Dear Jake, Jake-a, Iaccoppo,
14 sounds like such a large number, and the idea that I have a kid who will be starting high school in the fall feels somewhat wild to me. I guess part of it is that I don't see you show many of the typical 8th grade behaviors that I see at school, and you continue be a thoughtful, funny and considerate kind of kid (you'll always check in on me and Momma when we get home each day). Speaking of school, you have a few weeks left of Strafford School, and when you and I talk about it, you're the typical mix of being ready to be done with grade school (especially with some of the recess nonsense that has come your way this year!), being excited to meet new people at high school (you in particular want to find people who are more interested in soccer than your current crew) and being nervous about how what high school will bring. We had a good long discussion about your math courses in particular, with both us and your math teacher believing you to be capable of AP math courses, and you being somewhat hesistant due to the homework and rigor of the classes. I'm hoping that once you get in there and you realize that you are capable of it, and that sometimes putting in the extra effort is worth it, that you'll continue to push yourself more.
On that note, this year has been fun for you and me as gym buddies. We signed you on your birthday last year, and we've probably averaged around once a week since then. You like to take your airpods and jam out as you work out, but we also hang out on the machines together, and it's a good motivation to get myself to the gym on those days when I could easily sit on the couch. While you've spent most of the year just bumbling around on the various equipment, you've become more focused recently on building your strength and pushing yourself, discovering the magical feeling of endorphins as a result. You're eyeing up freshman soccer this fall, so we'll need to be hitting the gym hard to get you in shape if you want to realize your dreams of making the team.
Soccer continues to be a massive part of your life. We found you a much better home with Maximum Velocity this year. Not only did they run a year round program so we didn't have to scramble for a spring soccer option, but the coaches are more focused on development and equal playing instead of results. While the team's results haven't always been stellar, you come home from each practice and game saying you had fun and that you're enjoying yourself. It's time for tryouts and signups for next year, and you've emphatically told us you want to do it again, so I'm delighted that your soccer confidence has returned. You've also being playing for Northwood Bears who put together a rec team to bring together potential freshmen, and you chose 27 as your new shirt number for Nana. You continue to find good ways to honor her legacy and her memory.
You also became a patched referee this year, which has been a great source of personal growth (and financial gains!) for you. The idea that you, who never really likes to be the center of attention, will take charge of games and stand up to mean coaches and parents in a calm and collected way is great to see (if not a little stressful to watch!). You're already planning on how to make your fortune again over the fall, especially as we've found a couple of soccer shirt stores nearby (best birthday day ever!) to continue to expand your collection.
Your core group of friends continues to be the same with a few ins and outs. While it's hard to get a gauge on how things go when you hang out (you and Michael will just sit and play games on your phones as we drive you around to various soccer things!), I keep an eye on your chats on your phone and it's good to see the friendly banter and respect you have for each other, especially when things got tough with middle school soccer and basketball drama. You're beginning to open up with me and Momma more about things at school, and you've found Momma in particular to be a sounding board with "car drama" where you tell her all the dating gossip. You don't share much about your own crushes or dating, but knowing that you've got an open line of communication with us will be important as you navigate high school.
Finally, you're learning to explore your freedoms and find ways to push your independence. On our recent trip to Slovenia, you absolutely delighted in renting city bikes with and going on somewhat directionless rides just to go explore. You've definitely caught the travel bug, and you're taking us to Barcelona this summer with a lot of things that you're excited to see and do, including renting more bikes of course! I will always feed this sense of discovery and adventure with you as it'll be something that will sustain you through your early adulthood. You do still love to be at home (you did back to back trips to Europe and your class trip to DC and towards the end of it you told us you were just ready to be home with Patronus and your own bed!) and your spare time still sees you playing Minecraft inside or basketball outside. You've become interested in cooking and you're enjoying using AI to create recipes to try (last night was a homemade Big Mac sauce, but you've also made spice mixes and delicious pizza sauce recipes). Again, I'll support this as much as you'll take it as cooking has always been a creative outlet for me, as well as a source of relaxation and enjoyment.
This year ahead promises to one of big change as you leave the familiar and start on the next leg of your school journey. I think you have a solid toolkit of personal strategies and strengths to adapt and grow, and as always, Momma and I (and Sophie!) will be right behind you as your biggest cheerleaders and sources of comfort and support to make this year successful.
Love you with all my heart,
Web, Plebster, Dad
