Haven is a Sophomore, a track star and one beautiful young lady! She is a great friend and is constantly concerned about others. I've noticed a few things on our drive to school--stemming from conversation--that have allowed my mind to wonder a bit, reflect on my own high school experience and come to the conclusion that there are quite a few parents out there that need to be kicked in the throat.
I've pondered the possibility of this blog for some time; These are MY observations. In 10 years, when most of my friends 'go back to high school', I am confident 'educational' circumstances will have changed, and look forward to hearing about their experiences.
I became a parent at a young age, so these conversations with Haven feel fresh--like a scab that has been picked over only to bleed again. I wish Haven could miss these years and jump into the amazing life I know she will have. High school sucks; She just has to get through it, and apparently so do I. Again.
I am not a traditional parent by any means. I tend to be very real with Haven: You screw up, You pay the consequences, and believe me this comes with 'strong' language and a lot of love. I do this in a way that embarrasses my own mother at times. Sorry Miss B, it's my turn to be the Mother.
You've also been warned. About the 'strong' language, that is.
This morning is no different from all of the other mornings I drive Haven to school; she's still waking up, grouchy and pretty much doesn't want to talk to me. I push her--every morning--to spill what's going on in her life--and she does because she knows I will not let up until she dishes. It is my belief that if you keep a kid talking they will never lie about what they are doing. She tells me things that I would have NEVER told my own mother. Good. Lord. NO. But Haven continues to share with me and I am going to encourage this until she is adamant that I no longer need to know what is going on in her life--and then I will cyber-stalk her and bug her phone.
As we are pulling up to the back entrance of the school, we see vehicles valued at $40,000 dollars more than MY own car was valued at the time of it's purchase and CHILDREN are parking them in to tree lined spaces. This is not my rant today--I am sure I will get to this another time, but today is not the day for this atrocity.
No, today, I'd like to tell you about the entitled little snot we encountered while merging into the one lane that spirals its way through campus. This piece of shit, a Senior, as Haven tells me, obviously never had proper motor vehicle training or parents that loved him enough to teach him how to be a gentleman.
I guess I should tell you that Haven is currently learning to drive, so every car ride is a learning experience for us to foster proper driving behavior for Haven. I am afraid today's incident should be considered a 'wash' because this morning's encounter with Mr. Senior would be considered one of those enormous embarrassments for my mother.
In hindsight, I was nicer than I would have been had Haven not been in the car. That's me looking at things positively--rainbows and butterflies, rainbows and butterflies. I've already vowed that I would never again do this while she's in the car, so consider my hand smacked and lesson learned.
So Mr. Senior THINKS he is going to out maneuver me as I am merging lanes. NO KIDDO. I don't care what his reasons were for doing this, but if he thought weaving around me was going to stop me from coming within millimeters of his $60,000 truck, he had another thing coming. The whites of his eyes are not even relevant as I was able to see his optic nerve from his rear view mirror. We continued on this way for about 1/4 mile until I had to turn off in another direction to drop her at the gym. It kind of killed me a little to make that right turn. The lady on Fried Green Tomatoes was on to something when she said that because of her age she had better insurance. I felt the same way this morning.
Haven told me who Mr. Senior was, and I replied, "Who gives a crap! 15 years from now he probably wont amount to shit." I mean, really. 15 years from now this will be the only thing this kid has to hang onto for the rest of his life. One day, he will be thinking about high school and his $60,000 truck and be really pissed that high school wasn't quite the real world.
By then, his parent's gracious gifts and handouts will be gone and real life will have smacked him square in the goods. I secretly hope he remembers the day he barely escaped getting choked out by a 34 year old because I am pretty sure I am the only real thing that has come across his path in a while.
Haven was smiling one of those smiles that always makes me so grateful to be her mother. As she got out of the car, I told her as I always do to have a great day and to be a good citizen.
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