Uncool

I had to be the mean parent tonight. I really hated doing it - but knew that I had no choice. I very, very rarely have to discipline my kids. I think we did a pretty good job of laying down the law and setting boundaries when they were young - and also, I've been blessed with some pretty obedient children.

Hubby and I went out tonight and left my BIL to babysit the kids. Randy was at a friend's birthday party. The invitation said that it was from 4 - 7 and so I expected him back shortly after seven. When we returned home at 9:30, my BIL informed us that Randy had called from his friends house and wanted to sleep over. I began calling the friend's phone number immediately and couldn't get through. From 9:30 to 11:00 I was getting a busy signal. Apparently, my son had attempted to call our cell phones at about 7:30 and when he was unable to reach us, he just gave up. The assumption that it would be okay with me for him to stay at his friend's house, and the lack of attempts to get permission after 7:30 gave me no choice but to drive over to the friend's house and knock on the door and drag my son home.

Oh, How I hated doing that! I didn't like humiliating him in front of his friends. I didn't like ruining the other kid's birthday plans. I didn't like facing the kid's parents....But I had to show my son (and his friends) who was boss and that the boundaries - although they've loosened quite a bit in the last few years as he's matured and earned our trust, - are still in place.

In just six months, he will be a teenager. I'm sure his friends found my actions to be "uncool". Not too long ago, I'd have been devastated to be called uncool. Today... I could care less.