Do you remember when I was part of the team of bloggers who participated in the inaugural Blogust in 2012? Being a Shot@Life Champion has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s afforded me countless opportunities to share the Shot@Life story with others through my writing, advocacy, and speaking engagements.
A little recap on what Blogust is about:
During Shot@Life’s Blogust 2014—a month-long blog relay—some of North America’s most beloved online writers, photo and video bloggers, and Shot@Life Champions will come together and share stories about Happy and Healthy Firsts. Every time you comment on this post and other Blogust contributions, or share them via social media on this website, Shot@Life and the United Nations Foundation pages, Walgreens will donate one vaccine (up to 60,000). Blogust is one part an overall commitment of Walgreens donating up to $1 million through its “Get a Shot. Give a Shot.” campaign. The campaign will help provide millions of vaccines for children in need around the world.
Sign up here for a daily email so you can quickly and easily comment and share every day during Blogust! For more information, visit shotatlife.org or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Go do it. There’s no easier way to make a difference in our world!
Allow me to gather myself to properly tell you about a “first” for my family. <<Insert throat clearing and teary eye rubbing here.>> My firstborn son, Bird, is about to start middle school. Otherwise known as The Hell Years. My baby Bird confided in me yesterday that he is nervous. I said, “I am too, baby. I am too.” Perhaps I should have straightened my posture and bucked up to be strong and motherly, but I didn’t have any fierceness in me at the time. Middle school marks the crossover bridge from boyhood to manhood. He needs me less and less these days. Mac Daddy and I feel like empty nesters much of the time since both boys are often running amok playing safely and responsibly with the posse of neighborhood boys. They too waffle between Nerf gun fights and zombie tag to holing up in the playroom to talk about girls. Girls! Egads! This momma isn’t quite ready for the series of firsts that are coming at me like the missiles in Galaga.
These are happy times really, yet they are peppered with a tish of sadness. Parenting so often has a bittersweet residue. Middle school goes quickly, I hear. The work will be challenging for Bird. He is eager now, but I am bracing myself for the crossed-eyed math and homework battles. Hormones are just in the practice round this summer, and I know what’s to come. I was a sixth grader once. I remember. This is why I cringe. I met two of my dearest friends in sixth grade. We keep in touch almost 36 years later. Bird is about to embark on this lifelong journey of friendship, learning, and memory making. I am ever so proud of him. I marvel at his confidence, independence, and ability to feel life in all its sharp edges and soft landing spots. He is my ambitious son. He does not settle. It was a rare moment for him to admit he is apprehensive about middle school. He sees the distance looming ahead of him and withers. I see how far he has come and weep.
Bird is wicked smart, insightful, and most importantly, healthy. I will not mourn the little boy he was. Instead, I will keep my arms open for the man he will become. And even when he’s taller than me (He only has 2 inches to go!), I will still envelop him in squishy squeezes while I nestle him into my lap. I’m going to embrace this first with a toast, our very own Shot@Life cocktail!
And in the most apropos turn of events, I should tell you that Bird got his middle school vaccinations today.
We hit the same milestone last year and bittersweet is the exact right word. The pre-teen angst and drama are constant and wearing, but I’m overjoyed at how my girl has blossomed in this past year, in big ways.
This first sounds like just another example of Bird’s amazing self awareness. Your kids both seem amazing, which is a testament, in part, to their parenting. Good job, mom.
Thanks, Ilina! These milestones should never be taken for granted, and many mothers don’t get to experience them. Good luck in middle school, Bird! And thanks for protecting yourself and your community by getting those vaccines yesterday.
We’re all about middle school in our house too, and I feel your post down to my toes. They’re growing up and that’s gorgeous and it feels fraught as a parent as well. You captured this beautifully. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your family’s milestone!
I am so not prepared for that milestone….
Ah middle school! I remember it well! It was wonderful & terrible all at the same time. Thank you for sharing your story as you begin your new chapter. And thank you for your efforts with Shot@Life. Let’s all help spread the word that vaccines protect us & our communities!
Yes, it does go fast!! He sounds like a treasure. 🙂
Oh man, my oldest daughter just started 2nd grade. The idea of middle school scares me to death. Hang in there, mama.
Also, good work on this Shot@Life thing, that’s fantastic.
Good luck to you both!
Such a big fan of this initiative and all that it does.
Thanks for being part of it!
This year is going to be hard for me. My oldest will graduate middle school and my youngest 2 will graduate from grade school. I need to stock up on tissues!
