourself, and I love seeing you smiling and happy when you talk about them and school and your plans for the summer and your future.

And despite how you’ve gotten slightly more introverted and quieter as you’ve gotten older, you’ve never lost that truly unique Lexi spark. We always joked that you knew you were a middle child before we did, and all of those fantastic Middle Kid qualities are still shining bright – strong opinions (very, very strong), unique spirit, fierce independence. We are so incredibly proud of the young woman you are growing into and feel so lucky that we get to be by your side. I can’t wait to see what 14 holds for you!

Love you lots,

Mummy

Mercedes - Happy Sweet 16!

Dear Mercedes,

Sixteen is hard to fathom, but also not, because you’ve changed and matured so much over the past year. It’s been a big one - really settling into high school, figuring out what interests you most, joining the gym, amazing concerts (hello, Taylor Swift - best night of our lives!), first love, amazing friendships and experiences - I’m so thrilled to watch the rest of your life unfold in front of you. It won’t always be easy, there will be challenges that you’ll face - but I can tell by how much you’ve grown that you’ll face them head on with resilience and strength, because that’s just the kind of person you are. And no matter what, I will always be there to walk beside you.

It’s a special thing when your kids actually become your friends. I absolutely (sometimes) miss the early days of our life together - especially when it was just you and me on my first maternity leave. We did lots of snuggling and playdating and adventuring and watching endless reruns of Third Watch. In some ways, we grew up together since I was still in my 20s when you were born! And I loved seeing the wonder of the world through your eyes. But now… now is something special. I still get to watch with amazement as you become more independent and resourceful, and witness you figuring out your path in life - but I also get to hang out with someone that always makes me laugh. Whether we’re going for a drive and singing loudly in the car, or snuggling on the couch watching a sad movie and crying, or finishing each other’s song lyrics in the kitchen, or laughing at your father’s ridiculous jokes… there’s basically nothing that makes me happier than experiencing joy with you by my side. 

Thank you for being you. Thank you for making me a mom. Thank you for forgiving my mistakes. Thank you for always remembering that I’ve got your back. Thank you for being honest with me. Thank you for letting me into your life. And thank you, thank you, thank you for being the person that you are. I couldn’t be prouder.

Love,

Mum (aka Bruh)