Comments on: My daughter is embarking on the worst year of my life http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/ Denver parenting, with altitude Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:08:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Laura http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7233 Laura Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:40:37 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7233 Since I have an insider's scoop, being the person who reads all those seventh grade journal entries, I can tell you that nearly every kid in seventh grade feels exactly that way. The drama is usually caused by a few "powerful" people who have learned to bully others to get attention. When those powerful people are dethroned, seventh grade breathes a collective sigh of relief. For better or worse, seventh grade itself is empathy training. Those of us who suffered during those years learned lessons that have made us kinder adults. Those of us who didn't have fewer Facebook friends! Since I have an insider’s scoop, being the person who reads all those seventh grade journal entries, I can tell you that nearly every kid in seventh grade feels exactly that way. The drama is usually caused by a few “powerful” people who have learned to bully others to get attention. When those powerful people are dethroned, seventh grade breathes a collective sigh of relief. For better or worse, seventh grade itself is empathy training. Those of us who suffered during those years learned lessons that have made us kinder adults. Those of us who didn’t have fewer Facebook friends!

]]> By: edj http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7232 edj Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:52:17 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7232 7th grade was my worst year too. We had moved from a tiny town on the Canadian prairies, where I went to a small private school, to a California city where I went to a big public junior high. No one said "culture shock" but that's what it was. My twins are in 7th this year, but the French system starts middle school in 6th. I don't expect it to be a horrible year, and I hope I'm right! 7th grade was my worst year too. We had moved from a tiny town on the Canadian prairies, where I went to a small private school, to a California city where I went to a big public junior high. No one said “culture shock” but that’s what it was.
My twins are in 7th this year, but the French system starts middle school in 6th. I don’t expect it to be a horrible year, and I hope I’m right!

]]> By: Holly http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7231 Holly Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:31:23 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7231 You didn't beat them to a pulp? Or trip them in the cafeteria. YOU are nice! You didn’t beat them to a pulp? Or trip them in the cafeteria. YOU are nice!

]]> By: Vanessa http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7230 Vanessa Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:52:26 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7230 Oh the dreaded jr. high... I too had a bad experience (surprise, surprise!). Two out of the group of girls I ran with didn't like me and signed all the others names to a nasty letter about not wanting to be around me. And told them all I was talking badly about them. The following months were terribly lonely, but luckily the two girls who lived across the street were kind and remained my friends. But it definately started the rebellious, defensive, and distrustful pattern that continued for many years. Luckily you are aware of the way such matters of the heart feel and can be there for her with wise words if she (G-d forbid) should need them. Oh the dreaded jr. high… I too had a bad experience (surprise, surprise!). Two out of the group of girls I ran with didn’t like me and signed all the others names to a nasty letter about not wanting to be around me. And told them all I was talking badly about them. The following months were terribly lonely, but luckily the two girls who lived across the street were kind and remained my friends. But it definately started the rebellious, defensive, and distrustful pattern that continued for many years.
Luckily you are aware of the way such matters of the heart feel and can be there for her with wise words if she (G-d forbid) should need them.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7229 Stephanie Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:59:43 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7229 I was fortunate to have amazing junior high years. Small school. No drama with the girls. Amazing teacher. Some of the best years of my schooling life. Didn't realize until later how unique my experience was. As someone who once taught jr. high (and as the wife of someone who still teachers jr. high), these next two years can be really exciting for Aidan. They'll be tricky too, but she's already got a great start by having a loving, faith-centered, stable family that supports, encourages and prays for her. That will make a huge difference. I was fortunate to have amazing junior high years. Small school. No drama with the girls. Amazing teacher. Some of the best years of my schooling life. Didn’t realize until later how unique my experience was.

As someone who once taught jr. high (and as the wife of someone who still teachers jr. high), these next two years can be really exciting for Aidan. They’ll be tricky too, but she’s already got a great start by having a loving, faith-centered, stable family that supports, encourages and prays for her. That will make a huge difference.

