We’ve been out of school for a few days now. It was a hard, good year. It was a lot for all of us. And it ended well. I could tell you about grades we got or achievements earned, and that would be something. But this year was so much more than any of those things. It was about growth.
In every class and grade and activity and personality, there was so much GROWTH this year. And that’s what really made it a success, in my eyes.
Stuff like…
Alex and Erin
My twins tackled 7th grade AND it was hard for them (for different reasons) AND they grew. They had teachers they did (and didn’t) like, completely different schedules from each other, and had to figure out things in their own ways.
Erin learned that she loves to run this year. Alex loves being part of the band and jazz band. But more than jut growing skills, they grew in deeper ways, too. Erin is developing confidence in her own ability to make choices. Alex is learning to be a bit more flexible and make space for people and having fun. And they are learning to see the world and God in new, bigger ways as they begin to discover their personal relationship to both. In fact, along with Meg, they were baptized last fall, and it’s been so neat to watch their faith grow, too.
Megan’s Growth
Megan feels big, jumps big, tries big, and falls big. And we’ve worked for many months to grow her ability to manage, not “control” those things. They will come. “Mega” is part of her name and her person. But she made huge leaps and bounds this year. She worked at things she wanted, like developing a (we discovered) natural skill for watercolors and moving from honking her sax to playing her sax.
But I finally saw just how far she’s come at the talent show last week. She panicked big because she couldn’t remember how to start her song. All the feels came pouring in, and she nearly lost it (I could see how close she was in the video). BUT SHE DIDN’T. She took some breaths. She played four notes. Then a few (not-quite-right) notes. And then she found the melody and she played her piece beautifully. Her friends started a clap-along, and even though she almost lost her cool, she didn’t. It was a big accomplishment. A Mega-moment. It was growth.
Best of all, that talent show moment demonstrated the growth and maturity I’ve been watching to see develop … so she ended the year by getting her ears pierced. One post bent in the little gun and the ear had to be done twice, so she swears she’s NEVER doing that again. But the sparkling blue studs are a reminder for her, and me, of just how much she’s grown.
Tim
And Tim. He still goes by Timmy sometimes, but most often he writes and refers to himself as Tim.
Beyond the more grown-up name, though, he’s definitely growing in other ways. First he’s just plain bigger. His feet are now the same size as mine (in 3rd grade), and he’s pushing through clothes sizes almost faster than I can keep up. I still think he’s going to be my tallest one someday, though we shall have to wait and see.
And in the bigger ways, the ones that matter, Tim has grown, too. He is still my sweet kid. Genuinely kind and funny. His joke-telling routine at the talent show brought down the house because at nine years old, this kid can work a crowd. He’s drawn to songs and poems. He loves to sing along with the radio and watch music videos online. He’s even written a few first-try songs of his own this year.
Like the rest, his grades and achievements are laudable. My kids are good at school, and that’s great. But like the rest, that isn’t Tim’s real story. It’s growth. He’s learning to converse: to talk TO people, and not just AT them. To share his insights and ideas with intention. He’s learning to keep going, even when it’s not fun or easy right away. And I see (though he may not yet) that he’s stronger than he realizes he is. And I’m looking forward to seeing him grow into that truth as well.
So Yes, I’m Proud of Them
But all the facebook photo dumps or reports about grades and accomplishments just don’t cover what my kids have done this year. They grew. Sometimes in spite of me. Sometimes as the result of months of work alongside me.
They are bigger, stronger, more accomplished, yes. But they are more mature in their emotions, their ideas, their faith, and their relationships. And that is the best end-of-school realization of all.
