What is this "Tween" thing----at once an elementary child and pre-teen.
My son is a bit different than other boys his age---he's a little socially naive, which lends itself to his impish charm, yet he's catching up with every year he spends in public school. And today he turns 11.
And when I look at him, and listen to the things he says, I start to understand the 'tween stage a bit more----a child awkwardly transitioning into the adult he's yet to become.
Recently, while reading through his writing composition book from school, I came across letters to his teacher (it was a writing assignment) and within each letter were words of such heartfelt kindness to her that it made my eyes tear up. And the kind words from his teacher in return, "You are a writer in spirit and in heart---a joy for readers... Don't let the walls fence you in as you have so much to give to the world." To read this communication between teacher and student, a student that happens to be my son, filled me with joy in its pureness.
Lately, I'm feeling a strong desire to put our unabridged dictionary on his head, to stop his growing and lock him in his room with books like Peter Pan and Charlotte's Web, but I have come to realize that his growing up is life's necessity. And, once again, I have to remind myself of the following verse from Kahlil Gilbram---a verse that is attached to our refrigerator lest I forget...
On Children
Your Children are not your children.
They are the sons & daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday...
~Kahlil Gibran
