One of These Girls is Not Like the Other
Reilly just got her 7th Grade School pictures back...wow...am I ever struck by how completely dissimilar Reilly and I are in our 7th grade experiences. Completely different...HUGELY different. I was prepared for Reilly to have a difficult transition into 7th grade...people warned me...EVERYONE warned me. I was especially expecting it because her best friend, Noelle, was moving to live with her dad in California so Reilly would be flying solo. What I was completely unprepared for was how SMOOTH of a transition she would have. What? I am still haunted by my horrific 7th grade year full of awkwardness, low self-esteem and tears. THAT I can deal with...I'm prepared...I have skills in this area. Confidence and self-esteem...that I am at a loss for.
So far 7th grade has been good to Reilly. I drilled her on what to do if none of her friends had her lunch and she didn't have anyone to sit with; I drilled her on what to do if she was afraid to talk to her teachers if she was confused about something; I drilled her on what to do if she couldn't open her locker; I drilled her on what to do if it took her awhile to find friends; or if she felt shy; or if people were rude; or if she got bad grades on her first mid-term report card...hello life of Kristin...but alas none of it was needed.
Reilly has friends; she had zero concern about the lunch room (I still have nightmares of this); she could open her locker and was assisting others; she's definitely not shy; she chit chats regularly with her teachers; and she got pretty decent grades on her midterms. I am grateful but baffled.
Not only that but she LOVES her drama class. I would've rather died than take that class. She has auditioned for two productions...she got parts in both. One of which was a SINGING part. Again I would rather flunk a class than sing a solo. Not only did she sing for her whole class but she belted out a Celine Dion song/Glee arrangement. I tried to prepare her for perhaps not getting the part and tried to suggest a less "challenging" song. Which she now loves to sarcastically say "My dad BELIEVED in me and my Mom tried to make me sing a Taylor Swift song!!"
I have been asked multiple questions by Reilly that I was unprepared for:
"What do you do to get boys to stop looking at your chest?" um...never had that problem.
"Did boys ask for your phone number on the first day of school?''...um no.
"How do you nicely tell a boy that your not allowed to date until your 16?" ...um didn't have that problem.
Let's flash back to 1985. I was just entering 7th grade. Let's just say I have A LOT of tragic and angst-filled journal entries. Add to that braces, a really bad bob (the boys called me "Cleopatra") and I was about the height I am now and played the French Horn (against my will). It wasn't a fun time.
I also had the joy of a friend of mine telling me that her mom said I was in my "ugly stage". Another neighbor kindly pointed me out at one of the few mutual activities I went to as an example of "awkwardness" but said that I would one day grow out if it. Seriously. Good old Mrs. McGown was talking about growing up and how it can be awkward and seeing her search the group of girls and saying "Now where is my example" and me slinking down in my seat praying fervently that she was not talking about me...which she was. AND...my own mother signing me up for "poise" classes...complete with walking around with a book on our heads and a little fashion show at the end to apparently show that we could finally walk gracefully. Good grief I'm feeling the need for some therapy right now. I guess deep down that awkward 7th grader still lurks.
The proof:
Now that teddy bear sweater (worn against my will) was just child abuse!! My parents were against make-up beyond light mascara. Would some lipstick have killed THEM? Maybe some tweezers/waxing for those eyebrows?
What was the point of this post? Heck if I know. I guess I am just happy the apple has fallen FAR from the tree.
Now against my better judgement and the angst I am feeling right now I am going to hit "publish".
I dare you readers to post your 7th grade pictures. But only if you were awkward and lame. Anyone, Anyone? Where are my peeps?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
OH 7TH GRADE...YOU WERE NO FRIEND OF MINE!!
Posted by Kristin at 12:52 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
In 7th grade I had a broken arm with a giant plaster cast that I had to wear for three months. Awkward is an understatement. I'm glad Reilly is having such a great experience at Jr. High.
I would post my seventh grade pic but I don't have one. It might be in a Spokane basement or recently removed from storage... Reilly is something special alright. I can't tell you how fun it is watching my neices and nephews grow up. Thanks for the good post!
I throw up a little in my mouth when I think about 7th grade. I am going to look for a photo because I am a bit curious. I can't remember it at all. Maybe I burned them.
I will have to find my 7th grade picture to prove to you that yours isn't half bad. On that note, I could even use a 6th or 8th grade picture...it was a FEW bad years. :)
Reilly is absolutely gorgeous. I am so jealous of her. My 7th grade year was hell and very awkward...along with 8th, 9th, 10th...need i go on. She is so amazing and can adapt to anything. I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. She is truly a gifted gifted girl...with some help from her mommy and daddy. LOL just kiddin. U guys r doin a wonderful job raising my nieces and nephew. I would post my pic from 7th but moms got it somewhere? luv u lots x0x0x0x0x0x0
Thanks Jordi!! I love you!
Ok, first let me say that your post of Bryn talking is making me want another baby right now. She is gorgeous! Truly gorgeous.
AS for my jr high experience, well, naturally I've blocked most of it out. That was my advice to Liv this year when she started middle school - just put your head down and get through it, then you can block it out like the rest of us. Oddly enough, she too seems to be loving it. I don't get it either. I suppose it's good. Unless the gruesome stage is somehow looming later for them.
You look spectacular, though! My seventh grade pic has me freshly shorn with a super short feathered back hairdo and a sweater tied oh-so-preppily over my shoulders, with my white button-down shirt collar peeking out. Clearly, so hideous that I don't even need to dredge it up to recall with perfect clarity. It's burned in my brain.
I remember heading out the door for jr high one morning and my dad looking at me and just laughing. When I asked what was so funny he just said, "Nothing, you just look like a kid going off to jr high..." Yeah, still remember that too. Oh, I've got to stop thinking about it - repress! repress!
What?? How can you say such things? As far as I remember, those were some of the best years of our lives. What about the days filled with long walks round the dell, talks of boys, and laughing our way through our "awkward stage." I happen to know of more than a couple of boys who had mad crushes on you during that stage of life. . . let's not forget about that!
I had to laugh at your reminiscing. It really is a horrible time of life in so many ways. Thanks for the memories! I do have to say that I think that old Mrs. Mc felt a big of a kinship with you, and just like she said, you have blossomed into quite the beautiful woman--and an amazing Mom!
I'm right with you! 7th grade was no fun!
I had THE EXACT same deal with my daughter. She is confident and outgoing and just able to deal. I don't know where she got it, but not from me. I was SOOOO not able to deal. But! You were always gorgeous! And your daughter is, too!
This is reilly talking from Ally's blog. thtanks mom for doing thta post about me. I love you. Now I can look at Ally's blog like we talked about today. I LUV U!!!!!!!!! Reilly
Kristin,
I swear, I remember that teddy bear sweater! You were cute, so deal with it! ; )
Post a Comment