Growing up – the awkward stage

This week, Eric has been at Camp – he is speaking to Jr Highers. About 1 week before camp started we found out that the ages for this camp were actually going into 6th grade through 8th grade. Which means it was the perfect age for J1…who is going into sixth grade even though he is 12.5 (which strangely does NOT make him the oldest in his class or the biggest).

It was decided that J1 would go – he could hang with his friend J (yes, another boy – named with a J – he fits in just perfect around here). J1 was nervous. I was nervous. But not for the same reasons. My reasons mainly included the dreaded “G” word – girls! Yikes! In the end, after a few prayers, we both gave up our fears and he and Dad left.

Those of us left at home were definitely missing Dad & J1. Dad would chat with us everyday between events. Yesterday, I could tell that he was down. Turns out that J1 had asked him if he would not do anymore monologues because “kids are looking at me“. To which his friend, J, added – “yeah, they totally look at him!” lol

While I would shrug this off as adolescent angst – Eric was pretty down about it. It really hurt his feelings since their relationship has always been very tentative and rocky. I decided right there and then that he needed to visit with the younger boys – who are still willing to be cuddled. So, 2 hours later we arrived. Dad was thrilled…the little boys were thrilled…and, other than asking if he could go home early, J1 ignored us.

Until we were leaving (we only stayed for Dinner and to watch Daddy’s last presentation) then J1 ran across a ball field to catch up with us. “Mom, tomorrow night can we have ice cream? Something to celebrate us all being home again?” Then he asked if he could ride up to the gate with us. And, up there….where no kids could look at him….he insisted on hugging and kissing me. (dirty, dirty – what moms have to put up with! ;))

Growing up is so hard.