Finding Our Groove

The kids have been back in school for five weeks now. Five glorious weeks. It is hard to describe how thrilled I am to see the kids getting back into a routine: going to school, socializing with friends, and playing sports. Life is "almost" starting to feel normal again.

Taylor

Taylor is adjusting to her new middle school. I know she is happy to be back in person at school, but that has not been without angst. She is seeing new faces and learning so many new things (both good and bad). Since she basically sat at home throughout 6th grade, she is hearing/seeing a lot of teen things that she was protected from last year (sex, drugs, cursing). She has said to me multiple times that she misses the innocence of elementary school. Sweet girl. She wants to fit in with the popular crowd (I've asked her several times why certain people are considered popular and my main takeaway is that they are confident in who they are). I think she is feeling threatened because she is not in a school now where everybody knows her. She'll find her way. I pray she makes good choices.

We have battled several times about her outfit choices. Unfortunately, crop tops are in style now. While I have not purchased any crop tops for her, other people have or she has made her own. Haha! One morning, I noticed that Taylor had tucked her shirt up under her sports bra, so her back was showing. I went up to her and pulled the shirt down. Obviously, that did not go well. I have also had to ask her to untie the knots in her shirt that are perfectly placed above her belly button. She does not understand why I am being so conservative. I tried to pull up the school dress code to prove my point, but sadly, the dress code does not address crop tops. It merely says that clothing should not be distracting or offensive. During one of our fights, Taylor said that my critiquing of her dress was "damaging" her self esteem! Oh man, I give her an A+ for the solid comeback, but I still made sure her belly was covered when she walked out the door. 

Taylor is playing soccer this fall and is doing great! Just yesterday, she had two goals! Her team won 4-1, I believe. It is great to see her enjoying the pitch, and I have been really happy watching Tommy help as the assistant coach. Taylor also started intramural volleyball at school. She's only had three practices so far. There are a few games scheduled this month with other Issaquah middle schools, so it will be fun to watch her try something new. I am super proud of her for giving it a try.

Matthew

Matty is doing well now that he is in a new 5th grade class. He still struggles with recess since he cannot play with friends outside of his class. He lives for Wednesdays and Thursdays when his class is assigned to the field at recess. He loves playing kickball out there. 

Matty is playing soccer this fall and is a rock star. He is playing with a group of friends from school, but he is clearly one of the best on the team. At the first game of the season, he played goalie the first half of the game and then scored three goals in the second half. His team won 6-0. He's such a good little athlete. He tried out for the Liberty Select Basketball team this past week and made the "A" team. I had warned Matty that he may not make the "A" team given that several 5th graders trying out have been playing club basketball for the past 18 months (while he has not played at all during Covid). But, he made it. :) Tommy has planned some "fall ball" for the Liberty Select Baseball team as well, so Matty is staying busy.

Brayden

My little B is doing well too. I worry about him so much, though. He is a happy child, but I fear that Covid has created some devastating effects on his social development. Brayden is happiest when he is at home, with me, playing video games. It is a real addiction; one that I am trying to break. I am working to get him outside more, encouraging him to roam the neighborhood and play with friends. I've also told him that I want him to have three friends over for a sleepover this fall - he needs to identify three friends to invite. I am still waiting on his list. Because Covid hit when he was halfway through 1st grade, I feel that was a critical time to develop friendships that was striped away from him. So, my goal for this fall is to encourage some new friendships. Brayden always gets upset with Taylor or Matty are invited to do fun things with friends. He wants to be invited to do fun things too, but I keep telling him that he needs to have friends in order for that to happen!

Brayden's brain continues to amaze me and Tommy. He is wired differently. His constant questions are exhausting, but his thirst for information is unapparelled. Just this morning, he and Tommy had a long conversation about wifi versus cellular data/signals/etc. He asks such amazing questions, and Tommy and I generally feel like morons because we cannot answer most of them.

Brayden is also playing soccer this fall. He had one goal last week. He is not super aggressive on the field, but he bounces around and has a good time. Rec basketball sign ups are starting now, and I am hoping I can convince him to try basketball one more time. He has been playing basketball in the driveway with Matty a little bit, so we'll see. Generally, Brayden likes to do things on his own and does not prefer having a coach/team sports/etc. He is my constant project. I long ago gave up any hope that he and his brother would have shared interests. I am actually kind of glad about that, but I do want Brayden to find "his thing." And "his thing" cannot be video games!

It has been a great fall so far! I start a new job tomorrow too. I am beyond grateful for our family's health (physical, mental and emotional), and I am ecstatic that we are falling into routines again.