Turning Point

Do you remember these days? Running free and invincible...It is a scary time however, being a teenager. I tell my kids that this time is like jumping from one island to the next. The trick is not to fall in the water. The key is to remember that when you do fall in the water that you call on God for a lifeline. Tonight I got to test this theory. My thirteen year old was caught atop the roof of the mall with his two (girl) friends and two Coronas. My husband had dropped him off (now a bad idea) at the mall with the girls to watch an early movie. We got the call at 6:00 by security to come down to pick up our son.

When I entered that office I wanted to shake all three and tell them they will end up lugging around skeletons in their closets with these kind of choices. I didn't shake them, but I did bust out with lecture #159. I have all these lectures composed in my head, being a frustrated writer. Then I felt like a fool as I said "Peace be with you." Everyone in that room knew that I did not mean it. I meant, "How dare you corrupt my son like that." What is occurring to me now is that those little girls are so thirsty for love and attention, that they make these choices. They are reaching out for the same thing that we are. They want to be heard. They want to be loved. I wish I could take back my lecture and tell those girls that they are loved. Well I can't. But I can tell my son that he can make mistakes. That is how we get to be who we are. I can tell him that we are a life line to grab onto when he falls in between the two islands. But most of all, I can tell him I love him. Boy am I glad I am sober tonight.....