beach-house baking: peach streusel pie
It all begins on Monday.
Middle school.
I don’t feel ready for this next part of my daughter’s life. Or rather, I do feel ready in part. I feel ready for the part where I stick to my parenting skills, where I love her unconditionally, and where I try my very best to support her no matter what. But I don’t feel prepared for all the outside pressures that I know will be piled on her shoulders as she enters middle school.
I worry that we have not prepared her well enough for the mean girls she will certainly encounter or for the subtle bullying that I know she’s already experienced (and didn’t recognize).
I hope we’ve prepared her to trust her instincts and intuition about what is right and what is wrong. I think we have, but these next years will be telling.
We don’t have water up here like that. When we do get to experience it on our travels, I find it hypnotizing. That calm, blue water. I expect we’ll have that when we go to Hawaii in December and Mexico in February. It sounds like you and the family had a nice vacation. There’s something so satisfying about having a fresh baked pie to enjoy with the ones you love.
I definitely remember the days of middle school and how challenging it could all be. But I’m sure with the support of her parents, she’ll get through it and find a place where she feels comfortable.
That old Pillsbury tagline from long ago is memorable in its truth: ‘Nothin’ says lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven…’
What Gail said ^^^^ I baked so much this summer for new friends in France – nothing says “thanks for tending our garden when we are in Canada” better than a plum cake, right? I totally understand where you are coming from re: nourishing others/ yourself. Good luck as you (all) enter the middle school phase. No words of wisdom but I know you will all rock this new phase….
Your pie looks as wonderful as your beach vacation! The perfect rest and relaxation you needed before contending with your daughter’s first year of middle school. It can be as worrisome as it is exciting and full of new adventures. I hope that she (and you) have a wonderful transition year. My only advice is that if she is the victim of any bullying, that you report it to her teacher (s) and principal right away and insist on a meeting with them to see how they are going to deal with it. Hopefully, she and you won’t have to deal with this throughout the coming semester.
Wishing you, your daughter, and your entire family the best of luck this fall! And what a gorgeous pie… xx