Dear Miles,

Every month, as I think about what I should write for your Monthly Miles Memo, I look through photos from the previous month and reflect on what’s been happening in your life.  The last four weeks have been tumultuous, for sure.  One of the most notable was the derecho that plowed through Iowa on August 10.  Derecho is a word most non-Spanish-speakers hadn’t heard before, but it means straight, and that’s just what the storm was: as destructive as a tornado, but it went straight through a large swath of the state rather than the more concentrated areas a tornado typically hits.  I wrote more about it last month, but I haven’t yet included this picture of you, reading by the illumination of a lantern and flashlight during out time without power.

After that, we continued out stay in Ames, since our house was not yet inhabitable.  Looking back, it really was a nice summer.  Since our options for fun stuff were limited—no trips to the swimming pool, camps, movies, the library, the trampoline park—it was nice to have a change of scenery.  You got to spend some extended time with your grandparents, which involved some new opportunities.  You and your brothers and Skitter had a multi-month project of capturing raccoons, most of whom got names based on the pop culture figures on your minds. Over the course of the summer, you caught eleven raccoons, which Skitter then transported far from the neighborhood and released.

Another interest you developed was making Chex Mix.  It’s a favorite snack (and breakfast, and probably lunch and dinner if I’d let you) of yours, and with some support from Mubby, you learned to make it all by yourself.  When we got home, you made your first solo batch in our new kitchen.  Our microwave is a little different from theirs, so you had to learn on the fly and make adjustments appropriate to your new circumstances.  That’s an important life skill, so I’m glad that you had a chance to hone it and feed the family along the way.  The batch you made is long gone, so you’ll have to get going on another soon.

Photo by Gary Clarke

Speaking of returning home, we slid in just in time for you to start seventh grade online.  The house isn’t totally done yet—the upstairs interior is mostly finished, but the flooring crew is still working on the downstairs area, and the balcony, grilling deck, and siding still are waiting for completion.  But it’s done enough that we can occupy the space, and it’s been nice to be back.  We certainly miss Mubby and Skitter (and I miss having someone else make coffee and empty the dishwasher and do a lot of cooking), but it’s a relief to feel somewhat settled again.

The transition to junior high is a strange and difficult one under the best of circumstances, and I can’t quite tell yet how it will all work out for you.  So far you seem to be enjoying your classes, and you have some classes with old friends from your elementary school and other activities.  I’ve overheard you video-chatting with your friend group, and I’m glad to see you’re doing some of that. I hope you eventually get the chance to meet new people and develop some new interests, because one great thing about your big junior high is the wide range of clubs and activities they provide. In the meantime, you seem happy talking about memes, video games, and YouTube with your friends.

We’ve set you up with a little learning station in your room.  It may or may not be where you end up doing most of your work.  Once our downstairs area is completed, you and/or Tobin might end up with a work station down there.  Right now, you start school considerably later than the elementary kids, and I feel bad when Tobin wakes you up so he can start his morning Zoom. We haven’t settled into a definite routine yet, but the year is young. Your teachers seem really dedicated to making the best out of this situation, and I truly admire their innovation, creativity, and willingness to learn new skills to rise to this strange occasion.

Your current favorites: pasta with homemade tomato sauce, video games, declining my hugs and kisses (in the interest of modeling respect for personal boundaries, we’ve implemented a system in which you can give a signal if you don’t want my affection, and you feel no qualms about employing that signal), a new book series you’ve been reading, making Chex Mix, and investigating the new lazy susan in our kitchen looking for treats.  There are Starbursts in there.

I love you, Miles. I applaud your ability to be flexible, learn safely, and continue to develop your witty and interesting personality. Here’s to another month of growth, whether we like it or not.

Love,

Mom