Growing

This morning, I dropped Joe off early at MBA so he could eat breakfast and school and go to Catholic Club.  As he walked away from my truck, loaded down with two backpacks loaded with books and basketball gear - one in front and one in back in the style of all middle school and high school boys - I was struck by how fast he's growing up.  

Joe seems to be finding his way at MBA.  It's hard, I know.  November has always seemed to be the toughest month for JP at school.  It's likely that way for Joe, too.  The first semester is drawing to a close and they're staring down the barrel of mid-year exams, which are a big part of their first semester grades.  It's a lot of work to get ready for exams.  It's a lot of pressure, too.  I see that and I hate it for them but it's just part of it.

As we discussed last night in one of my patented "man-to-man" conversations, this is a tough road but one that Joe chose for himself.  It doesn't help to complain about it.  Better to buckle down, do the work as best he can, and look forward to most of December off from school.  

Pretty quickly, Joe has gone from our happy go lucky pre-teen to a hard working, hard studying middle school student at MBA.  Childhood for him is over for all intents and purposes.  It's a difficult but necessary transition on the way to adulthood.  That being said, I sure do miss the days for Joe of youthful, childlike innocence.  

What's really cool, though, is to be able to talk with Joe about music, movies, sports, politics, books, or life in a way I might talk to a friend or peer.  He has opinions.  Well thought out opinions and I love to hear them.  He's so smart, so verbal, and so articulate.  I love that about him.  

It's a give and take, I know.  As childhood recedes into the background of my memories, my relationship with Joe will deepen in ways that will make it stronger longer lasting.  So much in life if fleeting.  Childhood.  Time.  

Relationship endure.