Dear Miles,

I didn’t love my sixth-grade experience. However, I do enjoy watching your sixth-grade experience. There’s talk of ‘ships and dirty words and being weird and a growing network of social castes. I’m happy to not be going through the turmoil of figuring out who I am and where I fit but it’s fun to watch you do it.

I think it’s especially fun because you seem so comfortable in who you are, who you are becoming. You are utterly fine with being utterly weird. That’s not even right. You are not just fine, you are psyched about being weird, different, not “normal” – whatever “normal” is.

You try hard at times to engage me in conversation that isn’t focused on video games. And I try my hardest to listen when you talk about video games. You’re good with your brother. You take care of his needs occasionally. It’s these little glimpses into independence that allow me to see how you’ve grown this year.

I’ve reached a point of deep peace with you. I see how good you are. I see how smart you are. I see how you are building social bonds. I see how you take care of yourself and your brother. I see how you take care of my feelings. I see how your logical brain builds a case for the things you want. I see how you positively you have responded to our change in discipline – AKA no punishment, instead ‘let’s talk this out’. I’m kind of in love with our family, with you, with your brother, with your father.

Here is one of my favorite conversations with you recently:

Me: Do you want to work out with me? It’s abs tonight.

You: Why would I want to do that?

Me (pondering for a moment): To attract a sexual partner some day?

You: I think I can do that with my personality.

 

I think you can too, bud, I think you can too.

Happy 12th Birthday!!!

Love,
Mom