Always listen when they yell , "hey mom I've got something to tell you!"

With things back to a dull roar at home and the school schedule in session , the time to just goof off has diminished greatly . After school there is homework , catch up , clean up , and get ready for the next day up . Our suppertime is a mess because of footballnot being over until 7 pm and that is too late for some of us to eat , so we eat in shifts . I am a BIG talker but with two teenagers I am learning the importance of being a BIG listener . Tonight as I was tucking my daughter in bed and kissing her goodnite my son yelled from the den that he had something to tell me and I had better come in the den . After I was finished with the bedtime stuff I came and sat down beside my son . He began telling me about unfortunate events and choices for friends of his . I don't care for bad or sad news , especially about young people , mainly because I am raising two teenagers and I feel a sense of responsibility . I had sat with my son as he ate his late supper . I had inquired about his day , his practice and his social life . I asked if he knew I bought him new socks for football and replied he hadn't had time to open them , yet. We exchanged a few more words and I left . After chilling for awhile he told me he needed another book for English