Football. Sweet Home Alabama.Geometry.Life

Last night I had finished cooking supper and I went upstairs to check on my son who is 15. He had a really tough practice in football yesterday. They scrimmaged and he did not come out for about 45 minutes. Me, myself and I, his mother made a poor decision about him and I was going up to ask him to forgive me. What did I do wrong? Well, as he walked to my car following practice I could see he was really tired, but I had made my mind up he was going to church regardless of his tiredness. We have a great youth program on Wednesday nights and I did not want him to miss it. I could tell he did not want to go; however, I stopped by Wendy's for burgers and hoped this would pacify his not wanting to go. We did not say too much in the car, just the ususal. He had homework, he was tired, he was sweaty, he wanted a shower, he just wanted home. I dug in even deeper with my attitude of doing the right thing.We would not miss church because of sports. He went to the program, reluctantly, but he did go. He ate his food and listened. He has never been a behaviour problem no matter what the circumstances. Later, on the way home I finally saw the exhaustion in his face. I had not taken the time to really look at him, because I did not want to see, I wanted him to do what I wanted. My heart was hurt as I realized I may have won, but it did not come without a cost. I lost my perspective on the right, really right thing to do. To realize sometimes we are just too tired even as adults and I did not allow him the latitude as a teenager. I lost my focus on the importance of hearing, looking, sensing and then making a decision. My decision was made before I even picked him up. As I crawled up the steps to tell him I was sorry I saw a very tired young man doing geometry with Lynard Skynard playing Sweet Home Alabama. Somewhere between the football pads, the agendas, the schedules, the homework, I lost my job as his mother. To adjust my demands based on what my children need and what my instincts are telling me. "Please forgive me I was wrong." He will give me another chance. He always does. And I will take a chance and do the right thing, next time.