JENerally Informed: Dealing With Milestones

Dealing With Milestones

This week we are heading into some BIG milestones for our family, a kindergarten graduation and a graduation from elementary school.

First let's talk about my kindergartener, Rebekah. I cannot believe that an entire school year has passed, It seems like just yesterday that I dropped her off for her first day of school.

Now she will be graduating kindergarten. Call me corny, sappy whatever you want, but having her moving onto a different grade brings me equal parts of happiness and sadness. Happiness because we survived her first year of real homework. Sometimes that was rough.

I love this little girl and having gone through the growing up process so far with her older sister and brother I hate to have her leave this golden period of her life and head into the murkier waters of older grades. Luckily, she has some good peeps backing her up in her older brother and sister.

Love this cheesy and adorable little Princess!

Samantha, is also reaching an important milestone with her graduation from elementary school and entrance into Junior High-school. My first born is incredible. I have shared a little with you about her, but I cannot truly explain how amazing she is.

Three years ago we rushed her to a hospital to undergo painful testing as she had lost her eyesight. You can read the full story here. She endured this trial and the additional struggle of some permanent vision loss with strength and courage.

Here she is at her 6th grade move-up performance.

Samantha, since the day she was born prematurely and weighing only 5 lbs has been my hero. Over the years I have watched her grow and mature and turn into a beauty both inside and out.

Her graduation is a new and scary step for both of us. Being a mother of a tween/teen is different. Not bad just different. Your role changes and there is a lot more outside influences that can and will affect your child. My hope for her is that she will make wonderful friends who will lift her higher, that girls will be kind and she will avoid or just be able to ignore their sharp barbs, that boys will respect her and know that she is worthy of that respect. That she will never doubt her importance, purpose, beauty and divinity.

Sometimes when I see you, my daughter, my own,

My heart fills with love seeing how you have grown.

Your hands, once so small, have remained clean and pure.

Your heart filled with love helps my own soul endure.

The prayers that you speak give me faith to go on,

And the smile in your eyes gives me hope for the dawn.

Then I wonder why and give thanks that I was chosen to be your mother.

- Janice Kapp Perry

We survived some pretty big milestones this year so for now, I will enjoy the fact that my kids and I have the next 2 months together to swim, sun, play and get ready for all that this next year has to offer.

Comments (19)

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Leilani · 576 weeks ago

The junior high milestone! EEEEEK. I'ms so afraid of that. I just read your daughters story though on your other blog and the bossy one and wow. She is definitely a strong spirit. Junior highs everywhere need more girls like her. The world would be a much better place for sure. I'm sure she learns how to be such a good example to her peers from you and your husband. My oldest is graduating from kindergarten, too! And I, like you, am excited for this fun summer of being lazy and swim swim swimming!

1 reply · active 576 weeks ago

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queenmomjen 75p · 576 weeks ago

I concur the world would be better with more like her. I am so excited to see her grow and to watch what she is going to do in the world.

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comedyplus 47p · 576 weeks ago

I went through this so long ago that I had to stop and think about how I felt. My son is 43 years old. Anyway, I can remember watching him grow up and spread his wings. I'm so happy you have two older ones to help guide the little one. That's always helpful.

Have a fabulous day. ☺

1 reply · active 576 weeks ago

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queenmomjen 75p · 576 weeks ago

My Mom says, even though we have all been gone from home for years, we still keep coming back or at least sending the grandchildren back!!

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mimi · 576 weeks ago

The milestones may get bigger, but the mixed feelings stay about the same. Congratulations to all of you for a good school year of work!

1 reply · active 576 weeks ago

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queenmomjen 75p · 576 weeks ago

Oh isn't that the truth. We are looking square in the face of dating, driving and much more.

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Dizmommy 66p · 576 weeks ago

What a beautiful family and geeze, talk about a lot of transitions at once! This post reminds me of the Stevie Nicks song "landslide." :[! I guess you cant keep em from growing up- and you're doing a great job rearing them as they move on up. I just read the post about Samantha, gosh that's scary. She's a strong girl for having gone through that. Milestones=celebrations, so let the good times roll!

1 reply · active 576 weeks ago

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queenmomjen 75p · 576 weeks ago

That is it exactly, a landslide! I think for now I am just going to throw some rocks to hedge it up and enjoy the flat plateau for a while.

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tamaralikecamera 101p · 576 weeks ago

I love your attitude here. I plan to drink up these two months of summer SO MUCH. My daughter is graduating preschool the same week my son is turning two. The same week I attend my first blog conference.
We're all moving on up together.

3 replies · active 576 weeks ago

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queenmomjen 75p · 576 weeks ago

Preschool graduation was a toughie for me. Yes enjoy the summer, the blog conference and it all! Which conference are you going to?