Life's Never Boring with a Teenager Around

Exodus 20:12 - "Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

So, you remember my frustrations in my last blog? Well, there was a bit of a turnaround a couple of days later.

I had taken away all privileges : phone, playstation, computer (no car keys yet, but that will be the next thing after February). Things were quiet between us, not much conversation.

During the evening, while I was doing work on the computer, he asked me to come into his room to talk. Needless to say I was not very excited, because teenage boys can be very manipulative with their moms, and sweet talk them into thinking they made a mistake with the punishment. Many a time, I have been left feeling that I had done something wrong! I also knew that there would probably be some sweet talk in asking for the privileges back because how long can a teenager stay without their phone??

Well, I went in and sat down on his bed. He grabbed a pillow and put it on his lap, and without looking at me, went into a long, thought-provoking talk (mmmm, here it comes, I can hear you say).

Well, he spoke about how he had had our fight on his mind all day and how he was mulling over what I said about him never saying thank you, please or sorry. He said that he tried to put himself in my shoes and see that I was probably terrified when he was driving and that he had been wrong to mock me, even though, at the time, he thought he was just teasing me.

He said that he realized that he took me for granted many times, and that I did so much for him, yet he never took the time to thank me for all I did (at this time, I was getting really choked up because he has NEVER said anything like this to me before!!!).

In between this one-sided discussion, he would pause, think, and tell me that this was really hard for him because he was not used to saying things like this. Then he stopped. I asked, "That's it?" and he replied that it was. I asked if there was anything else (expecting him to ask for his privileges back), but he said that he was done. I paused a little while, and asked if he was going to ask for those things back ..... and he said that he wasn't. HOWEVER.... while I mentioned it .... :)

So, I gave him the choice - one or the other, not both. He chose the computer and said his phone could wait. Wow! No arguing, no trying to convince me otherwise. Growing up? Maturing? I think so.

I am so proud of him. Later I will post on another of his mature decisions (that have to do with his swim team and a choice he made).