Aspen Michael: 12 Years Old

 Dearest Aspen Michael,

My oh my how is my sweet boy 12 years old! Your last year as a tween; not quite a teenager and not quite a little boy anymore. 

One of my favorite things about you is the pure joy you wake up with each day. A smile. A hug. A joke or a silly question. I hope this is always how you live your life. 

                  

You have enjoyed 5th grade at SHMS. Making sweet friends with Beau, Clayton, Grayson & Shintaro. You had your first real girlfriend and to watch you be giddy on the phone while listening to her {Allie} talk your head off was precious to see. 

You completed your PYP project with your group. An exciting global topic of the underwater world and how the effects of overfishing can alter many aspects of our world. I am so proud of your hard work and outside the box ideas. Mostly I am proud of your memories speech & presentation to the community.

                                             

You continue to find joy in sports~ tennis, basketball, football and more. You are top 50 in the country in doubles right now. You are close to 125 in singles. You have worked so hard to get here. And it has not gone unnoticed~ being invited to 2 USTA Player Development Camps in the South. What an honor to get to experience great coaching from across the country!

You enjoy random facts about athletes, statistics of sports, and endless trivia. It turns out that you are paying attention even when we think you’re not!

There is so much maturity and growth that you’ve made from 11 to 12. I am so proud of you for never giving up on yourself and for continuing to find the joy in life. Just a few weeks ago, one of my Sacred Heart girls had a rough match. On the walk out, you were sharing words of wisdom with her… even though she is five years older than you. Sometimes you can be a little kid at heart, but you have so much wisdom to share!

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Salem Lucille: 8 1/2 Years Old

 Dearest Salem Lucille,

My sweet baby girl you just continue growing and growing and growing. You are such a sweet soul. Always enjoying doing for and giving to others. 

You are preparing for your first communion. It has been a joy to watch you walk through this journey. You have deepened your faith and learned so much about the Eucharist. This Lent was special, watching you truly begin to understand the meaning of the season. 

You have entered your fourth competitive dance season… Competing in a solo, a trio, and four group dances. It is always such a joy to see you shine on stage. 

You continue to be an amazing little sister. Always lifting your siblings up and cheering them on. You truly beam with pride being around them and spending time with them. You are always ready for a hug and an adventure with them!

There is so much joy in being your mom~ your smile is contagious and your sass is giggle worthy. I hope always see the good in the world and continue to smile!

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Brighton Kevin: 10 1/2 Year Old

 Dearest Brighton Kevin,

Oh son, it has been a long six months! 10 years old has brought quite a bit of attitude and anxiety for you. You have been working hard to find your routines and place in your new school as well as on your new soccer team. While you are the most social butterfly, so many adjustments at once have been a challenge.

Don’t get me wrong, all of these changes are positive and on the outside you made them appear seamless. But on the inside, we have learned that you are struggling with several emotions.

You enjoyed playing basketball for SHMS this winter. You were a great defender… and really enjoyed Being able to hustle back down the court to get back on offense! You love playing with your classmates and cheering them on. It was fun to see you try something new and embrace the game with heart!

You are all about fitness and nutrition right now. You ask a lot of questions about foods and how they can impact your body. You also enjoy heading down to the gym in the basement to get a workout in. Sometimes you can even be caught doing push-ups in your shower. Ha! 

You enjoyed swimming for SHMS at the Catholic grade school swim meet. You practiced several weeks with the team and we’re ready to rock the 50 free! You placed third in that event, losing only to year-round swimmers. Your 3rd/4th grade relay crushed it~ earning gold!

Academically you continue to grow, even if it has come with some resistance. You have enjoyed the monthly book club breakfast meetings you are embracing your monthly book talks. You are starting to shine in math. And you take great pride in your French works and projects.

Just last weekend you kicked off the spring season of soccer. What an honor that you were able to start all three games and Coach was so pleased with your hustle and play. Your hard work and dedication is not going unnoticed~ So keep it up!

Brighton, at your core you are a sweet young man who wants to love everyone and see the good in each individual. Don’t let your anxious feelings or your insecurities or the world change that about you!

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Adelaide Jane: 13 1/2 Years Old

 Dearest Adelaide Jane,

You are already six months into your teenage years and I feel like they’re flying by. Looking back at pictures of you from only two years ago and you’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman. No longer a baby face. Although sometimes if I catch you in the right moment, I can still see a sweet little girl who loves her mama.

You are officially into your last trimester of seventh grade. SHMS has been such a wonderful fresh start for you. You love science as well as individual societies. Mrs. Farley has awakened a joy of learning and growing in you. However, all of your teachers are adored by you, and that is such a gift.

You aged up to the 13 and 14 swim group. Now at the bottom of your age group by being the 13-year-old, you are still holding your own and many of your races. You were fortunate enough to make the Midstates Team swimming on two relays. You’ve loved cheering on your teammates & hanging out with the girls. You have made 11 State cuts~ Even three in breaststroke! I am so proud of your hard work and dedication to the new sport… Especially in the strokes that we’re not your strongest suit. And I have to point out here that you swam the 200 fly before many of the girls and boys have been swimming their entire lives!

Recently, you had a baby mouse that you discovered in your closet. Most girls would have freaked out, But you simply came downstairs to grab the broom in hopes that you could see the baby mouse outside for it to run free. This of course did not happen, but I was impressed by your calm nature, as well as your love for a little animal.

You continue to grow into your own… Always being an individual and always finding compassion for those who deserve it. As I reflect back on my own use, I am always so mesmerized at how you will stand up for other people when you know they are being wronged. This is something I didn’t know how to navigate until much older. I realize that this often may make people dislike you or disgruntled some parents who think you might be harsh to their children. Don’t ever stop standing up for what’s right and calling people out on their bullshit. You are not perfect nor am I. No one is. And our delivery is not always the best… But I will always be proud of you for never backing down for what’s right!

I love you!

Love,

Mom