Jaris is 12!

 12 years old. 12. Last year before I have a teenager and I cannot even begin to fathom that. The days are long, but the years are short. We are feeling that this year! 

He is almost done with his first year of middle school and I still haven’t adjusted to being called “bruh” all the time. We are navigating all the fun and challenging things that come along with middle school. Dances, friends, girls, schoolwork, attitudes, and all that. He had a good lesson on how to deal with "breaking up" and still being friends after that but so far this school year has been smooth sailing and that is because he is such a great kid. He might be last of his friends to not have a phone and we are perfectly fine with that. He has an Apple Watch and an iPad so he can text all his friends and have all the apps without having the difficulties that come along with phones. Doing our best to hold off until 8th grade to give that brain a little more time to develop an a little more time for him to be a kid!

He is such a kindhearted kid (always has been), he has a lot of friends in different groups. He is both a mama’s boy and his dads best bud and I’ll hold on to that as long as I can. Although he has his moments he could be nicer to his sister but that’s normal sibling stuff! 

This last year was crazy with sports. He had his first year of tackle football and he tried a new sport, lacrosse. He was GREAT at lacrosse and learned a lot in tackle...eek.  He continued baseball and basketball. We are anxious for him to play for his school next year and start that journey. 

Jaris, we couldn't be more proud of the young man you are growing into and your kind heart. You made us parents 12 years ago and we are so blessed. You love your family and we love you. We are looking forward to another year of growth for not only you but us as parents as we navigate another year of middle school and head towards your teenage years. We love you like crazy kid. Never change!