Transformation

I can’t believe that January is almost over… and I’m wearing flip flops.  {Ok, I CAN believe that I’m wearing flip flops but that’s to be expected.}

Over the last month… six weeks really… there has been so much turmoil and confusion and yes, transformation that I don’t even know where to begin.

This month has been a lot of transformation for me as we embark on a new year… New schedules, responsibilities, and obligations that both fill my heart and leave me exhausted.

More than that though, I’m witnessing the transformation of a teen… Through choices made, and a new environment, the Giant is finding out, for the first time ever, who exactly he is.  He’s living in a world without fear which gives him the opportunity to find new ways to express himself.  He’s being given guidance with his school work which enables him to find the success that previously eluded him.   He’s being challenged to look at his choices, thoughts and feelings and decide if they still work for him or if they need to be discarded and replaced by those that are more fitting.

All of these transformations are positive and helping him to truly blossom… to become the person he was always meant to be…

That said… not all transformation brings about positive changes…

Probably the most frustrating is how his classmates interact with him.  Not his friends mind you, but in a few of his classes are predators… those who saw him “before” and are now threatened by his growth and confidence.  Those who try to initiate fights with him because the only way that they can maintain their superiority is to attack others and put them down.

That makes me sad in my heart for my “baby.”  I know, he will always deal with these kinds of people.  Hell, I’m 38 and STILL do to this day so I know it’s a life lesson he should learn… but I don’t want him to have to.  I still fight the urge to shield him from the crap that life tosses our way… which is silly really because how else do you learn to deal with the crap if you never deal with the crap?

So instead, I shall remind him that those who attack others are not strong.  They are the weak ones and it is those who are strongest who walk away… and then I’ll take him to the gym where he can let off some steam in an appropriate way.

And for those who try to knock my giant down?  Try all you want, but this butterfly won’t go back to being a caterpillar so you might as well get used to his wings.

How do you help your littles and bigs deal with the meanness they encounter?

Did you miss out on the January challenge? Better still, did you have so much fun you can’t wait to start again?
Never fear February brings forth a whole slew of new prompts! Won’t you join us?