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
