It’s been a minute since T.Puzzle competed (and won!) his school spelling bee. At the time, he was a fifth grader and required my help in preparation. You can read about that here:
As an eighth grader at a new school, we were pleasantly surprised when he qualified to participate in his school’s bee. The process was different from our past experiences. He initially wasn’t given a list to study from and there were challenges to find this list. Once in his possession, we talked about a possible study schedule but the beauty of his age (now 14), is the responsibility of studying was all his.
Having teenagers has its perks.
It was surreal to watch him up on that stage not only because of the masks and pandemic safety protocol symbolic of the year 2020, but to see and hear him as a nearly grown man with a baritone voice. He seemed to tower over that microphone.
Not so three years ago:
Do moms ever really see their boys as men? I guess I’ll have to wait and find out.
The first rounds crept by but gained speed towards the end. He breezed through each of them and when it hit the top five, I had a feeling he would win the whole thing.
Now, it’s on to county. He’s only mildly happy about that. The competitor in him loves to win, but the teenage boy in him hates to study.
Whatever happens, I’ll be there.
Always.
Writes for all Mommies 