Middle school! We are prepping for day 1 of Kindergarten and I’m terrified! Here’s to firsts indeed.
xox
Heading to middle school here too, and my oldest is far better prepared than I am. All vax complete, of course!
Being a part of Blogust has changed so much about my life, my kids’ life, and my work. Thanks for kicking it off this year! (And blogust is also how I met you, so I love it X100 for that!)
Big milestone! Thanks for being kicking off Blogust!
OMG please disregard that “being”. I don’t know where that came from. Sigh.
Beautifully said! My baby also starts Middle School this year (and we too are both a tad nervous) and my oldest starts Sr Year. Hold me! We are so lucky to be enjoying these Happy & Healthy (& Bittersweet) moments with our kids! xo
Congrats on the start of middle school – oh, the wonder years! And being a part of Blogust.
Middle school is such a big step! You can do it…and so can Bird 🙂
It was the best times of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…Charles D. must have lived through middle school and possibly parented a middle schooler or two! Thanks for sharing and kicking off #Blogust!
Happy to support such a great cause. As Bird’s dad this time truly is bitter sweet.
YES! I know this! I’ve lived it. You’ve done it beautiful justice!
I’m one year away from your milestone–I’ll need all your notes and advice!
Love that you used this milestone for sugh a wonderful cause. Like you, my oldest is heading to middle school this year. I must admit that I am not ready for this reality. I think we need a bloggers group for support.
I remember when I first started middle school and it doesn’t seem like that long ago. I also feel like I just had my daughter and now she is going to be 4 and in preschool. It’s like next week she’ll be in fifth grade already! It goes by so fast.
Starting Middle School is rough!! My best advice: “detox” with bird every day. Ask him what he learned, who he hung out with, what he did during lunch period. He might roll his eyes but he will know you care!!
Hooray for Shot@Life! 🙂
I love this post. And this time. My own son is heading into his junior year in high school — which has scary milestones of its own — but middle school is a special kind of challenge. Keep hugging him and keep listening. You’ll both be fine!
Thanks Walgreen’s for giving kids a Shot@Life. And thank you Ilena for continuing to champion the cause
The days are long but the years are short. Littlest starts kindergarten this year – I feel the spectre of anxiety, of bittersweet lurking in the depths of my heart.
Reading this while on a trip with my 26 year old son, I can still remember when he started middle school. It all goes so,fast! enjoy every first. And every second Proud to be part of Blogust and Shot@life.
Reading this while on a trip with my son who is 26. Seems like yesterday he was starting middle school. It goes so fast! Enjoy every first. And every second. Proud to be part of shot@life.
Good luck to Bird in this transition. More firsts to come!
I hear you. Sure, I get weepy when I look at pictures of my kids as babies and toddlers. But I’m having so much fun seeing the people they’re becoming!
This is my daughter’s last year in elementary school and I’ll be in your place next year, sipping on a Shot@Life cocktail while taking a deep breath about new milestones to come!
So happy to hear that our comments will be supporting such a great organization!
I am learning through you of what’s to come, Ilena! Thank you for writing this for Shot@Life!
I love your optimism! I’m comforted by the fact that we will be experiencing this transition together, even if our kids are on the opposite sides of the gender divide. I think my middle school drink will need to involve tequila 🙂
Thanks for writing for Shot@Life and this year’s Blogust again! It’s so great to see the blogging community’s support of great causes!
What a great cause!!!
Good luck Bird.
Take some notes on what worked and what didn’t, I’ll need them. 🙂
Keep up the good work! Jr. high ain’t so bad.
You already know how much Shot@Life means to so many, and I’m absolutely one of those people!
I’m glad to see you participating again this year. Hopefully next year I can get on track earlier and participate, too. I LOVE this campaign so much.
A wonderful idea and a wonderful way to help children. I am so glad that this project was able to help your son. The time goes by fast but there are many more amazing memories to come!
I commend you for having the strength to let him go and find his own way, but still be there for the times when he needs you most. Love him like no other can! Blessings to you.
Thank you for sharing this milestone in your family.
TFS! Keep up the positive attitude about middle school boys!
Our son, now so charming and almost 30, was so much easier than our daughter in those grades!
Warmly, Diane in TN
Thank you! Happy to support Blogust.
My sisters just finished middle school and are moving on to high school! Happy and healthy firsts all around. Thanks for sharing this for blogust!
Love it, Thank you for helping and sharing your story!