• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Speaking/Writing
    • Media
  • Videos
  • Contact

Gindi Vincent

The Dish on Career, Fashion, Faith, and Family

first day

On The First Day of Sixth Grade

August 19, 2021 by Gindi Leave a Comment

You went to middle school today.

And even though this is the evening and you’re now home, I’m still processing it.

I have far fewer words of advice as you reach this stage. I’m confident I can do far less to help. 

You are growing and able to do so much on your own. 

More than just being able to cook and load the dishwasher and start a load of laundry. I’m thrilled you know how to do all that of course (even if you choose NOT to), but it’s the other stuff. 

Navigating difficult conversations.

Making new people feel welcome. 

Pushing past the really hard parts. 

Figuring out which decision to make without me.

I’m still here. And available to encourage, advise, support, cheer, cry, whatever. But I see, even this week, that some of it is going to require your navigation.

Last night, when one of you was really sad and faced with some pressure and a hard decision, I said, I can’t make this decision for you. You’re going to have to make the choice. And if you decide this one thing, then you’re going to need to go have a conversation with an authority figure you respect.  I’m here to let you cry and to support your decision, but this one, well it’s for you.

You’re no strangers to me liking to run things. Organizing things. Control things.

So on this first day of sixth grade, I’m working really hard too.  I’m releasing some things.  Things that I would do differently. Choices I would have made instead. One of you said this week, when we disagreed about which path to take on a middle school option, You can’t make me and I’m not going to do that.

You are right to stand up to me. And, maybe I don’t say it enough, you should trust yourself.

Of course you can’t make all the decisions.  You’re growing and learning and you’ll probably do a million stupid things in the next three years. Lord knows I did. It’s hormones. Don’t worry. It can’t be helped, really.

But you, each of you, have good instincts. You know yourself.  Trust your instincts. Make the choice that doesn’t feel easy if you know it’s the right one.

If though, I could offer you a piece of advice, make it out of strength not out of fear of failure.

Confidence can be hard to come by, especially in middle school.  Everything is changing and insecurity is often the default.

If I push you, it is not because I’m trying to be a tyrant.  (Well, most of the time.) I ask you WHY you are making that choice because I want you to learn to ask yourself that question.

Are you worried you’re not good enough? That maybe you’ll embarrass yourself? Are you worried someone won’t like you or you won’t fit in?

Then reevaluate your decision.  These are not the reasons to say yes or no to a path.

On the other hand, does it fit you? Does it bring you joy? Are you passionate about it? 

If you’re making choices because of these reasons, then you do it, go boldly, and fight me if I’m pushing you away from this. (You might have to remind me I said that.)

And before you make any decision, did you talk to God? Did you take the time to pray about it? Is this choice consistent with what you know God calls us to do?

Each of you is the most precious gift. I watched you walk into this school that I’m so utterly grateful that we have and I just felt proud.

I’m proud of all you have endured. The setbacks. The losses. I know there’s been cancer and COVID and hurricanes and floods in your lower school years. But you are resilient. 

God was just showing off when He sent us you three.  Really, it was audacious.  I am still overwhelmed.

I love you.

You’re incredible.

Go blow middle school out of the water.

Love always and forever, Mom

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: first day

The First Day of Fifth Grade -2020-Style

August 19, 2020 by Gindi Leave a Comment

Every year, I write you on your first day of school.

I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions today. 

The times we live in. 

The way you’re going back to school. 

The fact that you GET to go back to school. 

Little did we know when we flew off for our Grand Canyon Spring Break trip, you would not return to school for five months. 

Five months. 

You. Are. Amazing.  Each of you are such extraordinary humans. 

This has been a hard five months.  Distance learning.  Life shut down.  Sports canceled. Friend play dates ever so rare.  So many days of the same.  A mommy who lost her patience a long time ago. 

And still.  You rose to the occasion.  You’ve had hard stuff to face in your young lives.  You came into our world as tiny fighters.  You’ve grown a lot, but you still fight and your resilience puts mine to shame.  Bagging up your belongings at the age of 7 because we thought our house would flood during Harvey.  Watching, and helping, your city rebuild.  Then, just a couple of years later, seeing the news report deaths and crisis and unrest and dissension.  Living through a pandemic.

But you, you each found joy.  You each laughed and ran and played and fought and lived life so fully.  I continue to be overwhelmed with the honor of having a front row seat. 

I have less advice this year.  You probably could give me some. 

To you, my oldest: You are brave and competitive and persistent and passionate.  You marshal all of those incredible God-given talents this year.  I know there were some disappointments thrown at you, and you’re carrying some of those right now, but throw them off.  That’s right.  The year is on now.  And you are going to shine because you have proved over and over that you work so hard to cross the finish line.  Just like I told you last night when we were visiting at bedtime before prayers, you were the first one to climb out of the crib, the first to learn how to turn the door knob and escape, the one most committed to succeed at swim team even though none of you could get to the other end because the pool was oh so long and cold.  You push through kiddo and that will equip you to thrive this year.  I know we butt heads darling boy, but it’s only because we both speak our minds. Do it your way. Forge your own path.

To you, my darling girl: I am utterly smitten with the young woman you are growing into.  You are methodical and curious and patient and introspective and massively creative.  Your creativity is going to serve you well this year.  When you crash into a hard wall, you just create your way around it.  Find a different path.  Learn a different way.  What a gift God gave you with a teacher who knows you already and who is crazy about you and sees your talents and gifts.  This year, it will be transformative.  And you will bring such joy and laughter and conscience to that classroom.  You, the one who took the only counterpoint in a controversial debate assignment last year, will be the one to speak your mind.  Driven by justice, you will just grow more and more socially conscious and you will bring people to Jesus because they will see Him shining in you.  Just. Be. You.

And to you, my baby:  Ha, you are so far from a baby now, it must drive you nuts to own that moniker.  Your deep insight and intellect and ability to see beyond what people say to what they feel and what drives them is going to give you such a talent for thriving in 5th grade and all the grades to come.  I know it makes life hard sometimes, to feel so deeply what others feel; to pick up on hurt and loss and bear some of it on your own soul.  But you are so very strong.  Not just physically strong, but emotionally strong to your depths.  You crave knowledge.  That will grow into wisdom and you will bring insight to the classroom. You will share others worries too. Don’t hold on to them.  Let the worry fall away and hand it over to Jesus.  You thrive because you were born to learn and grow and share and lead.  I couldn’t be more astonished at who you have become. 

During my prayer time this morning, I was listening to Elevation Worship music.  Praying The Blessing over each of you.  And then Resurrecting came on.  This line is in one verse: The fear that held us now gives way, To Him who is our peace.

I know this masked up, classroom isolated, year can look a little scary.  But we serve a God who is in the resurrection business. He will be your peace.  You follow the rules to keep you safe, then make your own way.  Grow, thrive, learn, and I’m right here, praying for you and rooting for you and wildly proud of you!

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: fifth grade, first day

Primary Sidebar

        

Welcome

Come on in. I have a reservation just for you. I know life is busy. I would love for us to step out for a relaxing lunch but schedules don't always allow. So let's pop open that salad or sandwich sitting in front of our computers, and we'll have lunch right here. A few minutes is all we need to connect to community.

Read More

Subscribe by Email

Latest Tweets

Tweets by @JustGindi

What’s on the Menu

  • Bible Studies
  • Dreams
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Fashion Fridays
  • Flashback Fridays
  • Leadership
  • Marriage
  • Our Story
  • Random
  • Recipes
  • Sister Stories
  • Women
  • Wordless Wed

Archives

Copyright © 2012-2019 Gindi Vincent · All rights reserved. · Site by Design by Insight