Blast From the Past: SOMETIMES, THE FOOL THING PROVES WORTH IT Copyright 1987 John K. Rosemond It was the summer of Erics 15th year. It was that time in life when boys get too big for their britches and feel compelled to do things to prove to themselves and others that theyre no longer boys. Willie and I had gone off for the afternoon, giving the kids instructions to be home at 8 p.m., but Eric wasnt. His sister didnt know where he was. We busied ourselves for an hour or so, then made a few phone calls. His friends didnt know where he was, either. At 10 p.m., Willie began to panic. Dont worry, I said, Hes just doing something he knows wed disapprove of, and hes having too much fun to stop. Thats very reassuring, she said. At midnight, the phone rang. Willie answered. Where are you? You what?! Here, talk to your father. Eric told me he was at a friends with some other boys and had lost track of time because theyd been watching movies and eating popcorn and the friends parents had invited them all to spend the night and could he, huh, dad, please, huh? My crap detector went off. You were supposed to be home at 8, Eric. I know, dad, but I lost track of time. I decided to gamble. Youre also lying to me, Eric. Mr. and Mrs. So-and- So are out of town, arent they? Long pause. Yes, dad. Youve been drinking, havent you, Eric? Long pause. Yes, dad. Another pause. I guess I have to come home, right? No, you can spend the night. Really? Yes, Eric, you can. Here are your choices. You can spend the night and be on complete and total no-social-life-at-all restriction for a month - and may I remind you this is July? Or, Ill come get you right now and well never even discuss this little fiasco. Whatll it be? Dad, I want to spend the night. His answer didnt surprise me at all. I figured the peer pressure would be too much for him. So be it! See you in the morning. He came home the next morning, looking green behind the gills. He stayed on restriction the full month, which ended just before school started. During this time, not one of the friends hed partied with - none of whom were likewise caught - called to ask how he was getting along. Why did I do such a fool thing? Good question. I did such a fool thing because I believe my father was right when he said the most valuable lessons in life are learned the hard way. In other words, Eric wasnt going to profit from this mistake unless I allowed him to make it. So, I did the fool thing. And Eric did indeed profit from this mistake. He learned: 1.) Sometimes ones choices in life arent easy. 2.) When you dance, you must eventually pay the band. 3.) Drinkings not what its cracked up to be. 4.) Giving in to peer pressure isnt, in the long run, worth it. I could have run straight over there and rescued him and punished him and accomplished little, if anything. Instead, I took a risk (not one Id recommend for everyone, by the way). It paid off handsomely. After Eric, now 18, reviewed this article for approval, I asked, Do you think I handled that properly? I havent done anything like that since, have I? he replied. Nuff said.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 13:27:17 +0000
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