Maggie celebrated her 14th birthday with a few friends at the “Let's Sing Taylor” concert at Symphony on the Prairie. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to Indianapolis this November but we weren't lucky enough to get tickets so this was the next best thing. It was a beautiful evening to be outside in Indiana.
The friends who came along painted a picture of her year. A longstanding friendship surprisingly dissolved at the beginning of 7th grade leaving Maggie confused and hurt. She spent a lot of time reflecting and journaling about that loss, owning her part and deciding what she wants in a friendship going forward.
I was nervous that her last year at CFI2 would be lonely, but she invested in other connections at school and church which flourished. That posture of openness and curiosity set her up to start at a new school this month. When I subbed last week, she brought three new friends to meet me.
The school district we attend moved away from K-8 schools towards traditional 6th-8th grade middle schools this year. We knew the change was coming and decided to send Maggie and Penelope to the global majority middle school within walking distance of our house.
On back to school night, we learned that Maggie was the only eighth grader at Longfellow ready for Geometry so we scrambled to find a class she could attend. Many of Maggie’s classmates choose the high ability middle school about 5 minutes north of Longfellow which offered Geometry. We made a plan to pick Maggie up before last period every day and drive her up to Harshman for math class. It’s goofy, but there are positives. We get to spend time with Maggie, walking her to school in the morning and driving her to Harshman each afternoon. Maggie gets to meet new people at Longfellow and still see some familiar faces during last period.
Maggie chose to be baptized this summer. Like her sister, she wanted to do it in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Edisto Island. It's exciting to see her faith growing.
Maggie has said multiple times that she isn’t sporty, but she often went to the gym this summer with D’arcy. She also expressed interest in running a 5k so I offered to run with her in preparation. Every Saturday we head out to do the next step in our couch to 5k program. We share earbuds but when I suggest we sprint, she moves fast enough and far enough away from me to lose connection.
Maggie likes to read, but there are some books that have felt overwhelming to get through. I suggested she try an audio book which she did with success. She is still playing flute and piano, and has an instagram account devoted to her art projects (tmw_art2010). She is excited to take some art classes next year at Shortridge, something none of her siblings have done.
She still shares a room with her sister, a situation that won't change for a few more years. She is often frustrated with Penelope’s mess, clothes on the floor, dresser drawers open, art supplies all over the desk. Sometimes I hear them talking late at night. I end up knocking on the wall we share because I’m cranky, tired, and ready to sleep. Maggie told me that she and Penelope could be best friends if I would just let them talk.
Cheers to fourteen!
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