]]> By: Beckie http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7228 Beckie Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:16:38 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7228 Ohh! This almost made me cry. Junior High wasn't the best for me either, I bet if you took a poll, most would agree, not the best years. Junior High can be torture! A big ses-pool of hormones. Hang in there. I hope the best for you , remember if may be a different experience for you daughter, maybe a good one.....good luck :) Ohh! This almost made me cry. Junior High wasn’t the best for me either, I bet if you took a poll, most would agree, not the best years. Junior High can be torture! A big ses-pool of hormones. Hang in there. I hope the best for you , remember if may be a different experience for you daughter, maybe a good one…..good luck :)

]]> By: Ann http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7227 Ann Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:39:46 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7227 I remember my first day of 7th grade P.E. class. We had to change into P.E. clothes. I was a little nervous about that but it went fine. It was when we were all sitting on the gym floor in our white t-shirts and black shorts that it went bad for me. All of the girls were whispering and snickering at ME. I had no clue why. Then one of girls finally said, "Why don't you shave your legs?!" I was mortified. I had no idea that girls were supposed to shave their legs, and the thought of it was appalling. I guess I wasn't ready to grow up yet. I went home and told my mom, and she bought me an electric razor. That was even worse, because then every time I used it, I knew my dad and my brother knew I was shaving my legs. Ugh, growing up is hard stuff. If you haven't shown your daughter how to shave, better get a crash course in before that first P.E. class :) I remember my first day of 7th grade P.E. class. We had to change into P.E. clothes. I was a little nervous about that but it went fine. It was when we were all sitting on the gym floor in our white t-shirts and black shorts that it went bad for me. All of the girls were whispering and snickering at ME. I had no clue why. Then one of girls finally said, “Why don’t you shave your legs?!” I was mortified. I had no idea that girls were supposed to shave their legs, and the thought of it was appalling. I guess I wasn’t ready to grow up yet. I went home and told my mom, and she bought me an electric razor. That was even worse, because then every time I used it, I knew my dad and my brother knew I was shaving my legs. Ugh, growing up is hard stuff. If you haven’t shown your daughter how to shave, better get a crash course in before that first P.E. class :)

]]> By: JoAnn http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7226 JoAnn Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:11:54 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7226 Oh, Gretchen! I'm so sorry you had to deal with such a terrible 7th Grade Year. I am so glad that I got in with a group of really cool friends (we're still in contact now!), and I actually enjoyed my junior high and high school years. (I know, I know...what can I say? I did! Sorry...) I really hope my daughter gets in with a group of friends like that... Thankfully, we have MILES to go before crossing that bridge. GOOD LUCK to you AND your daughter in this big step! Oh, Gretchen! I’m so sorry you had to deal with such a terrible 7th Grade Year.

I am so glad that I got in with a group of really cool friends (we’re still in contact now!), and I actually enjoyed my junior high and high school years. (I know, I know…what can I say? I did! Sorry…) I really hope my daughter gets in with a group of friends like that…

Thankfully, we have MILES to go before crossing that bridge.

GOOD LUCK to you AND your daughter in this big step!

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7225 Stephanie Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:32:21 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7225 That sounds so much like my 8th grade year, except I didn't have friends because I moved to a new school. I dread when my kids get that age as well, but at least you will be able to identify if your daughter goes through the same thing. In a way, I think I am a stronger person now because of my trials and tribulations of being that age. That sounds so much like my 8th grade year, except I didn’t have friends because I moved to a new school. I dread when my kids get that age as well, but at least you will be able to identify if your daughter goes through the same thing. In a way, I think I am a stronger person now because of my trials and tribulations of being that age.

]]> By: Joanne Palmer http://www.milehighmamas.com/2009/08/20/my-daughter-is-embarking-on-the-worst-year-of-my-life/#comment-7224 Joanne Palmer Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:16:26 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=5235#comment-7224 My son will start 7th grade on Monday in Steamboat Springs. I dread it. I hated 7th grade and was sent home for wearing culottes. Culottes! Everything about our world has changed-especially technology-but middle school is just as awful now as it was then! Joanne Palmer author of Life in the 'Boat How I fell on Warren Miller's skis, cheated on my hairdresser, and fought off the Fat Fairy....true tales from Ski Town USA My son will start 7th grade on Monday in Steamboat Springs. I dread it. I hated 7th grade and was sent home for wearing culottes. Culottes! Everything about our world has changed-especially technology-but middle school is just as awful now as it was then!
Joanne Palmer
author of Life in the ‘Boat
How I fell on Warren Miller’s skis, cheated on my hairdresser,
and fought off the Fat Fairy….true tales from Ski Town USA

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