You can’t say I didn’t warn you! I am externally processing all the feelings right now, with plenty of accompanying tears. This is the one and only year that SJ and Z will be in high school together. They are only two and a half years apart, but since SJ repeated 2nd grade to get a little extra boost after transitioning from an all-deaf school, there’s a bit more of a gap. I am so excited for them to be in school together though. It brings up a lot of memories.

SJ and Z actually started school at the same time! I’m not a big fan of preschool—it’s fine, but I have my opinions about natural, incidental learning through family time, the outdoors, play, and experience before formal academics. That’s a lecture for another day.

Because SJ was so far behind in speech (as in, she couldn’t speak), she needed an intensive program to learn to hear and use her cochlear implants. So she started all-day preschool at three years old! This was in 2013, the same year Z started kindergarten.

Then they did pre-K for her and 1st grade for him.

Then she was in Kindergarten and he was in 2nd grade.

Next came 1st grade and 3rd grade.

When SJ was in 2nd grade (still at her own school) Z was in 4th grade.

Lastly they were finally in mainstream elementary school together, SJ in 2nd grade and Z was 5th.

The following year Ezie joined the party and started Kindergarten.  The point being—for five years, it was just the two of them in the back-to-school photos. So now I get emotional about one last little duo. Just the two of them again, this time for 9th grade and 12th grade—with Z driving them to high school.

They are both very excited about high school, which means my mama heart can sleep at night. SJ is looking forward to being in a new building, starting her biomedical classes, and maybe homecoming. She’s not a big fan of dressing up, but it’s a fun milestone, so hopefully her friends can talk her into it.

Z has a pretty demanding workload, even though it’s his senior year, which is kind of just a formality for some students. Alas, there is no rest for the honor student. He still has four AP classes, and he needed an art credit. I’m sure it will all fly by with all the special senior activities.

I am praying for an amazing year for these two. I enjoyed high school, and I know it has a much better reputation than middle school across the board, so I’m confident it will be great. Class of 2026 and Class of 2030—ready or not, tears, here they come.