Good at doing hard work

Penelope Trunk told me I was good at doing hard work.

Coming from her I felt as if I won an award.

Known for being brazen and brutally honest, she has brought clients to tears.

As I reflect on those words- it makes me feel strong as if my inner Viking can seize the day at any given moment.

Surely this been a hard week,
 our parenting skills firing on all cylinders and tested our compassion for the "teen years"
Smiling, thru my tears I can share a few highlights, living in a very small mountain town "where everyone knows you're name"-  I will make this short and simple.

#3 got in so much trouble this weekend- a nightmare looks dreamy to me.

The past couple of days, the police has been involved, new found friends we thought were great- ended up being a REALLY BAD INFLUENCE, epic amounts of lying, sneaking out of the house at 1 o'clock at night and blissfully ignorant parents ...a few other things I will keep under my hat.

 Feeling stretched - wondering where the bottomless pit would end, some very hard decisions and conversation I wished never happened more importantly, a few life lessons that would test anyone's patience.

Parenting is the hardest "job" I have ever had, holding our children accountable for their actions, letting them rise to the occasion to figure out how to be responsible while keeping their integrity intact- always treating them with love and respect even through tough times.

As the afternoon progressed we learned more what had happened and what # 3's  role was in this big mess.

Disbelief, in what we heard, disbelief that he got caught

 Tears- on both ends.

Yet, relief.

Relief, knowing we had his back, that he had a safe place to land even when shit hit the fan.

Relieved that we were now in the loop and could now start damage control.

I stood on my tip toes and gave him a hug telling him- that doing the "right thing" isn't always the easiest.

That evening our son went to the "parents" house to apologize. We drove around the neighborhood a few times, it was dark so he couldn't quite recall the house- maybe he just needed that extra minute before he would have to face the music.

His voice fragile, from the back seat asking- will you stand behind me?

We all felt fragile- fragile with the anticipation of the next few minutes.

I responded- always.

Thinking he was tough as nails for doing this- no one wants to see their child scared.

He rang the doorbell and we were greeted- by the parents, introduce ourselves- hand shakes all around. Our son looks them in the eyes, takes a deep breath and begins his apology

with the courage of a Lion

 he offers the most genuine, articulate and sincere apology
 

you could tell the other parents started to melt...unexpected.

Most of us have been young and stupid at sometime and it was comforting to see that they could connect with that-
a few stories from their past, something we all can relate too on some level,
I guess their awkward way of extending our son an olive branch.
 

Glad and impressed that our son had the guts to apologize, the father accepted.

Solo, as non of the other boys that were involved had come forth.

- we said our goodbyes and left friendly terms.

Our son walks the line, head held high - he felt closure that night.

Something hard was done- he was very good at it.

Aware the battle is not yet finished and there is still a long walk up the mountain- I have no doubt he'll make it.

We all slept a little better that night.

And we are all better for having done hard work.