Growing Up

I remember having a conversation with my brother a few years ago about how we couldn't believe how old our kids were getting. And, back then, it hit me that in about 2 or 3 years I would have a kid in middle school. ((Gasp!)) 

See, I don't know if it's like this for every parent who has a kid with Downs. But for me, I don't always think about how old Hayden actually is. Maybe it's because he's physically one age, and developmentally another. But, he's just Hayden. And every once in a while it'll hit me that he's ___ years old and I'm just sitting there like "Omg! In *this many years* he's going to be _____". (Did that make sense at all??)

Well, anyway. We've been prepping for this whole middle school thing for about 6 months, so I've known it was coming. We've tried to make this transition for him as smooth as possible. Last week we even went up to the school and were able to walk around it while there weren't any students so he could kind of take it all in. Partially because it is a new school, which means new teachers and staff, and he doesn't always handle change well. But also because this school is huge - a lot bigger than any other school he's ever attended. 

So yeah, I've *known* this was coming. But I was not(!) ready for it. Not at all.

He is officially in middle school. And I can't believe it.

How did that happen?

This morning I went in to get him up and he was not having it. =) I rubbed his back and told him Good Morning and his response was a very upset groan and "What do you want?! Too early!" Lol And I told him he had to get up for school and after about 5 more minutes of prodding he finally gave up and told me "Oh fine, mom!" and got out of bed. (And I couldn't help but laugh...those teenage years with all their grouchiness are definitely coming.)

Once he was up and had breakfast, he insisted that I help him fix his hair for school. (What is that???) And then his driver came to get him, and off he went....while I stood in the kitchen and tried not to cry.

My baby has left me for middle school. He is definitely not a baby anymore.