The middle school of it all

A poem on the weird middle

they say middle school
is the awkward in between
for kids

but it’s the same
for parents too

instead of braces
acne and growing too fast

it’s our awkward phase
between the deep involvement
of elementary and
the open-handedness
of high school

every day of middle school
is an invitation to two step
between supervision
and expansion

to direct or cheer

to advise or nod

as of today
my girl has one year left
and then my son joins
the middle school
two step

these holy days
of hugs and eye rolls
jokes and slammed doors
friends and big feels
won’t last forever

so here’s to
loving them and us
as we push off the wall
and dance it out
even when we
stumble through it all

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Books

• There She Is: Love Notes on Finding Home

• Still Here: A Poetry Memoir on Grief & Love

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Know someone who is dancing the middle school two step? Consider sharing this with them. We could all use some extra love!

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