When I reached my middle years, I was a lot taller and larger than my same age peers. As you can see in the picture with Katie and I, I am a lot taller than her. I had a hard time in middle school because I physically developed earlier than others. As you can see in the pictures, I was taller, heavier, had braces, and a uni brow. :) I was even taller than most boys in my class. To be honest, middle school was not a great memory. I remember boys and girls laughing at me and found it difficult to make friends.
Since kindergarten, I had been going to school with same students. I grew up in the city school system so there were a lot of students.
When I entered the sixth grade, I met Katie. Katie was new to the school and did not have too many friends. I was a quiet heavy young lady that was very shy. Katie and I clicked from the get go and did everything together.
Katie's family was a lot different than mine. Her father was in the military and they moved around a lot due his career. I would say her father was an authoritarian parent. Her mom did not have much say so about issues within the family. She did not work and did what she was told. When I would go over to her house, I always felt a little uncomfortable around her dad because he was so strick. Katie's parents were very religious but at the same time judged others quit often. They were a close knit family but kept to themselves. Overall they were very nice but at the same time intimidating. My parents were very different from her parents. Mine are authoritative and always made a point that when were punished for something we understand why.
My family was not a close knit family that hugged all the time like Katie's. As an adult I am not a "huggie" person like so many of my friends.Katie and I have been through so much through the past 17 years. We have learned so many wonderful qualities throughout our friendship.I feel that Piaget made a great point what he said about children and forming friendships. Forming friendships helps a child learn how to solve problems. Katie and I went through a lot of break ups with boyfriends, deaths, jobs, etc. We grew and learned together how to get through the hard times.
I have posted a picture of my fraternal twin sister Beth and I. As you look at the picture you can see the drastic difference in our development. Believe it or not, we entered a twins convention and they did not believe we were twins. In middle school I was placed into team taught classes due to my learning disability and Beth was in the gifted classes. There was always a wall between us due the learning barriers. I always felt she was smart and I was different. I felt like the "ugly duckling". Beth used to say, "I must have beat you up in mom's belly, cause you have LD, asthma, dyslexia". I thought at times yep you sure did. Beth and I have become best friends over the years and look very much alike.
Meg & katie
