This Wednesday our oldest son is graduating from 8th grade. Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was pushing him about in a stroller and pacing the floor at night trying to settle him down to sleep. Now he's 14 and will be off to high school in the fall.
He's such an amazing kid too. He has faced some difficulties in his 14 years and has rarely even complained. Instead he has been strengthened by all he has faced and grown into a wonderfully caring and driven young man.
First came the multitude of food allergies. We found out JC was allergic to many foods by the time he was around 1 & 1/2 years old. He's allergic to milk, eggs, all nuts, and fish. As a result, he has sat by and watched on many occasions while friends enjoy pizza, ice cream, cakes, and candy bars. I hate to even think about all those special treats for the class and party foods he sat and watched others eat. He's been such a good sport about bringing his own safe cookies or a sandwich to oh so many gathering over the years. He has also done a wonderful job of carrying around his epipen when other kids did not have to carrying anything around.
JC also has struggled with asthma issues since he was very small. I am very glad to report he seems to really have outgrown the worst of that though. Being hospitalized 3 or 4 times as a child and still no real complaining.
Learning was also an area of struggle for JC. He is both dyslexic and he has ADD. We were very lucky, these learning differences were discovered early on at age 5. Over the years, he has had a lot of people help him as he struggled to learn to read, write, and learn. He also faced a few not so helpful educators along the way as well. He was particularly fortunate to have had his 1st grade teacher take him on for tutoring and stick with him for 8 years. While he may have been frustrated upon occasion, she too marvels at his positive attitude and overall determination.
I should also mention that I think it is amazing that his fellow students / friends never made him feel less intelligent or oddly different in any way. I credit some of that to JC never using any of his challenges as an excuse for anything. It was to JC's advantage that he instead gained incredible strength from all he faced.
Watching JC play sports over the years will always be how I remember these years the most. Being out on the court or field is not only where he loves to be most but where anyone who knows him can truly see why he has become such a gift to us. Playing nearly any sport you can watch JC and know he will do anything to succeed. He dives for the ball like his life depends on it, whether he in a championship game or playing on our court in the back yard. He runs and hustles like it is the last chance he will ever have to play. He fears nothing and I can't fathom anyone wanting to win more.
My heart was nearly broken when JC fractured his back this fall and was sidelined from most of the sports he loves for 8 long weeks. This too did not stop him from making the most of the year. He attended every practice and every game cheering on his friends from the bench until he finally was healed enough to play again.
Next year will bring him new challenges and new opportunities. While I am a tad sentimental he has gotten so big so fast, I am incredibly excited to embark on this new journey with him.
High School here we come! Thank you, JC, for being the very best son a mom could ask for and for taking us all with you on your next chapter. Thanks for setting the perfect example for your 4 younger siblings and for being so unbelievably strong and unphased by the few blips life has thrown your way thus far. We love you.
This May, Dora will take on naptime in the all-new 
Ending 5/16:
Ending 5/22:
With this in mind, I am announcing, 
or at several other stores including Target.com, Walmart.com, Best Buy, and directly from TheFlip.com. 