I have a son. A really great 17 year-old son. I can't express how much I love this kid. He's funny, always brightens the room. He's happy pretty much all of the time. He always hugs me when he comes home, good hugs, not obligatory ones and calls me mama which makes me get all happy. He has a really obedient nature, which has been a great comfort to me and he tells me stuff that most boys probably leave out in conversations with their moms. He has picked really good friends, which I know is so huge at this stage in his life. I love every one of his friends.
So, for the last 6 months or so, he has been warning me that one of these days, he is going to dye his hair black. He is quite fair like his dad, and I have tried to point this out to him, telling him it will look gothic or rebellious or any other thing I could think of to talk him out of it. Then he would tell me that he just wants to do it once, that he's good and not doing other things I should be WAY more worried about, etc. etc. and that he is telling me in advance out of respect to me, so it won't be an act of rebellion. In essence, "mom just RELAX!"
So it happened last Friday. His friends all came to the house after school, even though Spence wasn't here. That doesn't happen ALL of the time, but a lot, so I didn't think anything of it. I just enjoyed them and fed them. Well, they knew that at that EXACT MOMENT, my son was dripping the blackest, jet black die into his light brown hair. No one told me. They just were waiting for him to call or come home.
When I finally saw it, I have to admit it made me sad. He didn't look like little Spencer, but more like a very pale older teen with stark black hair. However, it didn't look quite as bad as I had feared either. Not great, but not too bad. I have "highly encouraged" him to wear lots of light clothes and smile a lot so it won't look too glum.
Seriously, having a teenage boy, first child, is a great and worrisome thing. I feel like I'm always trying to save him from any possible thing that might harm him in life. I'm worried about his future and has he learned to work hard enough, I'm worried about how he treats others and if he is kind at school, I worry about the language all around him and beg him not only not to swear, but not to speak crudely. Be more creative and find a better way to express yourself. I worry about his spiritual growth and is he developing his own testimony strong enough to weather trials. I guess I'm glad he isn't dating anyone, because that would be a whole new realm of worries. He of course, tells me to relax, that it's ok. He's in high school and can do some crazy things and it will be ok, like dye his hair, or wear flourescent short shorts picked up at the DI to all of his priest basketball games, because they're "lucky". Up to this point in his life, he has given me nothing but good and obedience and laughter. I love the boy. Except the dang black hair.....
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4 comments:
I think you need to post a picture of Spencer's hair!
And...it's too bad we didn't keep a journal/diary (or blog!) when we were in college because I think we'd feel a lot better about our own kids if we took a trip down memory lane regarding all OUR antics back in the day! I look back (college!) sometimes and cringe while thinking, "I hope my kids never do some of the things that I did!" ...and look how great you and I turned out, Erin! :)
True- we are pretty cool people after all. I'll post a picture as soon as that vampire boy gets home.
Yes, you can't post something like this without a picture. The first thing I did was scroll to the bottom of your post and say "Awww" when there wasn't the reward of a picture at the bottom. I'm dying to see it.
I saw it and it wasn't that bad. He'll get tired of it and want his natural color back. He's such a great kid and could be doing so many worse things. If he's going to push you on something, be glad it's only his hair.
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