On Sunday night around 9:20 p.m. I asked my 16-year-old if he wanted to head out to Pat Wall field to catch the end of a Twilight League baseball game. We usually don’t go out that late on a school night, but he had mentioned to me the previous week that he has trouble falling asleep Sunday night (he sleeps late most Sunday mornings) so I figured a baseball game might help. I even offered to let him drive before he asked.
At the game, we ran into some old Little League friends. A couple of Michael’s high school coaches play on one of the teams. He enjoyed seeing them hit and field. The game ended about 20 minutes after we arrived. We were having such a good time, I suggested a short ride. We eventually stopped at Dunkin Donuts so I could get a cup of coffee.
Somewhere in the drive-thru line it happened.
Michael suddenly became angry about not being able to get his license in August because of some problems with his grades. I swear I didn’t even mention his grades or his license. He was so upset it was hard to figure out what prompted the outburst. Eventually I realized it was some conversation he had with my wife a day or two before. I suggested he calm down and said I would talk to mom about it the next day. When he parked the car in our driveway, he was still mad. Despite my warning, he went into the house and immediately continued the fight with my wife, who was having none of it. She was mad. They both went to bed mad at each other.
I was left awake and confused. Less than a half hour earlier I was having a great night, thinking teen-agers really aren’t as bad as I sometimes make them seem in this blog.
Let me know what you think.
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2 comments:
In my opinion, I think Michael was really wanting to talk to you for a while about the discussion he had with his Mom regarding his grades and the license. I think he just had pent-up frustration. A comfortable opportunity presented itself when he was having a nice, private time with you and it just came out. I am guessing since you are such a softee that maybe he thought you could curry some favor with Mary so he could get the license on his timetable regardless of his grades.
I am sure Mary was very fair and reasonable with Michael, but teens are teens. If it is any consolation, I hear that teen girls are much worse to deal with than teen boys.
Personally, I am not looking forward to the teen years with my boys. I am hoping the Catholic schooling helps.
It was good of you to spend one-on-one time with your son. That's important.
Elizabeth
Good point about the comfortable opportunity presenting a chance for him to discuss with me. That explains this outburst and earlier ones.
An update: Michael drove me to get gas and coffee after his baseball game last night and we had a really good time. No frustration about anything.
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