Turning twelve might not sound like a big deal, but trust me, it’s a year packed with astonishing changes. Reflecting on my own twelfth year, it’s clear that the evolution I underwent was profound. Sure, my kids are growing up in a different world and have their own unique experiences, but I can’t help but think they’ll encounter similar excitement and confusion about this pivotal year when they look back.
I’m not so far removed from my youth that I can’t recall the feelings of uncertainty and the struggle to master the art of shaving without turning it into a disaster. The first half of that year, I was navigating seventh grade—was it a middle school or a junior high?—and then summer slipped by, leading me into the eighth grade. Suddenly, I felt so much more mature.
The person I was at the start of my twelfth year was a far cry from who I became by the end. At the beginning, I was toting my flute around, and by the end, I was experiencing my first kiss with a boy, while still struggling to master both music and romance.
In the early days, my classmates called me Casper because of my pale skin and sweet nature. By year’s end, I was dubbed Lucy after the Peanuts character, mirroring her antics more than I’d like to admit. My fashion sense evolved too—from feathered hair and banned roach clips to the more daring blue eyeshadow, as I wondered why I often felt so alone.
Physically, not much changed; I still didn’t have breasts and was downing milkshakes with raw eggs while doing “Increase My Bust” exercises. But emotionally, I was transitioning from feeling scared to be alone in the house to babysitting the neighbor’s kids, who probably thought I was too young to be a “grown-up.”
My musical tastes shifted dramatically as well. I went from loving Golden Earring and Lionel Richie to becoming obsessed with Duran Duran and U2. And while I once pedaled my bike everywhere, I later found myself crafting dresses from garbage bags with Becky’s older sister, feeling quite the fashionista.
In the beginning, I watched family-friendly movies like On Golden Pond, but by the end, I was sneaking away to watch 48 Hours with my friend Cathy. I made my way from smoking Yves St. Laurent menthols to Camels, thinking I was quite the rebel.
Throughout this whirlwind of a year, my friendships evolved too; those who once faded from memory became foundational in my life. As I now help my children navigate their own transformations, I often think back to the whirlwind of change I experienced thirty years ago.
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In summary
Turning twelve is a transformative experience filled with a whirlwind of emotions, self-discovery, and growth. It’s a time when kids face challenges and changes that shape who they will become in the future.