Oh, how hard we are on our adolescent selves. We hold such high expectations for brains and bodies that can't possible live up to them. Thank you for sharing your story It helps me to forgive my 11-year-old self too.
That was beautiful. I cried. I am dealing with similar issues with my pre-teen daughter who has left some friendships and it's so hard for me to tell if she's being kind. When I try to guide her, she fights me. We're not the best people we can be in middle school years. I don't hold them against any of my peers who weren't nice to me back then; we are all scared at that time. Those memories are beautiful and the story of the heart so sweet. I'm sure she would have forgiven you (I've long forgiven everyone I knew during that time, and some were pretty awful to me) and I wouldn't want to be judged on how I acted in middle school either. I'm glad you shared this wonderful piece of writing. I hope you can reach out to her parents and tell them how you miss her. It's a hard thing to do, but better than not taking the risk. Because they don't have her to hold anymore, and she stays alive in people's memories. I've known people to write about childhood friends they lost, or girls they knew in school whose life ended tragically, and I always hope to them the person is more than a story. You expressed your grief and love for her so well in this piece.
Thank you for your kind words, Caren. I hope the best for your daughter - it's such a brutal time period. And thank you for the suggestion. I also love that you say, "I always hope to them the person is more than a story."
Beautifully honest. I also made a best friend at age 11, and was lucky enough to have reconnected with her recently. I feel even luckier now.
Wow, that's wonderful, Jennifer. Thanks for reading!
This essay is beautifully honest and full of humanity. Thank you for writing this.
Thank you for reading, Nicole!
Oh, how hard we are on our adolescent selves. We hold such high expectations for brains and bodies that can't possible live up to them. Thank you for sharing your story It helps me to forgive my 11-year-old self too.
Thank you for reading and for that reminder, Emily! So glad to hear my essay helped you to forgive your 11-year-old self as well ❤️
Lovely, lovely, true and sad. Thank you x
Thank you for reading, Debs!
That was beautiful. I cried. I am dealing with similar issues with my pre-teen daughter who has left some friendships and it's so hard for me to tell if she's being kind. When I try to guide her, she fights me. We're not the best people we can be in middle school years. I don't hold them against any of my peers who weren't nice to me back then; we are all scared at that time. Those memories are beautiful and the story of the heart so sweet. I'm sure she would have forgiven you (I've long forgiven everyone I knew during that time, and some were pretty awful to me) and I wouldn't want to be judged on how I acted in middle school either. I'm glad you shared this wonderful piece of writing. I hope you can reach out to her parents and tell them how you miss her. It's a hard thing to do, but better than not taking the risk. Because they don't have her to hold anymore, and she stays alive in people's memories. I've known people to write about childhood friends they lost, or girls they knew in school whose life ended tragically, and I always hope to them the person is more than a story. You expressed your grief and love for her so well in this piece.
Thank you for your kind words, Caren. I hope the best for your daughter - it's such a brutal time period. And thank you for the suggestion. I also love that you say, "I always hope to them the person is more than a story."