Could it Be?

People, I sense growth. 14 and I both are getting better. Picked up 14 from basketball practice the other day. The following conversation took place in the car:

14 (unsolicited, mind you): Progress reports are coming out soon.

Me: Are you concerned?

14: Kinda.

Me (all cool calm and collected I’d like to note): What’s up?

14: I was doing okay for a while then I kinda slacked off but then I started trying really hard to get it back together and I just don’t know if I started in time. (for all of you familiar with 14 that’s a whole lot of words.)

Me: You know what? That shows progress. Last year you would not have noticed you were slacking off you would have just warned me about the progress report. The year before that, not only would you not have noticed, but you wouldn’t have even thought far enough ahead to warn me about the report. That’s good.

14: Do you think Dad will see it the same way?

Me: Unlikely.

Did you check out how cool I was? Usually I would start with “why do we have to go through the same thing every year? ….blah, blah, blah) The fact that I was saying it every year meant that saying it wasn’t working. CHANGE was needed. So I am cool. I get the news. I note the progress and I don’t lie about what Big E is going to do. That’s his gig, by the way. I thinks boys need that dog pack alpha male hierarchy thing to keep them together. While many a single women raise their sons well without it (Mad props to all of you!!!!!!) Having your own personal Pit Bull on the parental scene sure does make my job easier!

Hot fun in the desert! You all have a happy day.