05/19/2026
As our kids graduate fifth grade,
so many of us are carrying a mix of pride, excitement, and a little heartbreak too. đ
Because middle school feels big.
Bigger backpacks.
Bigger hallways.
Bigger emotions.
And somehow⌠kids who suddenly donât feel quite so little anymore.
So hereâs what so many parents are quietly hoping for as this next chapter begins:
Dear Sixth Grade,
Please be gentle with our pre-teens.
This middle school world is brand new to them.
Help them find their classes without panic
and remember which hallway their locker is in.
Guide them toward friends who see them, appreciate them,
and love them for exactly who they are.
Let them still come home talkingâ
about the funny moments, the awkward ones,
the friendships, the disappointments,
and all the confusing in-between.
Give us, as parents, the patience to listen more than we lecture,
the courage to have the hard conversations,
and the wisdom to remember they are still learning.
Please let them stay true to themselvesâ
the remarkable, one-of-a-kind people we already know they are.
And above all else,
let kindness guide them.
Because middle school can be hard.
And every child walking those hallways is carrying something we may not see.
So as our fifth graders become sixth graders,
we hope they grow in confidence without losing their softness,
find independence without feeling alone,
and always know they have a safe place to land at home.
Hereâs to the next adventure.
We couldnât be prouder of them.
Living FULL by Danielle Sherman-Lazar